LOCAL

McVeigh: Fueled by Bitterness
Suspect Arrested In Local Homicide
Nearly News
Commission Election Set For Tuesday
State Primary Voting Tomorrow
Jazz Trumpeter Returns For 2000 Redbud Festival

McVeigh: Fueled by Bitterness

DENVER (AP) — For convicted Oklahoma City bomber Timothy McVeigh, the Gulf War and clashes at Ruby Ridge and Waco loom large. Watching those confrontations, he said, deepened his anger at the federal government.

In an interview broadcast Sunday on CBS’ 60 Minutes, McVeigh said that he was angry and bitter after fighting in the Gulf War, where he won several medals for heroism.

‘‘I went over there hyped up, just like everyone else,’’ he said. ‘‘What I experienced, though, was an entirely different ballgame. And being face to face close with these people in personal contact, you realize they’re just people like you.’’

His anger deepened when Randy Weaver’s wife and son were shot and killed in a standoff with federal agents at Ruby Ridge, Idaho, in 1992 and dozens of members of the Branch Davidian sect died in a fire after a 51-day standoff with federal officers in Waco, Texas, eight months later.

Jim Denny, whose children Brandon and Rebecca were hurt in the Oklahoma City bombing, said he didn’t understand McVeigh’s Gulf War comparison.

‘‘We went over there to save a country and save innocent lives. When he compared that to what happened in Oklahoma City, I didn’t see the comparison. He came across as ’the government uses force, so it’s OK for its citizens to use force.’ We don’t believe in using force,’’ Denny said.

McVeigh did not say he was innocent of the bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City in 1995. The explosion killed 168 people.

His lawyers filed an appeal last week claiming pretrial publicity and defense attorneys’ alleged leaks of inflammatory stories to the press deprived him of a fair trial.

McVeigh said that if his latest appeal fails, he is prepared to die.

‘‘I came to terms with my mortality in the Gulf War,’’ McVeigh said during the Feb. 22 interview with CBS’ Ed Bradley at the federal maximum-security prison in Terre Haute, Ind.

In his only other interview since his 1997 conviction, that same year with the Buffalo News in New York, he also refused to say if he was the bomber or knew who was.

Asked if it is acceptable to use violence against the government, McVeigh said: ‘‘If government is the teacher, violence would be an acceptable option.

‘‘What did we do to Sudan? What did we do to Afghanistan? Belgrade? What are we doing with the death penalty? It appears they use violence as an option all the time,’’ McVeigh said.

One of the claims in McVeigh’s motion for a new trial is that images of him in an orange jumpsuit, leg irons and handcuffs two days after his arrest prejudiced the jurors. He said the pictures were ‘‘the beginning of a propaganda campaign.’’

Jurors who were interviewed by CBS, however, denied they were influenced by the pretrial publicity. ‘‘He’s the Oklahoma City bomber, and there is no doubt about it in my mind,’’ John Candeleria said.

Asked if he would do anything differently if he could relive his life, McVeigh said: ‘‘I’ve thought about that quite a few times. And I think anybody in life says, ‘I wish I could have gone back and done this differently, done that differently.’

‘‘There are moments, but no one that stands out.’’

Suspect Arrested In Local Homicide

By MARK GALVIN

News Staff Writer

A 22-year-old Ponca City man was facing charges today following the shooting death of former Winfield resident Keith Sedam, 32, at a residence on the city’s west side.

Sedam, reportedly involved in a family dispute, was pronounced dead at St. Joseph Regional Medical Center after being struck five times in the head, throat and chest by bullets from a 25-caliber semiautomatic pistol.

Charges were expected against Kevin Alan Miller, 22, who allegedly confronted Sedam early Sunday morning following an earlier altercation between the victim and one of the victim’s brothers.

“Miller allegedly was attempting to have Sedam leave the residence when the shooting occurred,” said Ponca City police spokesperson Sherry Bowers. “However, it was Sedam’s mother’s residence where he had been staying for the last month or so.”

Ponca City’s Emergency 911 Communications Center received a call at 6:05 a.m. Sunday reporting an attempted suicide at 910 West Oklahoma.

However, officers first on the scene immediately became suspicious when shell casings on the floor of the back porch and kitchen indicated multiple shots had been fired.

They found Sedam lying face down inside the back porch.

Investigators determined the victim earlier had been in a physical altercation with one of his brothers. The brother left the residence and went to his own home in the 100 block of South Osage.

Miller and Sedam’s 17-year-old nephew were at the home. Told of Sedam’s behavior, the two drove the six blocks to the residence at 910 West Oklahoma. Miller allegedly brought the handgun, police said.

Miller was not at the residence when police arrived, but showed up within 15 minutes, investigators said. Investigators then recovered the pistol and brought Miller to the police department for questioning.

Miller was booked into the city jail at 1:30 p.m.

Investigators said witnesses to the shooting included Sedam’s estranged wife, who reportedly was attempting a reconciliation and had brought their two children for a visit from Winfield. The two children were asleep in a bedroom at the home when the shooting occurred, according to police.

Others at the residence at the time reportedly were Sedam’s sister-in-law, the 17-year-old nephew and another male.

Bowers said charges are not anticipated against any other individuals in the case.

She said the incident was originally reported as an attempted suicide because the caller had not witnessed the shooting and allegedly had been told by Miller that Sedam shot himself.

Sedam’s death was Ponca City’s first homicide of the year. There were no homicides in Ponca City during 1999.

Nearly News

A painting was incorrectly identified in Sunday's lifestyles section of The Ponca City News. The actual artist was Greg Dunham, a senior at Ponca City High School. The painting was the one of a "floating island" with stars in it.

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Commission Election Set For Tuesday

Seat No. 4 on the City Commission will be decided Tuesday when Ponca Citians go to the polls.

Incumbent Keni Ray is being challenged by Pam Johnson.

The polls open across the city at 7 a.m. and close at 7 p.m.

Ray, 51, was appointed to the commission in the summer of 1998 to fill an unexpired term. He is the director of external affairs and communications for the Mid-Continent Business Unit at Conoco.

Johnson, 46, is a nurse with the Critical Care Unit at St. Joseph Regional Medical Center.

Johnson said she decided to run “to have a little more input from the west side and to bring more information to the working people in general.”

Ray is seeking to retain his seat because “...the whole community is making great pro-gress. ... I believe teamwork and collaboration are the keys to continued success of Ponca City.”

The city election was moved back one week to coincide with the Oklahoma state primary voting.

State Primary Voting Tomorrow

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Oklahomans go to the polls Tuesday to express their preferences for president amid complaints it is a meaningless exercise because the Republican and Democratic nominations have been sewn up.

Now a measure has been introduced in the state Senate to change Oklahoma’s primary election date to give the state more influence on the national Republican and Democratic selection process.

Democrat Al Gore and Republican George W. Bush sealed their parties’ nominations last week when their top challengers dropped active campaigning. In other words, the outcome of the presidential races is set, regardless of what happens in Oklahoma’s primary, officials say.

Last week, the Oklahoma Senate voted to suspend its rules to allow Sen. Mike Fair, R-Oklahoma City, to introduce a measure to move back Oklahoma’s primary from the second Tuesday in March to the second Tuesday in February.

Jazz Trumpeter Returns For 2000 Redbud Festival

TONKAWA — Jon Faddis, world-renowned jazz trumpeter, director and recording artist, will return to Tonkawa for the 2000 Redbud Jazz Festival.

Faddis will headline the Redbud Jazz Concert set for 7:15 p.m. Friday, April 7, in the Northern Oklahoma College Performing Arts Center. Tickets will go on sale for $7.50 following spring break. Northern Oklahoma College students with a valid Northern ID may pick up their free tickets at the Office of Financial Affairs.

He first performed on Northern’s big stage in 1996 to a standing room only sellout crowd. Reviews of the concert were glowing. Newspaper reviews in 1996 called Faddis the “most fully armed and technically assured trumpet player on planet Earth.”

Faddis will display a variety of musical selections, including a tribute to Louis Armstrong and a neo-bop classic from the Thad Jones-Mel Lewis library, allowing Faddis a new take on the bebop vocabulary he paid homage to in 1996.

Faddis is currently the director of the Carnegie Hall Jazz Repertory Orchestra. In addition to a solo recording career, he serves on numerous educational panels and is an active participant in the many varied projects of the International Association of Jazz Educators.

“To my knowledge,” stated Tonkawa High School Band Director Jama Moore, “the only other time Jon Faddis has performed in Oklahoma is when Northern brought him here in 1996.

“He is so popular and well respected as a player that I have had several instate professional trumpeters offer to back him up for free. One even offered to pay for the privilege,” said Dr. Mike Moore, festival director. “He [Faddis] is fantastic and he is an artist in his prime.”

For additional information call 580-628-6231.

DEATHS

Services Pending
Eva Mae Neely

No Deaths

Services Pending

Eva Mae Neely

Eva May Neely, resident of Ponca City, died Saturday, March 11, 2000, at the St. Joseph Regional Medical Center. She was 100. Survivors include a daughter, Patricia Neely, of Ponca City and a son, Jesse Neely, of Lincoln, Neb. Arrangements are pending with Grace Memorial Chapel.

NEWS BRIEFS

Cheerleader Meeting — A meeting for high school cheerleaders and their parents will be held Tuesday at 5:30 p.m. in the Commons Area. The meeting is required for all parents.

Free Pregnancy test. Birth Choice cares. Confidential.

Hours: Tuesday, 6-8 p.m., Wednesday, 1-3 p.m. and Thursday, 6-

8 p.m. 700 West Broadway. 765-9689. adv.

Accident — The Communications Center received a report at 7:22 a.m. Saturday from a woman that she had slid into the bridge one mile east of Tonkawa on U.S. 60. The Oklahoma Highway Patrol was notified.

Garden gift, bird houses, statuary, and lots of bunnies! Mrs.

Brown’s Attic, Ponca Plaza. adv.

Hit and Run — A man from the 500 block of Glendale Avenue reported to the Ponca City Police Department at 9:26 a.m. Saturday that his vehicle had been hit and damaged during the night. An officer was assigned and a report was taken.

Onion Plants, onion sets, asparagus, cauliflower, broccoli, cabbage, potatoes, strawberries,grapes, bulk seed. Keathly Nursery. adv.

Vehicle Towed — A woman from the 1600 block of Yale reported to the Ponca City Police Department at 10:48 a.m. Saturday that a vehicle had been abandoned along the street. An officer was assigned, determined the vehicle was one reported stolen and the vehicle was towed from the scene.

25 Cents a gallon drinking water. Pure Water Wagon 1717 N.

5th. adv.

Cows Loose — A person from the 3600 block of Mistletoe reported to the Ponca City Police Department at 10:57 a.m. Saturday that cows were loose and in the front yard eating flowers and shrubs. Officials at the American Legion Children’s Home were contacted to handle the situation.

Stormescape Shelters, perfect for garage, under vehicle, installation. $1,695. 765-2633. adv.

Subject Held — An officer of the Ponca City Police Department reported from the intersection of North Union Street and West Liberty Avenue at 3:41 p.m. Saturday that a 35-year-old man was being held for driving under suspension.

Pokemon Cards in stock! The Hot Corner, Ponca Plaza Shopping Center. 765-5333. adv.

Illegal Dumping — The Ponca City Police Department received a report at 4:29 p.m. Saturday that someone had done some illegal dumping at Darr Park.

Attempted Burglary — An employee at a business in the 100 block of North Third Street reported to the Ponca City Police Department at 10:27 p.m. Saturday that a burglary had occurred. Two officers of the Ponca City Police Department responded and an attempted burglary report was taken. Information was logged.

Suspicious Activity — A unit from the Ponca City Fire Department responded to the intersection of North Ash Street and West Hartford Avenue at 11:21 p.m. Saturday when it was discovered that five construction cones at the location had been set on fire.

Subjects Held — An officer of the Ponca City Police Department reported from the 700 block of North Osage Street at 11:28 p.m.

Saturday that a 21-year-old man was being held for public intoxication and possession of marijuana and an 18-year-old woman was being held for public intoxication.

Patio, French and terrace

doors. We sell and install. Ponca

Glass, 300 West Highland and

Pine, 762-6522. adv.

Subject Held — An officer of the Ponca City Police Department reported from the 1000 block of North Sunset Street at 12:30 a.m. Sunday that a 35-year-old man was being held for DUI, possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia, operating a motor vehicle not reasonable and having no insurance.

Jazzercize, Step, Circuit at Unity gum. Monday 5:30pm and

6:45pm. Wednesday 5:30pm. Thursday 5:30pm and 6:45pm.

Start anytime. 762-7243 adv.

Vehicle Burglarized — A man from the 3200 block of North Fourteenth Street reported to the Ponca City Police Department at 2:04 a.m. Sunday that his vehicle had been burglarized. An officer was assigned and information was logged.

Hair Etc. introducing Becky Gearheart spring break perm

special $25.00 March 15 through

31. 762-4247. adv.

Vehicle Towed — An officer of the Ponca City Police Department reported from the intersection of East Prospect Avenue and Warwick Road at 2:12 a.m. Sunday that a 41-year-old man was being held for DUI and driving left of center. A vehicle was towed from the scene and information was logged that a Ponca City Fire Department ambulance took the man to the emergency room at St. Joseph Regional Medical Center for treatment of back pain.

Vandalism — A man from the 100 block of Hillside Avenue reported to the Ponca City Police Department at 10:06 a.m. Sunday that someone had vandalized his yard and a vehicle. An officer was assigned and a report was taken.

Vehicle Burglarized — A man from the 900 block of South Sixth Street reported to the Ponca City Police Department at 10:55 a.m. Sunday that his vehicle had been broken into during the night. An officer was assigned and a report was taken.

Subject Held — An employee from a business in the 200 block of West Grand Avenue reported at 11:37 a.m. Sunday that a man was in the business causing problems. An officer was assigned and the 62-year-old man was held for public intoxication and petit larceny.

Burglary — A man from the 100 block of North Third Street reported to the Ponca City Police Department at 2:53 p.m. Sunday that the business had been broken into during the night. An officer was assigned and a report was taken.

Vehicle Towed — A woman from the 400 block of South Lake Street reported to the Ponca City Police Department at 5:28 p.m. Sunday that a vehicle had been left abandoned and was causing a traffic hazard. An officer was assigned and the vehicle was towed from the scene.

Burglary — Two officers of the Ponca City Police Department reported at 9:45 p.m. Sunday from the 700 block of McFadden Drive that a burglary report had been taken.

Buffalo Post to Meet — The American Legion Buffalo Post 38 will meet at 4:30 p.m. Tuesday in the Jules Valdez Social Services building at White Eagle to finalize plans for the March 18 dance. All are encouraged to attend.

LIFESTYLES

Karen Overman Awarded 25 Year Membership Pin
Senior Day at Capitol Scheduled
Makeover Mavens Assist Aging Baby Boomers

Karen Overman Awarded 25 Year Membership Pin

Melba Irwin was hostess when members of the Kildare FCE met March 8. Karen Overman, president, called the meeting to order, and Helen Janda led the group in the salute to the flag, The Lord’s Prayer, and singing “Springtime in the Rockies.” Devotions were read from Psalms 117.

Six members answered roll call with tips about “simple home repair.” Iva Lee Harris, secretary, read the minutes. Margaret Hoepfinger was the hostess for the Feb. 23 meeting. Announcement was made that the Northwest District FCE meeting will be March 23 in Enid.

A report was given about the FCE county association meeting held Feb. 28 in Blackwell. Kildare members attending were Helen Janda, Karen Overman, Moni Neville, and Margaret Hoepfinger. The program speaker was Staci Schneeberger, a 4-H ambassador.

A 25-year membership pin was awarded Karen Overman, and perfect attendance certificates went to Margaret Hoepfinger, Mary Buesing and Melba Irwin. The Kildare group received a “standard of excellence” award. Members also placed eight cultural arts exhibits on display.

Committees were appointed for the Kildare Rural Water district supper, and plans were made for Kildare FCE and Kildare 4-H members to serve the March 18 meal. Karen Overman gave the leader’s lesson “Simple Home Repair.”

Helen Janda announced the March 29 meeting would include a dinner at the Western Sizzlin’. Iva Lee Harris will be the lesson leader for the April 12 meeting and will discuss “Mind Mapping.” Winning game prizes were Margaret Hoepfinger and Karen Overman. A health tip was given concerning Bell’s Palsy.

Senior Day at Capitol Scheduled

Seniors from across the state will converge upon the Oklahoma capitol April 24 to discuss the expenditure of the tobacco settle money, passage of the Older Americans Act by the federal legislatures, nursing home staffing, long term care, and standards for health care providers. The slogan for the day is: “Save It, Grow It, Spend It on Health.”

Speakers will be: DHS Director, Howard Hendricks, and Oklahoma Attorney General, Drew Edmondson.

There will be exhibit booths, and opportunities to visit with Representatives and Senators. Tours of the Capitol building will be available, along with the opportunity to visit the Governor’s “blue Room,” which contains the Murrah Building bombing artifacts.

The NODA AAA legislators have been invited to eat lunch with the senior delegation. There will be time for the legislators to address the group as well as for senior concerns to be voiced.

The cost of the trip is $20, paid in advance, which includes lunch. Busses will depart from Ponca City and Enid with pickups on the route (Highway 81 or 1-35)

Reservations need to be made by April 1. Contact Judy Rupp, 580-237-2236 or 800-749-1149 to make your reservation or for additional information.

Makeover Mavens Assist Aging Baby Boomers

DALLAS (AP) — Boom! You’re 50 and look it.

Head for the makeover mavens.

Baby boomers are feeling it, says Dayton Mast, owner of L’Image, a Dallas salon that specializes in helping customers set a new overall look that includes hair, nails, skin, and body.

“They want a more youthful, modern look,” says Mast.

DeeAnne Merriman, a freelance writer and marketing specialist with bases in both Dallas and Des Moines, took the plunge. Merriman, now in her late 40s, had been wearing a tightly curled 1970s-1980s do, and her hair looked dull because of the perms she needed to maintain it. Her makeup was a tad heavy and accented fine lines.

“I hadn’t realized how gradually outdated my look had become over the years,” she says.

L’Image experts softened the short hair style into gentle, natural sweeps and colored it with semi-permanent color to add texture and shine. The makeup was toned down and softened around the eyes and a bit of blush contoured her cheekbones. Bronze lipstick completed the look.

“The reaction to my makeover was unanimous. Everyone said, ’Wow, you look like a million bucks. The new style makes you look 10 years younger.”’

Cut and Color

Cut and color are keys to a fresh look, say hair stylists John Calabretto and Alice Holiwell.

“Styling hair up and away from the face gives a lifting effect, drawing the line of vision up and out,” Calabretto says. “To get a hair style that is a perfect fit for you, a good hair stylist will consult with you about your type of hair, its growth patterns, your personality and your lifestyle. Styling should be easy for you and stay throughout the day.”

Holiwell adds that demi-coloring makes it easier for color-shy clients to experience a change without permanent results. “It covers the gray and lasts about six to eight weeks,” she says. “With advanced graying, permanent hair color is recommended.”

The state of your skin can broadcast your age. Cosmetologist Irina Tereshchenko repeats the mantra for your mantle: apply sunscreen (SP15 or higher) every day, wash your face every night, regularly use an exfoliant with glycolic acid to remove dead skins cells, and drink plenty of water.

When choosing makeup, lighter is better, she says. Lightweight foundation doesn’t accentuate fine lines and wrinkles. “Lighter colors also promote a more youthful look,” she says. “Try to stay away from the heavy colors such as bright red lipsticks and blushes.”

You also could consider dermabrasion or skin exfoliation to remove fine lines and wrinkles. Microdermabrasion gently removes upper layers of dead skin with tiny crystals. This exfoliation stimulates production of new living cells and improves circulation.

SPORTS

PC Wrestling History Gets Another Entry
OU and OSU are each 3rd Seeds TU 7th

PC Wrestling History Gets Another Entry

Just as Ponca City is about to honor a big part of its wrestling history, a new chapter has been added.

Two-time Ponca City High School state champion Mark Dodgen won a national collegiate championship at the NCAA Division II Tournament in Brookings, S.D., Saturday.

This comes just two days before the Ponca City Takedown Club honors Olympic Champions Doug Bluebaugh and Shelby Wilson and the state’s first four-time high school state champion Leonard Shelton along with Karl and Kelsey Lynes at tonight’s Wrestling banquet.

Dodgen, now a sophomore at Central State University, was the No. 6 seed at 125 pounds after finishing third in the Midwest Regional at Kenosha, Wis., and was a wild card entry in the national tournament.

But Dodgen carved his way through the national tournament, beating Jeff Pruitt of Shippingberg, Mich., 6-1, in the first round, former Lawton grappler Max Larock now of Nebraska-Omaha in the quarterfinals and Drew Passley of Central Missouri, 18-10, in the semifinals.

That sent him against No. 5 seed Chris Peretti (32-4l) of Ashland, Ohio., in the finals.

Peretti held a 4-3 lead after two periods, but Dodgen escaped to start the third stanza, tying the score. The former Wildcat then got a decisive takedown to go in front 6-4.

Peretti escaped late in the period, but Dodgen had riding time to add up to a 7-5 win.

As always in Mark’s corner was twin brother Matt, who had just barely failed to qualify for the national tournament.

Matt, a UCO redshirt freshman, had finished fourth at 133 pounds in the regional tournament but was not one of the eight wild card selections from the Wisconsin regional.

In the regional, Mark lost in the semifinals to top-seed Tom Grafstrom of Moorehead State. But he rebounded with a fall and a 12-1 major decision to claim third.

Mark finished the season with a 29-9 record and 11 falls at UCO. His championship finish helped the Bronchos take second in the national tournament, just behind North Dakota State.

A huge oversight will be corrected at the wrestling banquet tonight. It was only recently that the Takedown Club selection committee realized that Bluebaugh, Wilson and Shelton had not been inducted into the Hall of Fame.

After winning state championships with the Wildcats and national titles with the Oklahoma State Cowboys, Wilson and Bluebaugh moved on to world competition. They won the gold medals in the 1960 Olympics.

They will be introduced tonight by their former OSU coach Myron Rodrick. Rodrick is a national college champion in his own right and is currently the president of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame in Stillwater.

Shelton may have gotten use to being overlooked. It was not until a couple of years ago that it came to light that he had won four high school state titles when he wrestled for the Wildcats from 1937 to 1940.

He was the first high schooler to accomplish that feat. Since then only 13 others have won four straight championships.

During his senior season, Shelton helped Ponca City win its first state team championship.

Kelsey Lynes was a state champion in 1975 and brother Karl took the title in 1979.

Karl went on to win two junior college national championships at Northern Oklahoma College.

Kelsey, after a stint at coaching the Ponca City junior high, has moved to Texas. Karl, a long-time assistant at Sand Springs, is now an assistant coach with the Wildcats.

Tonight’s banquet starts at 6:30 in the Po-Hi Common Area.

It’s a night wrestling fans — and non-fans — won’t want to miss.

OU and OSU are each 3rd Seeds TU 7th

By OWEN CANFIELD

AP Sports Writer

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Oklahoma and Oklahoma State are each No. 3 seeds in the NCAA tournament, thanks in part to their affiliation with a strong conference, the Big 12.

Tulsa’s tie with a weak league, the Western Athletic Conference, apparently caught up with the Hurricane. Despite being one of only two teams in the NCAA field with 29 victories, Tulsa is just a No. 7 seed.

‘‘I’m not excited to be a No. 7 seed, but I think our players seem to perform better when they have something to prove,’’ coach Bill Self said Sunday. ‘‘We’ve got a team that has fought for respect all year long, and we’ll continue to fight for it.’’

Oklahoma was placed in the West Region, Oklahoma State in the East and Tulsa in the South.

Oklahoma (26-6) travels to Tucson, Ariz., on Thursday for a game against 14th-seeded Winthrop. Oklahoma State (24-6) goes to Buffalo, N.Y., for a game Friday against Hofstra, and Tulsa (29-4) plays Friday against 10th-seeded UNLV in Nashville, Tenn.

‘‘There’s a feeling accomplishment, yet a sense of pride that we were able to do this,’’ Oklahoma coach Kelvin Sampson said. ‘‘This is an unbelievable feather in our cap that we’re a three seed in the NCAA tournament.’’

Just last year, Oklahoma only got into the tournament as a No. 13 seed in the Midwest. But the Sooners proved they belonged, knocking off Arizona and North Carolina-Charlotte to reach the Sweet 16, where they lost to top-seeded Michigan State.

Sampson said that performance may have played a part in getting such a high seed this year. But he said the seeding also was a credit to the toughness of the Big 12 this year. League champion Iowa State wound up the No. 2 seed in the Midwest, OSU got a No. 3 seeding and Texas was made No. 5 in the West.

‘‘There’s four regions, so if your a three seed, that means you’re one of the top 9-10-11-12 teams in country,’’ Sampson said. ‘‘I think that speaks volumes for the schedule we play, the year we’ve had, and more importantly the national respect we get.’’

Winthrop, champion of the Big South Conference, is making its second straight NCAA appearance. A year ago, the Eagles (21-8) lost by 39 to Auburn in their first-round game. One of their victories this year came at Missouri.

A victory in the first round would send the Sooners against either sixth-seeded Purdue or No. 11 seed Dayton, although Sampson said he wasn’t concerned about that.

‘‘You don’t look past the first one,’’ he said. ‘‘Media and fans can look at the bracket. Coaches and players look at the first game.’’

Oklahoma State coach Eddie Sutton said he expected the Cowboys to be seeded fourth or fifth.

‘‘I was a little surprised,’’ he said. ‘‘I thought with the loss we absorbed here at home a week ago Saturday (to Oklahoma), that would hurt us. And with not beating Iowa State, I thought that might hurt us a little bit.’’

Oklahoma State’s opponent, Hofstra, got its first NCAA invitation since 1977 by winning the America East Conference tournament. The Flying Dutchmen (24-6) enter the tournament having won 17 of their past 18 games, and they are led by Craig ‘‘Speedy’’ Claxton, two-time conference player of the year.

A victory over Hofstra would send Oklahoma State against either sixth-seeded Indiana or No. 11 seed Pepperdine.

‘‘You have no control over where you play, what your seeding is or who you play,’’ Sutton said. ‘‘We’re just happy to be in the NCAA tournament again, and I think our players are certainly looking forward to it.’’

Tulsa and UNLV (23-7) are familiar with each other because until last year, they each were members of the Western Athletic Conference.