Gateway to India takes place during Ramadan, the ninth month in the Islamic calendar and a time when those who observe it fast from sunup to sundown. After five dances, the event paused for an intermission, and Indian food such as samosas, tandoori chicken and paneer were served for iftar, the breaking of the fast.

In late February, Brownell said on the Tigers’ flagship radio station that Big 12 teams would adjust their nonconference schedules to play softer opponents with the idea that more routs would take place. Thus, those larger-margin victories would boost how Big 12 teams are reflected in metrics like the NET, which is the NCAA Evaluation Tool used by the selection committee.