The best battle at the Big 12 wrestling tournament may not come on the mat.    It may occur at the wild-card meeting.     There are four Big 12 teams ranked in the nation's top 10, but the conference is allowed only 36 qualifiers for the national tournament. That will leave some talented wrestlers sitting at home during the NCAA Championships March 21-23 in Albany, N.Y.     The Big 12 tournament is set for Saturday in Norman, Okla. The top three Big 12 finishers in each weight class qualify for nationals. Six additional wild-card selections will be picked in a meeting of league coaches following the competition.     Oklahoma State is ranked fifth in the nation, Oklahoma is sixth, Iowa State seventh and Missouri ninth. Nebraska is not ranked despite having four wrestlers ranked in the nation's top 10 and another in the top 15.    The league's coaches agreed that having just five wrestling schools in the Big 12 unfairly affects the number of individual qualifiers allowed by the NCAA.    "It is so sad, the number of qualifiers we have," Oklahoma Coach Jack Spates said. "With four teams ranked in the top 10, we should be allowed to take more wrestlers to nationals. It is very unfair to the kids and the wrestling programs in our conference that are making such a strong commitment to the sport."    The Big 12 tourney is among a number of qualifying meets being held this weekend.    Oklahoma State is the defending Big 12 champion.     "Since I have been here, we have always taken all 10 wrestlers to nationals," OSU Coach John Smith said. "But going into Big 12s, I've got two wrestlers ranked fifth in this conference. If we only take seven or eight guys to nationals it will be very tough for us.    "It is going to be very difficult to pick the wild cards out of the Big 12 that advance to the national tournament. But we can't take them all."    Iowa State Coach Bobby Douglas said he thinks the Big 12 has 40 wrestlers who are worthy of making it to the national tournament.     "We certainly deserve more qualifiers," Douglas said. "This conference is very tough. Oklahoma State and Oklahoma are very strong, and we should finish third in the Big 12 if we wrestle up to our seeds. Missouri's probably the most improved team in the nation and Nebraska has five or six real good individuals. It should be a great tournament."     Nebraska, led by defending Big 12 champions Jason Powell (125) and Bryan Snyder (157), has picked up some late-season momentum in close dual losses to Iowa State and Oklahoma State.    "Our team has really improved in the last month," NU Coach Mark Manning said. "Our conference is very balanced and I think there will be a lot of upsets at the Big 12 tournament. We will have to win some close matches."    Snyder and Iowa State's Cael Sanderson (197) are seeking their fourth Big 12 titles. Snyder is 27-0 this season and 130-10 in his career. Sanderson is 152-0 in his career, including 33-0 as a senior.    "I love competing and I love big tournaments," Sanderson said. "This part of the year is what we are working for. All that matters to me is the Big 12 tournament and the NCAA tournament."    Sanderson is seeking to become the first college wrestler to complete a four-year career unbeaten.    "My job is to keep Cael focused on the mission ahead and eliminate as many distractions as I can," Douglas said. "I know it could be a real circus for Cael at nationals with all the media and all the attention focused on him.    "But Cael has a unique charisma about him. I am in awe of how unassuming and humble this guy is. He has done a great job dealing with everything."    Defending national champion and top-ranked Minnesota will be the favorite at the Big Ten Tournament on Saturday and Sunday in Champaign, Ill.    The Gophers went unbeaten in dual meets, winning the National Duals in January. Minnesota is the defending Big Ten champion.    The Big Ten is allocated 72 qualifiers for the NCAA tournament. The top seven finishers in each weight class will earn a trip to Albany. Two additional qualifiers will be chosen by Big Ten coaches after the meet.    The third-ranked Iowa Hawkeyes are shooting for their 31st Big Ten title and 27th crown in the last 29 seasons.     Second-ranked Michigan and fourth-ranked Ohio State also are expected to contend for the league title.