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Daily Bullets (March 15)

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Not Your Everyday Problem

The Pokes will have their hands full with Michigan’s two towers but not for the reason you’d assume.

Between 6-foot-11 sophomore Moritz Wagner and 6-10 sophomore D.J. Wilson, Michigan will hold a size advantage over the Cowboys. But the Wolverines’ frontcourt does not take advantage of that through post-ups as much as it does shooting over opponents.

Wagner is a 40.7 percent 3-point shooter. Wilson is at 36.5 percent. Together, they have attempted 204 3-pointers.

“They run a lot of offense through their center,” Underwood said. “Wagner is a young man that is very skilled, 6-10, 6-11, can beat you off the dribble, shoot 3s, great passer.”

The issue for the Cowboys is they haven’t seen many players like Wagner — a center (Mitchell Solomon’s man) who can shoot the 3.

The only 6-10-or-taller player in the Big 12 who frequently shoots 3s is Kansas State’s Dean Wade, but he’s primarily a power forward alongside D.J. Johnson.

There’s no comparison to OSU’s schedule, though Underwood said Michigan is most like Texas Tech of the Big 12 teams.

“Their (power forwards and centers) are very, very skilled and they play to that,” he said. “They look for a crease, they look for an angle. They want you to help or support, and then they try to take advantage of that. They’ve got a lot of the same tendencies that Texas Tech had.” [TulsaWorld]

The idea of a 6’10” and 6’11” dudes not setting up camp in the lane and Johnathan Motley-ing OSU all afternoon is great. The Tech comp is interesting, their starting bigs average about 6 (5.7) threes per game. Other than the Red Raiders, I can’t remember a Big 12 team having a stretch five as a legit part of the offense.

Wagner and Wilson have shot 200+ this season, an astounding number when you hear that Phil Forte has pulled up 200 times in the same time frame. I don’t mind Hammonds playing on the perimeter but pulling Solomon out of the paint to guard a homeless man’s Dirk isn’t great for rebounding and rim protection. Has Solomon had to close out on anyone since he’s been in Stillwater?

Definitions of “Success”

As we prepare for the tourney, Robert Allen had an interesting take on Underwood’s success in year one.

He is said to have told his attorney to not haggle over the contract terms, he wanted the job and he wanted to get started as soon as possible. Looking over his team, you got the immediate feeling that he felt there was enough there to get the program going. He instilled hard work and a toughness in his players.

The season started out strong with a 10-2 non-conference record including wins over UConn and Georgetown, name teams that proved to be fool’s gold this season. A win on the road over a real deal team in Wichita State and the two losses were to NCAA top seed North Carolina and sixth-seed Maryland.

The real measuring stick wasn’t on the court or in the standings, it was in the stands of Gallagher-Iba Arena. The Big 12 Conference opener was at home with West Virginia against Underwood’s old boss and a mentor in Bob Huggins, who his SFA team had beaten in the NCAA Tournament the season before. The schools manufactured a sell-out crowd for the game despite the Cowboys football team being on the road the night before in San Antonio beating Colorado in the Alamo Bowl. [GoPokes $$$]

While most of the hay is in the barn, it’s both too early to conclude (pre-tournament) and pretty well determined that this year will be considered “successful.”

Going .500 in league play and being competitive darn near every other game is a standard (or at least dramatically closer to it). Selling a starving-for-success fan base on improvement in year one led to masses returning, to the tune of a 44 percent attendance boost that will leave Coach Holder $miling.

OSU and NCAA Notes

Cowboys are a top two “Helmet/Hoops” combo in the Big 12….K-State knocked off Wake Forest in the play-in game….Underwood earned $35k making the Dance, $40k if he wins it….Mike Leach likes to recruit guys who have played soccer…. Jordan Sterns (via ESPN Big 12 Mailbag) thinks Ramon will eat up the freedom to ballhawk in the middle of the field….Cowgirl Tennis senior brings home player of the week

Good snippet on the Mich/OSU matchup:

This was a part of easily the most friendly Twitter banter thread between two schools, probably ever.

Lindy Waters update from the Oklahoman:

The world’s handiest tournament viewing TV guide:

Another Cowboy great with an Arnie tribute:

What You Missed on PFB
Other Stuff I’m Reading

Low cost options to watch March Madness (if you don’t have cable)….I wouldn’t argue against Andre Roberson for Defensive Player of the Year…. Minimalism is not the gospel

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