Five Thoughts On Oklahoma State’s 58-55 Win Over Kansas State

BOX SCORE

Yay?

Oklahoma State prevailed over Kansas State in over time 58-55 on Saturday afternoon which, to their credit, was impressive considering they were without their two best players (who are much better than their other 13 players).

Leyton Hammonds led the way with 13 points and six boards (on 5/18 shooting). Jeff Newberry chipped in 10-10-5 (3/12 from the field) and Tavarius Shine had 11.

The teams combined to shoot 37/106, turn it over 37 times and commit 37 fouls. It was … really bad. Five thoughts on the game.

1. That OSU Offense

It’s so much easier for Kansas State (and other teams) to score than it is for Oklahoma State. OSU’s offense without Jawun Evans is like the Texas State Fair on the day of the OU-Texas game. In other words, a hot, congested miserable mess. It survived because Kansas State fell behind early and could not stop turning the ball over, but my goodness.

The Big 12’s best free throw shooting team (yep, look it up) was also 10/17 from the line and could muster a meager 12 assists in 45 minutes of hoops. On the bright side, they at least understand they’re a volume three-point shooting team and pulled 33 times from deep (hitting 10 of them). So that’s something.

2. OSU Doesn’t Quit

Without Jawun Evans, Oklahoma State’s basketball players are not very good compared to the other basketball players in the Big 12. Nobody disagrees with this statement. If you do, you are likely related to one of these basketball players or bleed more orange than Walt Garrison.

That being said, Travis Ford’s dudes don’t quit. It would have been easy to lay down and roll over three weeks ago, but they keep grinding in the face of some severe inadequacies. I’ll remember Ford’s teams for that (or at least I’ll try to) whenever this era has (mercifully) ended.

3. End of Regulation was Bonkers

OSU almost won it in regulation on this prayer from Jeff Newberry after Kansas State took a 20-foot 8-inch two-pointer with 15 seconds left in a tie game.

Well that was close. Newberry's shot comes less than a second after the buzzer & we're headed to overtime! #okstate https://t.co/rqOURGkape

— Cowboy Basketball (@OSUMBB) February 13, 2016

It wasn’t exactly Vic Williams against OU, but it still would have been pretty fantastic. Alas …

Nope. pic.twitter.com/jb7JHBGx4t

— Pistols Firing (@pistolsguys) February 13, 2016

4. Worst Game of Ford Era?

I don’t just mean OSU. Kansas State is egregious. They beat OU?! These two teams have wins over Kansas and OU?!

I texted Carson in the middle of the second half and said, “what am I watching?” His response: “a NIT game.” Hardly! It was a glorified CBI game. It was more like a preseason NIT game in which two teams were accidentally invited based on last season’s results rather than this season’s potential. It was some truly horrendous basketball.

5. Hope You Enjoyed It

That might have been OSU’s last win.

Next six go like this:

at Kansas
Tech at home
at OU
WVU at home
at Iowa State
Texas at home

Five ranked teams. Three top 15 teams on the road. Yikes.