Notebook: Cowboys Fall to 3-Point Onslaught from Michigan

The Cowboys came up short on Friday, ending Brad Underwood’s first season at OSU. It was one heck of a college basketball game, regardless. And one heck of a year.

Let’s jump into the notebook.

• The Cowboys had met the Wolverines three times prior to Friday’s first-round matchup. OSU is now 1-3 all-time against the Maize and Blue. They fell to the Fab Five in the Sweet 16 in 1992, Big Country’s freshman year. Then they lost to the Wolverines in 1997 during their second-round NIT matchup when Desmond Mason was a freshman.

• We didn’t see the offensive explosion out of the gate we expected as each team failed to exceed 3 points in the first four minutes. The first ten minutes resembled more of a Big 10 football game than the most entertaining game of the Tournament so far.

• As both teams settled in we saw them act more like themselves. Michigan only committed two turnovers in each half and OSU had 10 for the game.

• Oklahoma State out-rebounded the Wolverines 40-21 and dominated the offensive glass 16-6. The Cowboys also took eight more shots than UM. But you don’t need offensive rebounds when you aren’t missing shots.

• OSU was nursing a 7-point lead for a good stretch in the first half before they gave up an 8-0 run. From them it was a back-and-forth affair most of the rest of the game.

• Jawun Evans was good, not great in the first half. 8 points on 3-of-12 shooting (0-2 from 3). Luckily, the rest of the team was 11-of-17 from the field. He had five first-half assists but four first-half turnovers. A couple of those could be laid at Mitchell Solomon’s feet as the All-American point guard tried to feed his big man.

• If Michigan hadn’t caught fire from deep early in the second half, it looked like OSU might have blown it open. Jawun Evans was just dissecting the Wolverine defense on the pick-and-roll.

• After starting the game 2-of-7 from beyond the arc, the Wolverines made 11 of their 15 3-pointers in the second half… That may be the only stat worth looking at in the loss. Yes, they made some contested shots but they also made some open shots. The kick-outs were killers.

• The Wolverines were white-hot but this wasn’t exactly in aberration. Michigan is ranked 7th in effective field goal percentage per KenPom and shoot the 3-ball at 38.7 percent (28th). The Cowboys allow opponents to shoot (on average) 52.8 percent effective field goal percentage. That’s 275th worst in the nation.

• The bottom line is that OSU will need to get a lot better on defense to take the next step. And they can.

And this is quite a stat…

Final ridiculous numbers: Michigan and Oklahoma State both scored 1.58 points per trip in the second half.

— John Gasaway (@JohnGasaway) March 17, 2017

• With 1:31 left Jawun Evans went to the line for a 1-and-1 opportunity. Knock those two down and it’s a one possession game. Unfortunately, he missed just the second free throw from OSU all game. That didn’t close the door on the Cowboys’ chances, but it made it an up-hill climb that they were just unable to make.

• Evans didn’t shoot the ball well. He needs to be a better finisher than he was but he is the only reason they are at this point. 23 points, 12 assists and seven rebounds. He had four turnovers in the first half but none in the second. He was really pretty great.

Which leads us to some good news.

FWIW, in the locker room, Jawun Evans said "most likely, I'll be back." Per @BerryTramel

— John Helsley (@jjhelsley) March 17, 2017

• Davon Dillard was great off the bench. 12 points on seven shots and three rebounds before fouling out late. He should only get better. It will be fun to see him develop.

• Jeffery Carroll was his usual efficient self. 19 points on eight (!) shots. 3-of-4 from beyond the arc and five rebounds. What a special year he had.

• Mitchell Solomon has improved maybe as much as anyone aside from Carroll. Take your Underwood-Ford comparisons and leave them at the door. That’s the difference. Give Undie time to develop his guys and fully implement his system and come talk to me.

• Phil Forte III has played his last game as a Cowboy. It’s really hard to believe. He probably would have wanted to end his career above 12 points and better than 1-of-4 from 3 but he ends his career as the all-time leader in makes from 3 with 328.

And this on that buzzer-beater 3 from Evans..

Vegas loved that Oklahoma State backdoor cover pic.twitter.com/bOVyf1z3bg

— Doug Bowman (@_DougBowman) March 17, 2017

• Oklahoma State’s squad will look a lot different next year, whether Jawun Evans comes back or not. Another first-round exit is not what any of us wanted to see, but this feels more like the beginning of something fun than another redundant disappointment.