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Tech Coach Beard Says Oklahoma State a Top Two Big 12 Team

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Oklahoma State led Texas Tech 45-27 at halftime before cruising to a 17-point win on Saturday in Gallagher-Iba Arena. It was the first time the Pokes have swept the Red Raiders since 2013. Raiders first year coach Chris Beard was impressed.

“First of all, congratulations to Oklahoma State,” he said after the game. “They’re a well-coached team. Brad has done a great job. They likely have three all-conference players, and in my opinion, they’re one of the top two teams in the Big 12. They’re really well-coached, and their players are really good players, so congratulations to them.”

Whoooo boy. After Baylor’s loss on Saturday, OSU is just one game back of fourth place in the Big 12 (which is insane) with Kansas well ahead, West Virginia and Iowa State two games up and Baylor just one up on the Pokes.

“I think in the 0-6 stretch they had a couple of close games that could have gone either way, so if they’re sitting there at a 3-and-3 at that stretch, then the story isn’t quite what it is,” added Beard.

“I have so much respect for Brad, so I have to be careful how I word this, but I think that he would agree with me; he has really good players. He has an NBA point guard, one of the all-time great Big 12 players in [Phil] Forte, and in my opinion he has the most improved player, not only in Big 12, but in college basketball with [Jeffrey] Carroll.

“He has young players who really play their roles and play productive minutes. Put Brad on top of that, a guy who can really coach, they play defense. You’re not going to get an easy basket against Oklahoma State. They’re not going to beat themselves, for the most part, so I think they’re a team that will really play deep into the tournament.”

Hold me.

“We basically couldn’t guard them in the first half,” said Beard after Oklahoma State went 14-30 from the field and 8-16 from 3-point range.

“In those regards, you sit there and take it, or you try to give your players a chance to get back in the game. I don’t think there’s a difference in getting beat by 40 or by 2. I’m not over there trying to keep it close; we’re over there trying to win.

“Their four best players did their jobs today, and our team is just hit or miss. If we can ever get it to where our best four or five players produce, then we could be pretty good as well, but not today.”

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