JimBob
02-12-2008, 09:12 AM
Madness may march past state
By JOHN KLEIN Senior Sports Columnist
2/12/2008
OKLAHOMA AND OKLAHOMA STATE appear to be headed toward another quick end to the basketball season.
The Cowboys and Sooners haven't suffered so much at the same time in more than 20 years.
Tulsa, headed toward a fifth straight year with no NCAA or NIT, is in the midst of its worst basketball recession since the 1970s.
It has left much of the state looking forward to spring football.
Only Oral Roberts, winners of 12 straight Summit League games, seems to be on an upward swing. However, even the Eagles have hurdles -- they will probably have to win the conference tournament in early March to get an NCAA bid.
Oklahoma State's dive has been the most grueling, a losing record (11-12) and 19 straight losses on the road. Unless there is a dramatic shift in OSU fortunes, the Cowboys will have their third straight losing season in the Big 12.
Oklahoma seemed to be on the upswing, after missing the postseason a year ago, but has lost three straight and appears to be going the wrong direction at the halfway point of the conference season.
A year ago, ORU lost its first game in the NCAAs and OSU lost its first game in the NIT (to Marist, no less).
That could happen again, only with OU replacing OSU in the NIT.
The Cowboys are in the most trouble. They seemed hopeless in their last Big 12 game, a 21-point loss at Kansas State.
After a string of close losses in the league, the Cowboys do not appear to be any closer to a miraculous turnaround.
Still, hope always lives for coaches and players.
"I think our guys are doing fine," OSU coach Sean Sutton said on Monday.
That may be, but Sutton's future at OSU remains one of the hottest topics in the state.
Just five years removed from a Final Four, O-State has crashed.
The Cowboys were a fixture in the NCAA Tournament and the Top 25 under former coach Eddie Sutton. It has been a dramatic and immediate fall for OSU.
"I think we'll bounce back," Sean Sutton said.
That is a must if he wants to continue to coach in Stillwater. The level of dissatisfaction can be measured in the number of empty seats in Gallagher-Iba Arena.
Gallagher-Iba has gone from what many considered the loudest and perhaps best atmosphere in college basketball to just another half-full arena.
That's a direct reflection of the lack of success.
"We've got to be able to make shots and play," Sean Sutton said.
So far, that has not been happening.
"Their (Cowboys') confidence is a little fragile right now," Sean Sutton said. "No question it has been frustrating."
OU lost twice to open the Big 12 season but seemed to have righted the ship, even with an injury to super-freshman Blake Griffin. Then came this latest three-game losing streak.
Nothing went right in a blowout loss at Colorado on Saturday.
It is obvious Oklahoma has some serious problems, especially with Longar Longar out of the lineup.
"We're struggling right now," OU coach Jeff Capel said. "Obviously, we've lost three in a row. The loss to Colorado was tough.
"That was tough for our team."
Colorado hasn't been the only downer. Losing at home to Texas, losing at home to anyone, can be a devastating blow.
Yes, Oklahoma still appears to be on the bubble. However, the Sooners need to win the games they are supposed to win and maybe steal a victory or two down the stretch.
"We just aren't playing particularly well as of late," Capel said.
That could be said of just about every team around these parts right now.
Unless the final month of the season includes a big push, it would appear it'll be a quick March for the state.
By JOHN KLEIN Senior Sports Columnist
2/12/2008
OKLAHOMA AND OKLAHOMA STATE appear to be headed toward another quick end to the basketball season.
The Cowboys and Sooners haven't suffered so much at the same time in more than 20 years.
Tulsa, headed toward a fifth straight year with no NCAA or NIT, is in the midst of its worst basketball recession since the 1970s.
It has left much of the state looking forward to spring football.
Only Oral Roberts, winners of 12 straight Summit League games, seems to be on an upward swing. However, even the Eagles have hurdles -- they will probably have to win the conference tournament in early March to get an NCAA bid.
Oklahoma State's dive has been the most grueling, a losing record (11-12) and 19 straight losses on the road. Unless there is a dramatic shift in OSU fortunes, the Cowboys will have their third straight losing season in the Big 12.
Oklahoma seemed to be on the upswing, after missing the postseason a year ago, but has lost three straight and appears to be going the wrong direction at the halfway point of the conference season.
A year ago, ORU lost its first game in the NCAAs and OSU lost its first game in the NIT (to Marist, no less).
That could happen again, only with OU replacing OSU in the NIT.
The Cowboys are in the most trouble. They seemed hopeless in their last Big 12 game, a 21-point loss at Kansas State.
After a string of close losses in the league, the Cowboys do not appear to be any closer to a miraculous turnaround.
Still, hope always lives for coaches and players.
"I think our guys are doing fine," OSU coach Sean Sutton said on Monday.
That may be, but Sutton's future at OSU remains one of the hottest topics in the state.
Just five years removed from a Final Four, O-State has crashed.
The Cowboys were a fixture in the NCAA Tournament and the Top 25 under former coach Eddie Sutton. It has been a dramatic and immediate fall for OSU.
"I think we'll bounce back," Sean Sutton said.
That is a must if he wants to continue to coach in Stillwater. The level of dissatisfaction can be measured in the number of empty seats in Gallagher-Iba Arena.
Gallagher-Iba has gone from what many considered the loudest and perhaps best atmosphere in college basketball to just another half-full arena.
That's a direct reflection of the lack of success.
"We've got to be able to make shots and play," Sean Sutton said.
So far, that has not been happening.
"Their (Cowboys') confidence is a little fragile right now," Sean Sutton said. "No question it has been frustrating."
OU lost twice to open the Big 12 season but seemed to have righted the ship, even with an injury to super-freshman Blake Griffin. Then came this latest three-game losing streak.
Nothing went right in a blowout loss at Colorado on Saturday.
It is obvious Oklahoma has some serious problems, especially with Longar Longar out of the lineup.
"We're struggling right now," OU coach Jeff Capel said. "Obviously, we've lost three in a row. The loss to Colorado was tough.
"That was tough for our team."
Colorado hasn't been the only downer. Losing at home to Texas, losing at home to anyone, can be a devastating blow.
Yes, Oklahoma still appears to be on the bubble. However, the Sooners need to win the games they are supposed to win and maybe steal a victory or two down the stretch.
"We just aren't playing particularly well as of late," Capel said.
That could be said of just about every team around these parts right now.
Unless the final month of the season includes a big push, it would appear it'll be a quick March for the state.