JimBob
02-24-2008, 08:36 AM
Cowboys rise from depths, rock arena
By JOHN KLEIN Senior Sports Columnist
2/24/2008
STILLWATER -- Oklahoma State looked on the verge of collapse in the final five minutes against Kansas.
Much like OSU's season, it
wasn't over. The Cowboys still have some fight in them. And new life.
"I told the guys before the Baylor game that we have seven games left in the season and we can win all seven," OSU coach Sean Sutton said. "We've taken three big steps."
Oklahoma State, in a game that seemed to turn back the clock to a happier and more successful era, followed their coach's plan and pulled off one of the most unlikely upsets of the college basketball season.
"We wanted to keep the tempo and pace the way we wanted it," said Sutton.
Mission accomplished. Byron Eaton, playing once again like he's the rising star of the Big 12 Conference, knocked home the game-winning free throw with 12 seconds left in OSU's 61-60 upset of Kansas on Saturday.
"I told you guys we were going to fight back this year," said OSU's Obi Muonelo.
Eaton was sensational. He scored 26 points and had just five turnovers against the most talent-rich guard tandem in the country.
More importantly, he slowed the game down, running clock and frustrating the Jayhawks. Kansas relies on turnovers and steals to run away from teams.
The Jayhawks got zero points off fast breaks and just 17 off turnovers.
Eaton gave KU few chances to do what it really wants.
"We did a great job because we beat a great team," said Eaton. "We've kept working. The last few games we've been coming off ball screens and creating for guys.
"We played great defense. We had a tremendous effort on defense. We fought back. We stayed in the game."
The game, a reminder of what past showdowns with Kansas have been like, had Gallagher-Iba Arena rocking again.
It also has made O-State a serious player down the stretch. In the last eight days, OSU has beaten two ranked teams -- on the road at No. 16 Texas A&M and then at home over No. 4 Kansas.
"We beat a very good team last week and we beat a great team (Saturday)," said Sutton.
The Cowboys have now won four of their last five.
"Sean is doing a great job," said Self. "That's the sign of a good coach. He's getting his guys to play hard and they are getting better. We knew that coming in here.
"Sometimes it is tough to get a team back in there. There's no doubt they are playing much better."
They are playing much better because Eaton has become he player most felt he would be when he was one of the nation's top recruits three years ago.
In his last three games, Eaton has had 25, 17 and 26 points.He's had just nine turnovers in three games.
Self said it is no mystery what has happened to Oklahoma State.
"Eaton is playing better," said Self. "He's playing like one of the premier guards in the league, which he is."
The Cowboys led by as many as nine in the second half but then started to implode.
The Jayhawks wiped out the big deficit and appeared well on their way to rescuing another victory with a four-point lead just three minutes from the end.
To just about everyone in the gym, it appeared OSU had thrown away a chance at a big upset.
"I told the guys we didn't come this far to wilt at the end," said Sutton.
They didn't. The Cowboys got the lead back when Marcus Dove hit a 3-pointer with 58 seconds left.
"He hits that shot all the time in practice," said Sutton. "I felt good about it when it hit his hands."
Then, after Kansas tied the game at 60-60, Eaton hit a free throw with 12 seconds left. Kansas had a chance to win it at the end, but the shot from the corner by Brandon Rush just brushed the rim.
This won't derail Kansas. The Jayhawks are too good and too deep. But it certainly changes things for Oklahoma State.
By JOHN KLEIN Senior Sports Columnist
2/24/2008
STILLWATER -- Oklahoma State looked on the verge of collapse in the final five minutes against Kansas.
Much like OSU's season, it
wasn't over. The Cowboys still have some fight in them. And new life.
"I told the guys before the Baylor game that we have seven games left in the season and we can win all seven," OSU coach Sean Sutton said. "We've taken three big steps."
Oklahoma State, in a game that seemed to turn back the clock to a happier and more successful era, followed their coach's plan and pulled off one of the most unlikely upsets of the college basketball season.
"We wanted to keep the tempo and pace the way we wanted it," said Sutton.
Mission accomplished. Byron Eaton, playing once again like he's the rising star of the Big 12 Conference, knocked home the game-winning free throw with 12 seconds left in OSU's 61-60 upset of Kansas on Saturday.
"I told you guys we were going to fight back this year," said OSU's Obi Muonelo.
Eaton was sensational. He scored 26 points and had just five turnovers against the most talent-rich guard tandem in the country.
More importantly, he slowed the game down, running clock and frustrating the Jayhawks. Kansas relies on turnovers and steals to run away from teams.
The Jayhawks got zero points off fast breaks and just 17 off turnovers.
Eaton gave KU few chances to do what it really wants.
"We did a great job because we beat a great team," said Eaton. "We've kept working. The last few games we've been coming off ball screens and creating for guys.
"We played great defense. We had a tremendous effort on defense. We fought back. We stayed in the game."
The game, a reminder of what past showdowns with Kansas have been like, had Gallagher-Iba Arena rocking again.
It also has made O-State a serious player down the stretch. In the last eight days, OSU has beaten two ranked teams -- on the road at No. 16 Texas A&M and then at home over No. 4 Kansas.
"We beat a very good team last week and we beat a great team (Saturday)," said Sutton.
The Cowboys have now won four of their last five.
"Sean is doing a great job," said Self. "That's the sign of a good coach. He's getting his guys to play hard and they are getting better. We knew that coming in here.
"Sometimes it is tough to get a team back in there. There's no doubt they are playing much better."
They are playing much better because Eaton has become he player most felt he would be when he was one of the nation's top recruits three years ago.
In his last three games, Eaton has had 25, 17 and 26 points.He's had just nine turnovers in three games.
Self said it is no mystery what has happened to Oklahoma State.
"Eaton is playing better," said Self. "He's playing like one of the premier guards in the league, which he is."
The Cowboys led by as many as nine in the second half but then started to implode.
The Jayhawks wiped out the big deficit and appeared well on their way to rescuing another victory with a four-point lead just three minutes from the end.
To just about everyone in the gym, it appeared OSU had thrown away a chance at a big upset.
"I told the guys we didn't come this far to wilt at the end," said Sutton.
They didn't. The Cowboys got the lead back when Marcus Dove hit a 3-pointer with 58 seconds left.
"He hits that shot all the time in practice," said Sutton. "I felt good about it when it hit his hands."
Then, after Kansas tied the game at 60-60, Eaton hit a free throw with 12 seconds left. Kansas had a chance to win it at the end, but the shot from the corner by Brandon Rush just brushed the rim.
This won't derail Kansas. The Jayhawks are too good and too deep. But it certainly changes things for Oklahoma State.