WyomingOSUAlum
02-28-2008, 07:28 AM
http://newsok.com/article/3209553/1204174741
By Berry Tramel
The Oklahoman
A hallmark of Eddie Sutton teams was improvement. His teams almost always got better as the season progressed.
Now Sean Sutton's team is doing the same.
The beleaguered Oklahoma State basketball coach seemed down for the count two weeks ago, when his squad was 2-7 and buzzards circled.
Since then, OSU has won four straight and is winning all sorts of ways. Grinding with tough defense against Texas A&M and Kansas. Offensive firepower against Baylor and Missouri. Clutch defense at the end of close games when the opponent has the ball; a clutch shot (thank you, Byron Eaton) at the end of a close game when the Cowboys had possession.
"We've had other teams that got off to tough starts,” Sean said Wednesday, a day after a 75-73 victory over Missouri. "It's been rewarding to see that reflection of teams we've had.”
Sean's team a year ago went the other way, finishing 22-13 after a 15-1 start.
The current trend is a lot more indicative of the Sutton era. Eddie Sutton's best teams — 1992, 1995, 2000, 2004-05 — were good from the start. But his other teams almost always shifted into higher gear down the homestretch.
In 1993, OSU started 1-3 in the Big Eight but then went 7-3. In 1994, it was 2-2 and 8-2. In 1996, 0-5 and 7-2. In '97, 1-4 and 6-5. In '98, 2-3 and 9-2. In '02, 2-3 and 8-3.
That was a sign of good coaching. Players and team getting better.
Finally, we're seeing that out of Sean's team. Eaton has turned into a tremendous point guard. Obi Muonelo is much more aggressive. Freshmen Ibrahima Thomas and Martavius Adams are becoming serviceable centers.
This is not the same team we saw a few weeks ago.
"The players deserve a lot of credit,” Sean said. "We got in that hole early, but they kept working.”
Now the pressure has lessened on Sean, and the future seems brighter. Both for a potential run in the Big 12 Tournament and next season, since Marcus Dove is the lone senior.
"The way these guys have played down the stretch, I think we've got a chance to be really, really good next year,” Sean said.
The Cowboys already are better this season. That's a Sutton trademark. Any Sutton trademarks that Sean claims, too, is nothing but good for his own future.
By Berry Tramel
The Oklahoman
A hallmark of Eddie Sutton teams was improvement. His teams almost always got better as the season progressed.
Now Sean Sutton's team is doing the same.
The beleaguered Oklahoma State basketball coach seemed down for the count two weeks ago, when his squad was 2-7 and buzzards circled.
Since then, OSU has won four straight and is winning all sorts of ways. Grinding with tough defense against Texas A&M and Kansas. Offensive firepower against Baylor and Missouri. Clutch defense at the end of close games when the opponent has the ball; a clutch shot (thank you, Byron Eaton) at the end of a close game when the Cowboys had possession.
"We've had other teams that got off to tough starts,” Sean said Wednesday, a day after a 75-73 victory over Missouri. "It's been rewarding to see that reflection of teams we've had.”
Sean's team a year ago went the other way, finishing 22-13 after a 15-1 start.
The current trend is a lot more indicative of the Sutton era. Eddie Sutton's best teams — 1992, 1995, 2000, 2004-05 — were good from the start. But his other teams almost always shifted into higher gear down the homestretch.
In 1993, OSU started 1-3 in the Big Eight but then went 7-3. In 1994, it was 2-2 and 8-2. In 1996, 0-5 and 7-2. In '97, 1-4 and 6-5. In '98, 2-3 and 9-2. In '02, 2-3 and 8-3.
That was a sign of good coaching. Players and team getting better.
Finally, we're seeing that out of Sean's team. Eaton has turned into a tremendous point guard. Obi Muonelo is much more aggressive. Freshmen Ibrahima Thomas and Martavius Adams are becoming serviceable centers.
This is not the same team we saw a few weeks ago.
"The players deserve a lot of credit,” Sean said. "We got in that hole early, but they kept working.”
Now the pressure has lessened on Sean, and the future seems brighter. Both for a potential run in the Big 12 Tournament and next season, since Marcus Dove is the lone senior.
"The way these guys have played down the stretch, I think we've got a chance to be really, really good next year,” Sean said.
The Cowboys already are better this season. That's a Sutton trademark. Any Sutton trademarks that Sean claims, too, is nothing but good for his own future.