JimBob
03-01-2008, 08:25 AM
OSU surging, but Huskers hot, too
By JIMMIE TRAMEL World Sports Writer
3/1/2008
Both teams are on winning streaks and have beaten ranked teams recently.
STILLWATER -- Two weeks ago, after a blowout loss at Kansas State, Oklahoma State basketball coach Sean Sutton told his players they could win the final seven games of the regular season if they performed up to their capabilities.
Are you kidding? OSU was 11-12 when Sutton delivered the message, hadn't won a road game in two years and hadn't beaten a ranked team this season.
Now the Cowboys have won four consecutive games -- two against ranked teams, two on the road -- to get in position to accomplish something that hasn't been done in more than 60 years.
OSU is trying to win its final seven regular season games for the first time since 1946, when the Cowboys won their last 11 regular-season games en route to a second consecutive national championship.
"I'm rooting for them too," said Sam Aubrey, who played on the '46 squad and later was OSU's head coach. "I'm pulling for old Sean. He's had a pretty hard start."
Aubrey said it's wonderful that OSU has turned its season around. The Cowboys' quest to hurriedly patch together an NCAA Tournament resume continues with a Saturday home game against Nebraska.
Texas, which has won eight consecutive games, is the Big 12's hottest team. But OSU and Nebraska are only a few degrees behind. The Cornhuskers have won three in a row, including consecutive victories over ranked opponents for the first time since 1999.
"They put together three really impressive wins, beating Kansas State, winning at Texas A&M and beating Oklahoma," Sutton said. "(Aleks) Maric is a great low-post player and puts a lot of pressure on your defense, but their other guys are stepping up and playing well."
OSU has not beaten Nebraska in a regular-season game since winning an overtime game at Gallagher-Iba Arena in 2004. The Cowboys lost 85-73 in Lincoln last season and got even by beating the Huskers 54-39 in a first-round Big 12 Tournament game at the Ford Center in Oklahoma City.
"They shot it great at their place," Sutton said. "They got out ahead of us right off the bat and just defensively we didn't play very well in that game and they played good offense. In Oklahoma City, I thought we were more aggressive at the defensive end and did a better job defending certain things than we did the first time around."
If OSU can get past Nebraska, the Cowboys would have to win a home game against Oklahoma and a road game at Texas to complete their goal of winning the last seven regular-season games.
OSU started 18-3 last season, then went 4-10 down the stretch. Why did last season's Cowboys regress and why are this season's Cowboys making progress? Sutton said depth is a factor.
OSU had only eight healthy scholarship players during much of last season. There weren't enough bodies to simulate game combat in practices and Sutton said "guys just got tired."
Now OSU has more players who can legitimately compete for playing time. Reserves push starters during practices and many of them -- Nick Sidorakis, Martavius Adams, Tyler Hatch and Marshall Moses -- have taken turns making significant plays during the four-game winning streak.
"If you have got young players on your team, they bring energy every day in practice and our practices have been competitive and the freshmen have done a good job of making the veterans work every day," Sutton said. "I think that has been one reason they have made improvement because our practice sessions have been competitive."
By JIMMIE TRAMEL World Sports Writer
3/1/2008
Both teams are on winning streaks and have beaten ranked teams recently.
STILLWATER -- Two weeks ago, after a blowout loss at Kansas State, Oklahoma State basketball coach Sean Sutton told his players they could win the final seven games of the regular season if they performed up to their capabilities.
Are you kidding? OSU was 11-12 when Sutton delivered the message, hadn't won a road game in two years and hadn't beaten a ranked team this season.
Now the Cowboys have won four consecutive games -- two against ranked teams, two on the road -- to get in position to accomplish something that hasn't been done in more than 60 years.
OSU is trying to win its final seven regular season games for the first time since 1946, when the Cowboys won their last 11 regular-season games en route to a second consecutive national championship.
"I'm rooting for them too," said Sam Aubrey, who played on the '46 squad and later was OSU's head coach. "I'm pulling for old Sean. He's had a pretty hard start."
Aubrey said it's wonderful that OSU has turned its season around. The Cowboys' quest to hurriedly patch together an NCAA Tournament resume continues with a Saturday home game against Nebraska.
Texas, which has won eight consecutive games, is the Big 12's hottest team. But OSU and Nebraska are only a few degrees behind. The Cornhuskers have won three in a row, including consecutive victories over ranked opponents for the first time since 1999.
"They put together three really impressive wins, beating Kansas State, winning at Texas A&M and beating Oklahoma," Sutton said. "(Aleks) Maric is a great low-post player and puts a lot of pressure on your defense, but their other guys are stepping up and playing well."
OSU has not beaten Nebraska in a regular-season game since winning an overtime game at Gallagher-Iba Arena in 2004. The Cowboys lost 85-73 in Lincoln last season and got even by beating the Huskers 54-39 in a first-round Big 12 Tournament game at the Ford Center in Oklahoma City.
"They shot it great at their place," Sutton said. "They got out ahead of us right off the bat and just defensively we didn't play very well in that game and they played good offense. In Oklahoma City, I thought we were more aggressive at the defensive end and did a better job defending certain things than we did the first time around."
If OSU can get past Nebraska, the Cowboys would have to win a home game against Oklahoma and a road game at Texas to complete their goal of winning the last seven regular-season games.
OSU started 18-3 last season, then went 4-10 down the stretch. Why did last season's Cowboys regress and why are this season's Cowboys making progress? Sutton said depth is a factor.
OSU had only eight healthy scholarship players during much of last season. There weren't enough bodies to simulate game combat in practices and Sutton said "guys just got tired."
Now OSU has more players who can legitimately compete for playing time. Reserves push starters during practices and many of them -- Nick Sidorakis, Martavius Adams, Tyler Hatch and Marshall Moses -- have taken turns making significant plays during the four-game winning streak.
"If you have got young players on your team, they bring energy every day in practice and our practices have been competitive and the freshmen have done a good job of making the veterans work every day," Sutton said. "I think that has been one reason they have made improvement because our practice sessions have been competitive."