AnniePokely
03-02-2008, 08:08 AM
By JOHN KLEIN Senior Sports Columnist
3/2/2008
STILLWATER -- Oklahoma State continued to make a loud and clear statement on Saturday.
The Cowboys, left for dead at midseason after a series of close losses, can now be included in the discussion for the NCAA Tournament. And you can forget any question about the future of coach Sean Sutton.
OSU made the case for itself, and its coach, against Nebraska.
"Everybody is on the same page," said OSU's Marcus Dove. "Everybody still believes."
In an unlikely battle of the Big 12 Conference's hottest teams, the Huskers were no match for the Cowboys.
"I've felt all along that OSU had one of the three or four most talented teams in the league," said Nebraska coach Doc Sadler. "They are now playing like that."
Nebraska, totally unaccustomed to playing significant basketball games in March, seemed out of synch against OSU.
The Cowboys continued their unexpected but inspired late-season surge, with a sixth victory in their last seven games. It puts them in the thick of the battle for an at-large NCAA bid out of the Big 12.
The Huskers never threatened OSU, who led by 10
in the first half. OSU cruised with an easy 77-63 victory on Saturday at Gallagher-Iba Arena.
"Obviously, that was a big win in the league standings and to keep this momentum going," said Sutton.
O-State is, without any question, the hottest team in the Big 12 heading into the final week of the regular season.
Nebraska, which had been on a similar surge in recent weeks, melted against OSU's wicked defense.
Three weeks ago, Sutton said he believed OSU could win its last seven games. Most dismissed it as an impossible dream.
Not anymore. The Cowboys have won five straight and have Oklahoma and Texas in the next eight days."
"We still have one week to go," said Sutton. "I'm not sure (when he said OSU could win its last seven) that anyone else believed it other than those guys in that locker room."
"We had lost a lot of close games. I felt it could turn."
It has, and has OSU once again thinking a spot in the NCAA Tournament is not out of the realm of possibility.
"We certainly aren't satisfied at this point," said Sutton. "Let's see if we can win these two games coming up."
The Cowboys lost seven of their first nine Big 12 games. Just three weeks ago, OSU had lost six straight games in the Big 12 and were tied with Colorado for last in the Big 12.
And many believed Sutton was all but out the door.
"Give Sean and those players a lot of credit for enduring such a difficult start," said Sadler.
Everything has changed for Oklahoma State in just three weeks.
"It all started in practice," said Eaton, who has become one of the league's premier players over this stretch. "We've just been helping each other. I feels a lot better to be winning.
"We've still got two huge games coming up. We need to get those and then go up to Kansas City (for the Big 12 Tournament) and sneak into the NCAA Tournament."
There's no need for a statement of support for Sutton. His team has made it for him. The final two games for the Cowboys are interesting. They get Oklahoma, who has been on the fade recently, in Stillwater on Wednesday.
Then, State goes to Texas.
A split of those two games would give OSU an 8-8 record in the league, a remarkable comeback from such a horrid start. The victory over Nebraska was yet another indication that this is no fluke.
"This (late-season surge) has been fun to coach and fun to watch," said Sutton.
OSU has become a legitimate threat to just about anyone in the Big 12. Not since the league opener against Texas Tech, a 19-point victory, have the Cowboys had such an easy victory.
OSU ran to a 13-point lead seven minutes into the second half. From that point, Nebraska was out of it.
"I just think we're getting better," said Sutton.
A lot better. The Cowboys have made it happen and Sutton should get the credit.
But this season is far from over. Just like it was far from over when OSU lost six straight.
http://www.tulsaworld.com/sports/col...8_ spanc53813
3/2/2008
STILLWATER -- Oklahoma State continued to make a loud and clear statement on Saturday.
The Cowboys, left for dead at midseason after a series of close losses, can now be included in the discussion for the NCAA Tournament. And you can forget any question about the future of coach Sean Sutton.
OSU made the case for itself, and its coach, against Nebraska.
"Everybody is on the same page," said OSU's Marcus Dove. "Everybody still believes."
In an unlikely battle of the Big 12 Conference's hottest teams, the Huskers were no match for the Cowboys.
"I've felt all along that OSU had one of the three or four most talented teams in the league," said Nebraska coach Doc Sadler. "They are now playing like that."
Nebraska, totally unaccustomed to playing significant basketball games in March, seemed out of synch against OSU.
The Cowboys continued their unexpected but inspired late-season surge, with a sixth victory in their last seven games. It puts them in the thick of the battle for an at-large NCAA bid out of the Big 12.
The Huskers never threatened OSU, who led by 10
in the first half. OSU cruised with an easy 77-63 victory on Saturday at Gallagher-Iba Arena.
"Obviously, that was a big win in the league standings and to keep this momentum going," said Sutton.
O-State is, without any question, the hottest team in the Big 12 heading into the final week of the regular season.
Nebraska, which had been on a similar surge in recent weeks, melted against OSU's wicked defense.
Three weeks ago, Sutton said he believed OSU could win its last seven games. Most dismissed it as an impossible dream.
Not anymore. The Cowboys have won five straight and have Oklahoma and Texas in the next eight days."
"We still have one week to go," said Sutton. "I'm not sure (when he said OSU could win its last seven) that anyone else believed it other than those guys in that locker room."
"We had lost a lot of close games. I felt it could turn."
It has, and has OSU once again thinking a spot in the NCAA Tournament is not out of the realm of possibility.
"We certainly aren't satisfied at this point," said Sutton. "Let's see if we can win these two games coming up."
The Cowboys lost seven of their first nine Big 12 games. Just three weeks ago, OSU had lost six straight games in the Big 12 and were tied with Colorado for last in the Big 12.
And many believed Sutton was all but out the door.
"Give Sean and those players a lot of credit for enduring such a difficult start," said Sadler.
Everything has changed for Oklahoma State in just three weeks.
"It all started in practice," said Eaton, who has become one of the league's premier players over this stretch. "We've just been helping each other. I feels a lot better to be winning.
"We've still got two huge games coming up. We need to get those and then go up to Kansas City (for the Big 12 Tournament) and sneak into the NCAA Tournament."
There's no need for a statement of support for Sutton. His team has made it for him. The final two games for the Cowboys are interesting. They get Oklahoma, who has been on the fade recently, in Stillwater on Wednesday.
Then, State goes to Texas.
A split of those two games would give OSU an 8-8 record in the league, a remarkable comeback from such a horrid start. The victory over Nebraska was yet another indication that this is no fluke.
"This (late-season surge) has been fun to coach and fun to watch," said Sutton.
OSU has become a legitimate threat to just about anyone in the Big 12. Not since the league opener against Texas Tech, a 19-point victory, have the Cowboys had such an easy victory.
OSU ran to a 13-point lead seven minutes into the second half. From that point, Nebraska was out of it.
"I just think we're getting better," said Sutton.
A lot better. The Cowboys have made it happen and Sutton should get the credit.
But this season is far from over. Just like it was far from over when OSU lost six straight.
http://www.tulsaworld.com/sports/col...8_ spanc53813