JimBob
03-12-2008, 07:47 AM
Cowgirls savor first-round bye
By LYNN JACOBSEN World Sports Writer
3/12/2008
KANSAS CITY -- In the previous 11 years of the Big 12 Conference Tournament, Oklahoma State never earned a first-round bye.
But in Kurt Budke's third season, and a year after going from last to first, the third-seeded Cowgirls enjoyed watching first-round action Tuesday at Municipal Auditorium.
The last time the Cowgirls won an opening round Big 12 Tournament game was 2003, when they beat Missouri 56-54.
Since Budke's arrival, the Cowgirls have gone from last place (0-16) in the Big 12 in 2006 to a legitimate threat to win the conference tournament.
They will face Kansas in a 8:30 p.m. quarterfinal game Wednesday. The game will air on FSN-Cox 27.
"I know it's uncharted territory for the program but we don't talk about the past," Budke said. "These girls see what is ahead of them and they aren't afraid to go out and achieve a Big 12 championship.
"What our girls remember is last year getting beat in the first round and they don't want to let that happen again."
The first-round loss remains fresh in the mind of sophomore point guard Andrea Riley.
"We have a lot of emotion from that," she said.
"We've already gotten farther than last year just because of the bye. But it motivates us to keep going. We know we can win this tournament."
The Cowgirls enter on a three-game win streak and were the only team to defeat Baylor twice this season.
"We feel good about our team right now," Budke said. "Going into Baylor and getting that win was huge for the kids' confidence."
Oklahoma State (23-6) had little time to prepare for the Jayhawks. No. 11 seed KU dropped Nebraska 72-67 in Tuesday's late game.
"We just have to focus on what we can do," Budke said. "We have to do what has gotten us this far, rebound the basketball and good defense. In most of our big wins, we have out-rebounded the other team."
The Cowgirls also have had balanced scoring while winning seven of their last 10.
"It's so crucial for us to have that third and fourth player in double figures," Budke said.
"We can't rely solely on Andrea Riley. We have to have Shaunte' (Smith), Taylor (Hardeman) and Danielle (Green) do their part too."
Riley, the Big 12 scoring leader at 22.8 points a game, said the Cowgirls are ready.
"Practices were great, they were intense and everyone is working hard," she said. "We're ready to play."
The layoff might have been the hardest part for the Cowgirls, who haven't played in seven days.
"We wanted to play the next night," Budke said.
"I'd rather have the noon game. I hate waiting around. It happened to us last year and we didn't handle that well."
One thing Budke remains prideful about is that OSU has played well in each of its six losses.
"We didn't get blown out," he said. "There are teams that our ranked higher than us that can't say that."
By LYNN JACOBSEN World Sports Writer
3/12/2008
KANSAS CITY -- In the previous 11 years of the Big 12 Conference Tournament, Oklahoma State never earned a first-round bye.
But in Kurt Budke's third season, and a year after going from last to first, the third-seeded Cowgirls enjoyed watching first-round action Tuesday at Municipal Auditorium.
The last time the Cowgirls won an opening round Big 12 Tournament game was 2003, when they beat Missouri 56-54.
Since Budke's arrival, the Cowgirls have gone from last place (0-16) in the Big 12 in 2006 to a legitimate threat to win the conference tournament.
They will face Kansas in a 8:30 p.m. quarterfinal game Wednesday. The game will air on FSN-Cox 27.
"I know it's uncharted territory for the program but we don't talk about the past," Budke said. "These girls see what is ahead of them and they aren't afraid to go out and achieve a Big 12 championship.
"What our girls remember is last year getting beat in the first round and they don't want to let that happen again."
The first-round loss remains fresh in the mind of sophomore point guard Andrea Riley.
"We have a lot of emotion from that," she said.
"We've already gotten farther than last year just because of the bye. But it motivates us to keep going. We know we can win this tournament."
The Cowgirls enter on a three-game win streak and were the only team to defeat Baylor twice this season.
"We feel good about our team right now," Budke said. "Going into Baylor and getting that win was huge for the kids' confidence."
Oklahoma State (23-6) had little time to prepare for the Jayhawks. No. 11 seed KU dropped Nebraska 72-67 in Tuesday's late game.
"We just have to focus on what we can do," Budke said. "We have to do what has gotten us this far, rebound the basketball and good defense. In most of our big wins, we have out-rebounded the other team."
The Cowgirls also have had balanced scoring while winning seven of their last 10.
"It's so crucial for us to have that third and fourth player in double figures," Budke said.
"We can't rely solely on Andrea Riley. We have to have Shaunte' (Smith), Taylor (Hardeman) and Danielle (Green) do their part too."
Riley, the Big 12 scoring leader at 22.8 points a game, said the Cowgirls are ready.
"Practices were great, they were intense and everyone is working hard," she said. "We're ready to play."
The layoff might have been the hardest part for the Cowgirls, who haven't played in seven days.
"We wanted to play the next night," Budke said.
"I'd rather have the noon game. I hate waiting around. It happened to us last year and we didn't handle that well."
One thing Budke remains prideful about is that OSU has played well in each of its six losses.
"We didn't get blown out," he said. "There are teams that our ranked higher than us that can't say that."