JimBob
03-13-2008, 11:18 AM
Muonelo's play is key to Pokes' future
By JIMMIE TRAMEL World Sports Writer
3/13/2008
Obi is a leader in many ways, teammate Marcus Dove says.
KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- History shows that Oklahoma State could win a first-round Big 12 Tournament game against Texas Tech by harnessing the power of Obi Muonelo.
In conference games this season, no Cowboy took more shots -- or missed more shots -- than Muonelo.
Sean Sutton yanked Muonelo out of games when the sophomore guard launched shots that seemed to rank too high on the degree-of-difficulty scale. But one reason Sutton is a Muonelo supporter is because of eruption potential.
Way back in a Big 12 opener against Texas Tech, Muonelo singlehandedly blew open a close game by scoring on five consecutive possessions. He spurted for 14 points in 2:27 of game time, including four consecutive 3-pointers in 1:35.
"I think that's one of the things he does for our team is he has got the ability to explode and make several shots in a short amount of time," Sutton said.
By the time Muonelo scored the last of his 21 points that day, OSU sported its biggest lead (26) in a Big 12 game all season and was well on the way to a 74-55 triumph at Gallagher-Iba Arena.
Afterward, the kid with the "Star Wars" first name joked, "The force is with me."
Sutton hopes the force will be strong with Muonelo again when OSU faces Texas Tech in an 11:30 a.m. Thursday first-round Big 12 Tournament game at the Sprint Center. The Cowboys, who fell off the NCAA Tournament bubble by losing their final two regular season games, must win the Big 12 Tournament in order to salvage an NCAA trip.
Muonelo was 1-of-8 from 3-point range in a regular season finale at Texas. It wasn't his first taste of being more miss than hit. He was 1-of-12 from the field and 1-of-6 from 3-point range against Missouri. He was 4-of-12 and 1-of-5 in a homecourt win over Baylor. He was 1-of-8 and 0-of-5 against Colorado.
Every player has an off night every now and then. But Muonelo is too busy attacking to be in a slump.
"He's aggressive and he's one of those players that you like because he doesn't have any conscience," Sutton said. "He misses five in a row and it doesn't matter because he thinks he's going to make the next one. That's one of the things that I admire about him."
Sutton said he coached past players -- Joe Adkins sprang to mind -- who had similar mindsets.
No coach wants a player to shoot his team out of a game. Sutton was asked if he ever considers reining in Muonelo. "Sometimes," he said. "But I just think he is such an explosive weapon and can score. Some guys, you've got to give them the freedom to make some plays."
Muonelo began the season as a starter, came off the bench the next 15 games and started the last 11. Sutton said Muonelo has become a better player since early in the season, when he "just wanted to shoot jump shots." Muonelo reverted back to a slashing, driving style that helped him set a school record by scoring in double figures the first 10 games of his freshman season.
Muonelo missed the bulk of his freshman season with a broken foot. In his first full season, he is OSU's fourth-leading scorer and ranks second in assists.
"I think Obi is a scorer and a playmaker at the same time," said senior forward Marcus Dove, indicating that Muonelo penetrates and gets open shots for teammates. "There are a lot of parts to Obi's game besides scoring that really help us."
By JIMMIE TRAMEL World Sports Writer
3/13/2008
Obi is a leader in many ways, teammate Marcus Dove says.
KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- History shows that Oklahoma State could win a first-round Big 12 Tournament game against Texas Tech by harnessing the power of Obi Muonelo.
In conference games this season, no Cowboy took more shots -- or missed more shots -- than Muonelo.
Sean Sutton yanked Muonelo out of games when the sophomore guard launched shots that seemed to rank too high on the degree-of-difficulty scale. But one reason Sutton is a Muonelo supporter is because of eruption potential.
Way back in a Big 12 opener against Texas Tech, Muonelo singlehandedly blew open a close game by scoring on five consecutive possessions. He spurted for 14 points in 2:27 of game time, including four consecutive 3-pointers in 1:35.
"I think that's one of the things he does for our team is he has got the ability to explode and make several shots in a short amount of time," Sutton said.
By the time Muonelo scored the last of his 21 points that day, OSU sported its biggest lead (26) in a Big 12 game all season and was well on the way to a 74-55 triumph at Gallagher-Iba Arena.
Afterward, the kid with the "Star Wars" first name joked, "The force is with me."
Sutton hopes the force will be strong with Muonelo again when OSU faces Texas Tech in an 11:30 a.m. Thursday first-round Big 12 Tournament game at the Sprint Center. The Cowboys, who fell off the NCAA Tournament bubble by losing their final two regular season games, must win the Big 12 Tournament in order to salvage an NCAA trip.
Muonelo was 1-of-8 from 3-point range in a regular season finale at Texas. It wasn't his first taste of being more miss than hit. He was 1-of-12 from the field and 1-of-6 from 3-point range against Missouri. He was 4-of-12 and 1-of-5 in a homecourt win over Baylor. He was 1-of-8 and 0-of-5 against Colorado.
Every player has an off night every now and then. But Muonelo is too busy attacking to be in a slump.
"He's aggressive and he's one of those players that you like because he doesn't have any conscience," Sutton said. "He misses five in a row and it doesn't matter because he thinks he's going to make the next one. That's one of the things that I admire about him."
Sutton said he coached past players -- Joe Adkins sprang to mind -- who had similar mindsets.
No coach wants a player to shoot his team out of a game. Sutton was asked if he ever considers reining in Muonelo. "Sometimes," he said. "But I just think he is such an explosive weapon and can score. Some guys, you've got to give them the freedom to make some plays."
Muonelo began the season as a starter, came off the bench the next 15 games and started the last 11. Sutton said Muonelo has become a better player since early in the season, when he "just wanted to shoot jump shots." Muonelo reverted back to a slashing, driving style that helped him set a school record by scoring in double figures the first 10 games of his freshman season.
Muonelo missed the bulk of his freshman season with a broken foot. In his first full season, he is OSU's fourth-leading scorer and ranks second in assists.
"I think Obi is a scorer and a playmaker at the same time," said senior forward Marcus Dove, indicating that Muonelo penetrates and gets open shots for teammates. "There are a lot of parts to Obi's game besides scoring that really help us."