JimBob
03-16-2008, 08:21 AM
Cowboys say they're more motivated for NIT this year
By JIMMIE TRAMEL World Sports Writer
3/16/2008
The way Oklahoma State ended last season -- with a homecourt loss to Marist in the first round of the NIT -- disgusted Marcus Dove.
"It really did," he said. "We never should have lost to that team, especially at home or even at their place. It really kind of made us mad."
OSU, which has lost in the first round of the NIT each of the last two seasons, likely will get a third consecutive NIT invitation on Sunday. Dove vowed things will be different.
"We are going to give everything we have and we are not going to end it like last year," he said.
In a press conference following the loss to Marist, Sutton said the game was a perfect example of one team that wanted to play in the NIT and one team that wanted to be on spring break.
Asked about what an NIT run could do for a young OSU team, Sutton said, "I think it would be really big to carry over the momentum we created down the stretch in the last four weeks. I thought it was imporstant that we came (to the Big 12 Tournament) and we won that first- round game. I hope that (NIT invitation) happens and we get a chance to play some more games and continue to develop the younger players and build confidence for the future. I don't know what's going to happen, but I think unlike last year where those two seniors had no interest in playing in the NIT, this team will."
Sutton benched seniors Mario Boggan and David Monds for all but six minutes of the Marist game.
"We really didn't have a lot of leadership and I think that was a big key," Dove said. "Like I said, whether we go or not, we are going to give everything we have and we are not going to end it like last year."
Top four seeds are blessed with first-round NIT home games. OSU had an RPI of 89 and got a No. 6 seed two seasons ago, when the Cowboys lost a first-round game at Miami, Fla. OSU had a 51 RPI and was a No. 2 seed last season. The Cowboys are 72 in the RPI this year, according to collegerpi.com, and should get a No. 4 seed, according to a Web site devoted to the NIT, nitology.com.
Byron Eaton was sad that he was not able to send seniors Dove and Tyler Hatch to the NCAA Tournament this season. Like Dove, he predicted the Cowboys won't go down without a fight in the NIT.
"We've got a lot of young guys who are eager to play some more," he said.
Freshman center Ibrahima Thomas, who scored a career-best 19 points in a Big 12 quarterfinal loss to Texas, said, "I just want us to finish the season big. We all know what we've got to do."
With the bulk of the roster returning, Sutton was asked if he is targeting next season as a year in which OSU returns to the NCAA Tournament.
"I think next year's team has got a chance to be really good," he said.
By JIMMIE TRAMEL World Sports Writer
3/16/2008
The way Oklahoma State ended last season -- with a homecourt loss to Marist in the first round of the NIT -- disgusted Marcus Dove.
"It really did," he said. "We never should have lost to that team, especially at home or even at their place. It really kind of made us mad."
OSU, which has lost in the first round of the NIT each of the last two seasons, likely will get a third consecutive NIT invitation on Sunday. Dove vowed things will be different.
"We are going to give everything we have and we are not going to end it like last year," he said.
In a press conference following the loss to Marist, Sutton said the game was a perfect example of one team that wanted to play in the NIT and one team that wanted to be on spring break.
Asked about what an NIT run could do for a young OSU team, Sutton said, "I think it would be really big to carry over the momentum we created down the stretch in the last four weeks. I thought it was imporstant that we came (to the Big 12 Tournament) and we won that first- round game. I hope that (NIT invitation) happens and we get a chance to play some more games and continue to develop the younger players and build confidence for the future. I don't know what's going to happen, but I think unlike last year where those two seniors had no interest in playing in the NIT, this team will."
Sutton benched seniors Mario Boggan and David Monds for all but six minutes of the Marist game.
"We really didn't have a lot of leadership and I think that was a big key," Dove said. "Like I said, whether we go or not, we are going to give everything we have and we are not going to end it like last year."
Top four seeds are blessed with first-round NIT home games. OSU had an RPI of 89 and got a No. 6 seed two seasons ago, when the Cowboys lost a first-round game at Miami, Fla. OSU had a 51 RPI and was a No. 2 seed last season. The Cowboys are 72 in the RPI this year, according to collegerpi.com, and should get a No. 4 seed, according to a Web site devoted to the NIT, nitology.com.
Byron Eaton was sad that he was not able to send seniors Dove and Tyler Hatch to the NCAA Tournament this season. Like Dove, he predicted the Cowboys won't go down without a fight in the NIT.
"We've got a lot of young guys who are eager to play some more," he said.
Freshman center Ibrahima Thomas, who scored a career-best 19 points in a Big 12 quarterfinal loss to Texas, said, "I just want us to finish the season big. We all know what we've got to do."
With the bulk of the roster returning, Sutton was asked if he is targeting next season as a year in which OSU returns to the NCAA Tournament.
"I think next year's team has got a chance to be really good," he said.