JimBob
12-08-2007, 09:22 AM
Sutton wary of foe
By JIMMIE TRAMEL World Sports Writer
12/8/2007
Last Modified: 12/8/2007 2:01 AM
Coach stresses that East Tennessee State is a dangerous team.
STILLWATER — With seven new players on the Oklahoma State basketball roster, coach Sean Sutton could have taken the confidence-builder approach to scheduling: Beat the stuffing out of creampuff opponents in nonleague games and strut into Big 12 play with a gaudy record.
But that would have been fool’s gold.
“I think it’s hard to do that if you want to have a chance to make the NCAA Tournament,” Sutton said.
OSU’s nonconference schedule features five games against schools from BCS conferences (including a date with 12th-ranked Pitt) and games against lesser-known opponents, some of which are equipped with fangs.
Categorize East Tennessee State as a member of the bite club.
The Buccaneers, who invade Gallagher-Iba Arena Saturday, won 24 games last season before dropping a firstround NIT road game to Clemson.
“This is a huge game on Saturday,” Sutton said. “Our guys are going to have to come ready to play and respond.”
The Cowboy staff crafted the nonconference schedule with an eye toward the all important RPI, a formula used to select and seed NCAA Tournaments. Schedule strength, and opponents’ schedules strength, are part of the RPI.
That makes scheduling tricky because you want to win as many games as possible while still playing respectable opponents.
The Cowboys won 39 games the past two seasons and settled for NIT trips.
“In our situation, we felt like we had to play the best opponents we could play and hope that you can still get enough wins during the nonconference schedule. . . . We tried to make our schedule as competitive as we could to give ourselves the best chance to have a chance to make the NCAA Tournament,” Sutton said.
From a strength of scheduling standpoint, Sutton believes his team will be fine.
The Cowboys already have played four straight games against BCS conference schools for the first time since the 1974-75 season.
Two other opponents (North Texas and Texas A&M-Corpus Christi) were NCAA Tournament qualifiers last season, as was upcoming opponent Oral Roberts.
Sutton is stressing that Saturday’s game — against a team aiming for a third NCAA Tournament appearance in the last six seasons — is critical.
“I hope we get a great turnout and fans are loud and I hope they understand that this is an important game for a young team and it’s another chance for us to get another quality win,” he said.
East Tennessee State returns its starting backcourt.
The Buccaneers’ most decorated player is 6-foot-1 junior guard Courtney Pigram, who was the Atlantic Sun Player of the Year and an honorable mention Associated Press All- American last season.
By JIMMIE TRAMEL World Sports Writer
12/8/2007
Last Modified: 12/8/2007 2:01 AM
Coach stresses that East Tennessee State is a dangerous team.
STILLWATER — With seven new players on the Oklahoma State basketball roster, coach Sean Sutton could have taken the confidence-builder approach to scheduling: Beat the stuffing out of creampuff opponents in nonleague games and strut into Big 12 play with a gaudy record.
But that would have been fool’s gold.
“I think it’s hard to do that if you want to have a chance to make the NCAA Tournament,” Sutton said.
OSU’s nonconference schedule features five games against schools from BCS conferences (including a date with 12th-ranked Pitt) and games against lesser-known opponents, some of which are equipped with fangs.
Categorize East Tennessee State as a member of the bite club.
The Buccaneers, who invade Gallagher-Iba Arena Saturday, won 24 games last season before dropping a firstround NIT road game to Clemson.
“This is a huge game on Saturday,” Sutton said. “Our guys are going to have to come ready to play and respond.”
The Cowboy staff crafted the nonconference schedule with an eye toward the all important RPI, a formula used to select and seed NCAA Tournaments. Schedule strength, and opponents’ schedules strength, are part of the RPI.
That makes scheduling tricky because you want to win as many games as possible while still playing respectable opponents.
The Cowboys won 39 games the past two seasons and settled for NIT trips.
“In our situation, we felt like we had to play the best opponents we could play and hope that you can still get enough wins during the nonconference schedule. . . . We tried to make our schedule as competitive as we could to give ourselves the best chance to have a chance to make the NCAA Tournament,” Sutton said.
From a strength of scheduling standpoint, Sutton believes his team will be fine.
The Cowboys already have played four straight games against BCS conference schools for the first time since the 1974-75 season.
Two other opponents (North Texas and Texas A&M-Corpus Christi) were NCAA Tournament qualifiers last season, as was upcoming opponent Oral Roberts.
Sutton is stressing that Saturday’s game — against a team aiming for a third NCAA Tournament appearance in the last six seasons — is critical.
“I hope we get a great turnout and fans are loud and I hope they understand that this is an important game for a young team and it’s another chance for us to get another quality win,” he said.
East Tennessee State returns its starting backcourt.
The Buccaneers’ most decorated player is 6-foot-1 junior guard Courtney Pigram, who was the Atlantic Sun Player of the Year and an honorable mention Associated Press All- American last season.