JimBob
12-16-2007, 07:43 AM
Pittsburgh pummels Cowboys
By Staff Reports
12/16/2007
Sutton says despite the score, OSU is making progress.
PITTSBURGH -- Oklahoma State fell to 5-4 Saturday with an 85-68 loss to unbeaten, No. 11 Pitt at Peterson Events Center.
So which way do you want to spin it?
Is OSU so flawed that this is destined to be a season of mediocrity?
Or did the Cowboys show tiny signs of progress that might indicate this team is capable of turning the corner?
"I am disappointed that we lost the game, but I thought we competed throughout the game," coach Sean Sutton said. "Our execution wasn't perfect. The end result was not good. But there are some things we can take out of this game and build on."
Few outside the OSU locker room expected the Cowboys to exit Pitt with a victory. OSU has lost 14 consecutive road games dating to the 2005-06 season and Pitt owns one of the best home court advantages in college hoops. The Panthers are 88-8 at home since Peterson Events Center opened, including 55-1 against nonconference opponents.
OSU, which became the 27th straight nonleague visitor to lose at Pitt, matched the Panthers nearly point for point during the first 13 minutes. Then a nationally televised (ESPN) staredown was spoiled by a flinch that killed. Jamie Dixon's team went on a 20-5 run for an 18-point halftime lead.
Giving up late first-half runs also got OSU in trouble during lopsided losses to Marquette and Illinois in the EA Sports Maui Invitational. The Cowboys trailed by 13 and 18 at halftime of those games.
"It's going to be a process with a young team," Sutton said. "I know we are a lot better team now than we were out in Maui. Hopefully we will make the same amount of improvement over the next two or three weeks."
Why does Sutton think OSU is better than they were in Maui? His team fought back instead of folding.
OSU cut Pitt's lead to seven points midway through the second half, but missed seven shots (including four 3-point attempts) and committed a turnover before scoring again.
The Cowboys then got 3- pointers from Terrel Harris and Obi Muonelo to get within single digits one last time. The Panthers poured in 23 points in the last 6:37 to improve to 10-0.
"In this game, I think we competed a little bit more and had a little bit more respect for ourselves," Harris said.
In order to pull off an upset, OSU likely needed prize rookie James Anderson to be the best freshman on the floor.
Anderson was held to single digits for the first time in his career and finished with eight points on 2-of-8 shooting. Meanwhile, Pitt got 20 points, 10 rebounds and five blocks from 6-foot-7, 265-pound freshman post player DeJuan Blair. He was among five Panther players in double figures.
"He is a great player for a freshman and he was working down there," Harris said. "He is a horse."
Marcus Dove led OSU with 17 points. Harris scored 16 points and matched a career high with nine rebounds.
Sutton said his team showed progress in regard to rebounding (the Cowboys outboarded the Panthers by five) and penetrating rather than settling for 3-point attempts. Entering this game, more than 40 percent of OSU's shots were from 3-point range. The school record of 33.5 percent was established during the 1998-99 season.
But Dove said the Cowboys need to be tougher mentally. "We've got to just push through whether we are fatigued and have just got to push through and follow our defensive principles and continue to run the offense. No matter what happens, as long as we stay mentally tough, we can be real good."
By Staff Reports
12/16/2007
Sutton says despite the score, OSU is making progress.
PITTSBURGH -- Oklahoma State fell to 5-4 Saturday with an 85-68 loss to unbeaten, No. 11 Pitt at Peterson Events Center.
So which way do you want to spin it?
Is OSU so flawed that this is destined to be a season of mediocrity?
Or did the Cowboys show tiny signs of progress that might indicate this team is capable of turning the corner?
"I am disappointed that we lost the game, but I thought we competed throughout the game," coach Sean Sutton said. "Our execution wasn't perfect. The end result was not good. But there are some things we can take out of this game and build on."
Few outside the OSU locker room expected the Cowboys to exit Pitt with a victory. OSU has lost 14 consecutive road games dating to the 2005-06 season and Pitt owns one of the best home court advantages in college hoops. The Panthers are 88-8 at home since Peterson Events Center opened, including 55-1 against nonconference opponents.
OSU, which became the 27th straight nonleague visitor to lose at Pitt, matched the Panthers nearly point for point during the first 13 minutes. Then a nationally televised (ESPN) staredown was spoiled by a flinch that killed. Jamie Dixon's team went on a 20-5 run for an 18-point halftime lead.
Giving up late first-half runs also got OSU in trouble during lopsided losses to Marquette and Illinois in the EA Sports Maui Invitational. The Cowboys trailed by 13 and 18 at halftime of those games.
"It's going to be a process with a young team," Sutton said. "I know we are a lot better team now than we were out in Maui. Hopefully we will make the same amount of improvement over the next two or three weeks."
Why does Sutton think OSU is better than they were in Maui? His team fought back instead of folding.
OSU cut Pitt's lead to seven points midway through the second half, but missed seven shots (including four 3-point attempts) and committed a turnover before scoring again.
The Cowboys then got 3- pointers from Terrel Harris and Obi Muonelo to get within single digits one last time. The Panthers poured in 23 points in the last 6:37 to improve to 10-0.
"In this game, I think we competed a little bit more and had a little bit more respect for ourselves," Harris said.
In order to pull off an upset, OSU likely needed prize rookie James Anderson to be the best freshman on the floor.
Anderson was held to single digits for the first time in his career and finished with eight points on 2-of-8 shooting. Meanwhile, Pitt got 20 points, 10 rebounds and five blocks from 6-foot-7, 265-pound freshman post player DeJuan Blair. He was among five Panther players in double figures.
"He is a great player for a freshman and he was working down there," Harris said. "He is a horse."
Marcus Dove led OSU with 17 points. Harris scored 16 points and matched a career high with nine rebounds.
Sutton said his team showed progress in regard to rebounding (the Cowboys outboarded the Panthers by five) and penetrating rather than settling for 3-point attempts. Entering this game, more than 40 percent of OSU's shots were from 3-point range. The school record of 33.5 percent was established during the 1998-99 season.
But Dove said the Cowboys need to be tougher mentally. "We've got to just push through whether we are fatigued and have just got to push through and follow our defensive principles and continue to run the offense. No matter what happens, as long as we stay mentally tough, we can be real good."