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JimBob
01-08-2008, 07:43 AM
OSU Notebook: Tight fit


By JIMMIE TRAMEL World Sports Writer
1/8/2008


OSU improved to 9-0 against NAIA opponents over the past decade and a nine-point victory over Rogers State on Monday night was the closest of those games.

RSU coach Wren Baker said he didn't want anyone to see the final score and think anything negative about OSU. He said the Cowboys have gotten a lot better since a loss to Oral Roberts.

"You can see that they are competing and playing hard," Baker said.

Previously, OSU's closest call against an NAIA opponent in the last decade was a 74-58 victory over Saint Gregory's on Jan. 20, 2001. Former Cowboy player and current radio analyst Bryndon Manzer was St. Gregory's head coach then.

Back in Stillwater: Baker was an OSU administrative assistant for four years and left after the 2004-05 season. He said he enjoyed seeing the Cowboy coaches again.

"When the Suttons talk about basketball being a family, they mean it," Baker said. "I was treated very well today."

Baker said he had to ask a security guard for directions because he wasn't used to navigating to and from the visitor's locker room.

One more time: For the third time in five games, Sutton coached against a member of the OSU basketball family. Scott Sutton coaches Oral Roberts and former Cowboy player and staff member Brooks Thompson coaches Texas-San Antonio.

Sean Sutton indicated he doesn't like playing those kind of games because it's harder to get motivated to beat friends.

Nasty game: OSU and RSU combined for 43 fouls and 42 turnovers.

"We just got a nasty win tonight," Cowboy point guard Byron Eaton said.

OSU forced 20 or more turnovers for the ninth time this season and accumulated at least 10 steals for the ninth time. Eaton collected three steals and pushed his career steal total to 153, moving past Chianti Roberts into ninth places on the school's all-time list. Eaton also scored in double figures for a career-best fifth consecutive game.

Another notch: OSU concluded the nonleague portion of its schedule with a victory and improved to 145-3 in the last 148 home games against nonconference opponents.

andyokstate
01-08-2008, 08:23 AM
"Sean Sutton indicated he doesn't like playing those kind of games because it's harder to get motivated to beat friends."

Man, where's the joy in playing and trying to best your friends/brothers?! I played basketball at the annex frequently and loved going hard against my friends. I probably got more bruises from guarding friends than some random dude. Hell, we're ultra competetive playing Pictionary or Taboo. I'm tired of hearing them say, "I don't like playing friends of the program." Then DON'T. Don't schedule the games if you think seeing a friendly face on the other side of the court won't let allow to play your hardest. Yeesh.

wickerbill
01-08-2008, 08:57 AM
The big difference is this is their livelihood. Ballin' at the colvin center isn't as big of a deal as being a college head coach. Get too many L's as a coach and you're looking for a new job.

okstatepike
01-09-2008, 04:10 PM
The big difference is this is their livelihood. Ballin' at the colvin center isn't as big of a deal as being a college head coach. Get too many L's as a coach and you're looking for a new job.

Exactly. When something is good for your career and conversely bad for your friend or brother's then the stakes are a lot higher. I don't envy them in those situations at all.

legelegel
01-09-2008, 05:42 PM
Exactly. When something is good for your career and conversely bad for your friend or brother's then the stakes are a lot higher. I don't envy them in those situations at all.

I don't have any sympathy for these highly paid coaches. If they didn't want to compete against each other they shouldn't have gotten into the same profession, especially into businesses in the same state.

They are men aren't they and it's just a game isn't it. ;)

If one or two more losses in a season may cause them hardship or put them out of a job that's too bad. If a brother or friend doesn't do it someone else is going to beat them down.

It's part of life and they are the ones that chose career paths that might cross. This poor me I don't want to play a friend or a brother makes me want to do a little green gundy.