snuffy
05-28-2009, 06:50 AM
OSU baseball: Cowboys relish the criticism
OSU’s controversial NCAA selection is ‘fuel for the fire’
http://newsok.com/cowboys-relish-the-criticism/article/3373026?custom_click=lead_story_title
BY ANDREA COHEN
Published: May 28, 2009
STILLWATER — The Oklahoma State baseball team can imagine the reaction in the Oklahoma locker room when the Cowboys showed up on the NCAA Tournament selection show as a No. 3 seed.
"I think they probably had the same reaction we had last year,” OSU first baseman Dean Green said, alluding to the groans emitted by the Cowboys when the Sooners were a controversial selection in 2008.
The roles have reversed this spring. The Cowboys are aware they’re taking a lot of criticism for struggling through the Big 12 season, failing to make the conference tournament and still being chosen as one of the 64 teams in an NCAA Regional. Baseball America called the selection "irresponsible and indefensible,” and ESPN.com called OSU’s inclusion "strange.”
The Cowboys seem to enjoy the controversy.
"It’s fuel for the fire,” Tom Belza said.
As far as imagining that Sooner locker room groaning, that makes Neil Medchill smile.
"I hope so, I hope they did,” Medchill said. "Because we could have won three games that series. We could say that about a lot of series. I was talking to guys on some other teams, and I know no one wants to play us. I’m glad people are mad we’re in.”
OSU is dangerous because of its talent. The Cowboys spent the early part of the season ranked in most top 15s, and despite winning just two conference series, they finished with the 27th-best RPI in the country.
Furthermore, the Cowboys should be prepared for regional play, which starts with a 2:06 p.m. game against Alabama on Friday in Clemson, S.C.
OSU coach Frank Anderson put his team through two-a-day practices all of last week when the Big 12 Tournament was going on in Oklahoma City.
"We had a lot of time on our hands,” Anderson said. "I didn’t want to keep them around and feed them and not get our money’s worth.”
Said Medchill: "We practiced all week thinking we weren’t practicing for much. But they let a team with a lot of talent get in. Hopefully, that will spark us a little bit, and we’ll try to make things happen.”
OSU’s controversial NCAA selection is ‘fuel for the fire’
http://newsok.com/cowboys-relish-the-criticism/article/3373026?custom_click=lead_story_title
BY ANDREA COHEN
Published: May 28, 2009
STILLWATER — The Oklahoma State baseball team can imagine the reaction in the Oklahoma locker room when the Cowboys showed up on the NCAA Tournament selection show as a No. 3 seed.
"I think they probably had the same reaction we had last year,” OSU first baseman Dean Green said, alluding to the groans emitted by the Cowboys when the Sooners were a controversial selection in 2008.
The roles have reversed this spring. The Cowboys are aware they’re taking a lot of criticism for struggling through the Big 12 season, failing to make the conference tournament and still being chosen as one of the 64 teams in an NCAA Regional. Baseball America called the selection "irresponsible and indefensible,” and ESPN.com called OSU’s inclusion "strange.”
The Cowboys seem to enjoy the controversy.
"It’s fuel for the fire,” Tom Belza said.
As far as imagining that Sooner locker room groaning, that makes Neil Medchill smile.
"I hope so, I hope they did,” Medchill said. "Because we could have won three games that series. We could say that about a lot of series. I was talking to guys on some other teams, and I know no one wants to play us. I’m glad people are mad we’re in.”
OSU is dangerous because of its talent. The Cowboys spent the early part of the season ranked in most top 15s, and despite winning just two conference series, they finished with the 27th-best RPI in the country.
Furthermore, the Cowboys should be prepared for regional play, which starts with a 2:06 p.m. game against Alabama on Friday in Clemson, S.C.
OSU coach Frank Anderson put his team through two-a-day practices all of last week when the Big 12 Tournament was going on in Oklahoma City.
"We had a lot of time on our hands,” Anderson said. "I didn’t want to keep them around and feed them and not get our money’s worth.”
Said Medchill: "We practiced all week thinking we weren’t practicing for much. But they let a team with a lot of talent get in. Hopefully, that will spark us a little bit, and we’ll try to make things happen.”