Baylor and West Virginia Should Help Prepare Pokes for Postseason Play

STILLWATER – To say the 2020-21 basketball has been a grind would be a bit of an understatement. While they have been more fortunate than other programs, Oklahoma State still dealt with a COVID stoppage and have played multiple games without players due to positive COVID tests at points this season.

The Cowboys are rolling right now having won six of their last seven games, including an overtime win over No. 6 Texas, an overtime win over No. 17 Texas Tech and back-to-back wins over OU in three days, with the Sooners ranked No. 7 and No. 15 respectively.

However, it appears the Cowboys might just be entering the toughest stretch yet as they’re on the road until the end of the season, including Thursday’s game against the regular season Big 12 champs, No. 3 Baylor and Saturday’s game in Morgantown against No. 6 West Virginia. Then they’ll be in the Big 12 tournament next week and most likely in Indianapolis for the NCAA tournament after that.

These next two games will be a tough challenge for the Pokes, but it should also help prepare them for postseason play. It’s also very important for the coaching staff to gauge where the Pokes are not just physically, but mentally as well.

“This year’s been a challenge; we got here to the end and I want to make sure we put our kids in the best position to finish strong,” said Mike Boynton. “With that being said, we were going to be asked to try and get as many of these games in as possible. We’re one of like four teams that are going to play the full 18 games. So, trying to find ourselves in the best position in the league as possible, but also knowing that next week’s a big week; we’re going to be asked to play multiple games – like play today and tomorrow, not even today and then in a couple of days rest. So, I’ve got to be mindful.

“Yesterday was basically an off day for us, which is usually wouldn’t be, but it needed to be because we’re going turn around and travel here for a while. So, just trying to get a feel for how the guys are doing, more mentally than physically. Our preparation [Tuesday] was totally film related; did some stretches and shot some free throws. Depending on how [the Baylor] game goes, will determine what we do on the day in-between [the West Virginia game].”

The Cowboys need to be prepared mentally for sure, but they’re a little banged up as we’re in the final month of basketball. The media availability for Mike Boynton was held before Wednesday’s practice, but he was confident Avery Anderson III would be available for the game against Baylor. Anderson hyper-extended his knee against OU on Monday and then had a root canal on Tuesday. He also said he wasn’t sure about Isaac Likekele’s status for Thursday game as they hadn’t practiced yet, but said he thought he was OK.

“I think he’s better, but I can’t give much confidence in how he’s doing just because we haven’t practiced yet today,” said coach Boynton.

The Cowboys will face No. 3 Baylor on Thursday at 6 p.m. CT on ESPN2, and Pokes Report will have a game preview up prior to the game on Thursday morning.