STILLWATER – The Oklahoma State Cowboys are looking to bounce back from their first loss of the season, a 77-76 loss to TCU in the Big 12 opener earlier this week, as they travel down to Austin for a showdown with the No. 11 Texas Longhorns.
Tipoff is scheduled for 1 p.m. CT on the Longhorn Network.
As mentioned above, the Cowboys are coming off a disappointing Big 12 opening loss, 77-76, to TCU earlier this week. The Cowboys, who were 6-0 entering that game, struggled from the 3-point line, as well as the free throw line. They also squandered an eight-point lead with two minutes remaining. Boynton said after the game they had to have good practices before they left for Austin if they wanted a chance against the Longhorns.
“I love the response,” Boynton said of how the team’s practiced since the loss to TCU. “We’re always very honest and direct with our guys – again, I want to stop short of saying TCU didn’t do what they needed to do to win, because they did, they made shots and we didn’t, but it we felt like it was a game that we should have been able to close better. You build an eight-point lead and we scored 50 points in the paint. We outrebounded them, forced 20 turnovers made nine more free throws, but we just didn’t finish. We did a lot of good things, but what we’ve got to understand is this league is unforgiving and no one goes away on their own, we have to put them away and we didn’t. We left the door open and [TCU] took advantage. Here we are with an opportunity to be back together and practice for a few days. The energy and attitudes have been good and I think the kids are excited and understanding a little bit better of the sense of urgency that you have to play with for 44-minutes.”
Texas currently leads the overall series against the Pokes, 52-42, but the Cowboys have the most recent win over the Longhorns, an 81-59 winner in Austin this past season. But this is a different Longhorns team this season.
“First of all, Shaka [Smart’s] a really good coach,” said Boynton. “He’s done a hell of a job with all the criticism he’s received. This is the most continuity he’s had; for three-straight years, through no fault of his own and it’s probably gonna happen here, he lost a lottery pick. It’s hard to build on that guy if he’s not there. You can continue to recruit other ones, but when you’re turning guys over as much as he has, it’s challenging. So, what he’s got is some continuity in his roster, he’s got a point guard who’s started from day one in his program who’s a senior who knows he’s Shaka on the court. I mean Matt Coleman is his coach. Then he’s got another tough-ass guard in Courtney Ramey, who’s been through the league a couple of years, and several other guys, I mean they’re only playing one freshman, a really, really good one [in Greg Brown], but only one. Everybody else [on the roster] knows what it takes to prepare, they know what it takes to get off to a good start. We’re up against a great challenge, but I think most of it is their continuity and experience throughout their roster, but it certainly starts with Matt Coleman and Courtney Ramey.”
Ramey’s leading the Longhorns with 15.0 points per game. He’s also dishing out 4.0 assists per game. As for Coleman, he’s just as good in the stat column. He’s averaging 13.7 points per game, but he’s dishing out 4.57 assists per game and a team-high 1.43 steals per game.
As for freshman Greg Brown, he’s putting up 10.9 points and a team-high 6.6 rebounds per game.
Again, tipoff is scheduled for 1 p.m. on the Longhorn Network.
