Pokes Start Rivalry Week Against Kansas on Tuesday
STILLWATER – It’s that time a year again for Mike Boynton and Co.: Rivalry Week. That’s right, Oklahoma State is set to host the No. 6 Kansas Jayhawks in Stillwater on Tuesday, Jan. 12. Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. on Big 12 Now on ESPN+.
While this KU team has a different fell to them this season, they’re certainly a dangerous team. The Jayhawks are 10-2 overall on the season and 4-1 in conference play, with their two losses being a 102-90 loss to Gonzaga on the road to start the season and a devastating 84-59 home loss to Texas on Jan. 2.
However, the Cowboys have been the one thorn in Bill Self’s side over the past few seasons as they’ve won four of the last seven games against KU in Stillwater, as well as three of the last four that includes the back-end of the 2018 sweep of Self and KU, a feat that hadn’t been accomplished since 2001.
Junior guard Ochai Agbaji leads the Jayhawks this season with 14.8 points per game, while shooting a Big 12 leading 42.5% from the field. Something that’s given the Pokes trouble this season has been 3-point shooting and Agbaji has made 18 3-pointers in the last six games and is averaging close to three 3-pointers a game. KU has won all seven games this season where Agbaji has made three or more 3-pointers in a game.
Something else that’s given the Pokes a lot of trouble this season has been talented big men down low. Enter David McCormack. You’ll remember that name as he chose KU over the Pokes in a live TV spot back home in Norfolk, VA. McCormack’s been on a tear recently as he posted a team-high 17 points and 20 points against OU and TCU respectively in the last two games.
Speaking of down low, the Jayhawks lead the Big 12 in rebounds this season with 41.6 per game, as well as blocks with 4.5 per game.
Kalib Boone and Matthew-Alexander Moncrieffe will have their plates full on Tuesday, but we saw a bounce-back effort from Boone on Saturday against K-State. He posted a season-high 14-points, but he said he can’t be satisfied with that performance as the team will need him to continue that if they want to have success this season.