Cowboys Prepare for Big 12/SEC Match-Up With Arkansas
STILLWATER – The Big 12/SEC Challenge is finally upon us once again and Oklahoma State’s match-up against Arkansas looks to be one of the best games of the weekend.
2021 Big 12/SEC Challenge
Arkansas (13-4, 5-4) at Oklahoma State (10-4, 4-4)
Date: Jan. 30, 2021
Tipoff: 3 p.m. CT
Site: Gallagher-Iba Arena (13,611)
Series: OSU leads 36-15 (13-4 in Stillwater)
Last: Arkansas won 66-65 in Fayetteville on Jan. 27, 2018
TV: ESPN2 (Rich Hollenberg, Chris Spatola)
Radio: Cowboy Radio Network (Dave Hunziker, John Holcomb)
Satellite Radio: Sirius 83, XM 83
This is a huge match-up for the Pokes and an opportunity to take a pretty big jump up in the rankings as Arkansas is currently No. 28 in the NCAA N.E.T, No. 32 in the KenPom rankings and No. 22 in the ESPN BPI.
Related: Oklahoma State and Arkansas to Remember the Ten and honor Eddie Sutton
This will be the 52nd all-time meeting between these two programs and Oklahoma State has had a bulk of the success in this series as they hold a 36-15 lead over the Razorbacks. The Cowboys also hold a 13-4 advantage in Stillwater having won 10 of the last 12 matchups in GIA. As for the Razorbacks, their last win on the white maple came in 1966.
The Cowboys enter this game fresh off an 81-60 win over Iowa State on the road in Ames. The Cowboys have been without star point guard Cade Cunningham the past two games against Baylor and Iowa State, and while he’s not a projected starter, it’s believed he’ll be back on the court this weekend against the Razorbacks.
The Pokes are averaging 76.6 points a game this season, while allowing opponents just 70.8 points, with Cunningham leading the way for OSU with 17.8 points per game. As for the Razorbacks, the Pokes will have their hands full as they’re a high-powered and explosive offense putting up 84.4 points a game.
It’ll be a fun match-up for Cunningham as the Hogs are led by freshman, and former teammate of Cunningham at Montverde, Moses Moody, who’s averaging 16.6 points and 5.6 rebounds per game. In fact, there are five Arkansas players who are averaging double-digit points this season: Moody, JD Notae (14.0), Desi Sills (11.5), Jalen Tate (11.4) and Justin Smith (10.8).
The Hogs are also getting decent play out of the once longtime Oklahoma State commit, freshman point guard Davonte Davis. While he’s not a great shooter, he’s still averaging 6.1 points per game this season and is a wrecking ball off the bench as he dives for every loose ball. A comparison I’ve heard is he plays very similar to Avery Anderson III, minus the ability to score at will.
Mike Boynton and Co. will be hoping to get similar performances from Kalib Boone and Matthew-Alexander Moncrieffe as they had against Baylor and Iowa State. Moncrieffe’s posted two-straight double-doubles and Boone’s posted 36 points and 15 rebounds, including a career-high 21-points against No. 2 Baylor.
As for point guard Isaac Likekele, he’ll be looking to get back to his old self against the Razorbacks as he’s posted just 26 points in the last three games. He did, however, post 19 rebounds and 17 assists in those three games.