STILLWATER – The 2023-24 season certainly hasn’t gone the way anyone in or around the Oklahoma State program expected it would’ve. The enter Bedlam part one with a 10-13 overall record and are last in the Big 12 with a 2-8 record in conference play.
However, the Cowboys under Mike Boynton have had Bedlam success against Oklahoma, especially recently. In his first season as head coach, Boynton’s team loss to Trae Young and No. 7 OU down in Norman, 109-89, but turned around a few weeks later and beat No. 4 OU in Stillwater, 83-81, in thrilling fashion. Then beat them a second time, 71-70, this time in the Big 12 tournament. They lost both games against the Sooners in 2018-19, spilt the series in 2019-20, swept the series in 2020-21. They split in 2021-22 and swept the series this past season.
And while he was just an assistant coach, the Pokes won 68-66 down in Norman in the 2016-17 season and 96-92 in Stillwater. While this game is being played nearly 10 years after his first Bedlam, and features nearly a completely new roster of players from last year’s Bedlam sweep, Boynton knows what it’s like to win this game.
“It'll be new for a lot of guys, but the emphasis will still be great to us,” Boynton told the media on Thursday afternoon. “No matter what kind of year we're having, and obviously we're not having the type of year we wanted to, it’s a big deal. Obviously, it will be made that way to our team. Not that we're gonna practice longer or do anything crazy, but they'll understand the gravity of it to our fans and former players and just people who love Oklahoma State around here. We need to make sure that we're fighting for the school on Saturday.”
While this won’t be the strongest Sooners team a Mike Boynton-led Pokes squad will have faced, think Trae Young, this is still a decent team that’s sitting mid-pack in the conference at 17-6 overall and 5-5 in Big 12 play.
They’re led by junior guard Javian McCollum, who’s averaging 14.5 points on nearly 43% shooting from the field. He’s also averaging 3.5 assists per game. Junior forward Jalon Moore is also having a good season with 10.3 points on 56% shooting from the field and a team-high 6.0 rebounds per game.
“Collectively, this group looks pretty in sync, particularly on defense,” said Boynton. “Certainly, the best team Porter (Moser)’s had. They're more athletic. They can really make plays at the rim in a way that they haven't been able to, on both ends of the floor. Offensively, they can get downhill on you and can finish. Jalen Moore and Otega Oweh’s improvements are evident. Javian McCollum’s added another dynamic playmaker, shot-maker, to go with (Milos) Uzan. They’re really good.”
One of the new players the Cowboys have this season is a guy who’s had a ton of success so far as a freshman and is well-versed in the Bedlam rivalry: Brandon Garrison. While the Cowboys’ success on Saturday will partly rely on Garrison’s success, Boynton is taking a different approach with his possibly All-Big 12 freshman foward.
“We'll try to focus on just enjoying it… Perspective it really important. It’s a big deal what we’re doing, but it’s still a game. I want [Garrison] to enjoy being a part of something that feels really important to a lot of people. In life, you don’t get to that very often… (But) I don’t want it to feel like a burden. I want him to have fun on Saturday because it should be fun.”
Garrison’s averaging 7.2 points per game on 57% shooting from the field and bringing down a team-high 5.6 rebounds per game.
Tipoff is scheduled for 6 p.m. CT down in Norman and will be streamed on ESPN+.
I thought it was a great game and a great effort by the team.backphil said:
This bedlam game is borderline unwatchable. At this point of the season there is no reason this team should be so discombobulated. This is 100% a coaching problem. Time for a change. Clean slate, start over at the end of this season. This is worse than playground basketball.
