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Oklahoma State Basketball

5 Thoughts on Oklahoma State's 94-90 Overtime Upset of No. 7 OU

February 27, 2021
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Saturday’s 94-90 overtime win over No. 7 Oklahoma in Norman might be one of the best games played by a Mike Boynton team during his time as head coach. Freshman sensation Cade Cunningham dropped a career-high 40 points, only the second time in program history a Cowboy basketball player has down so against OU.

The Pokes turn right around and face the Sooners on Monday night in Gallagher-Iba Arena, the fastest back-to-back Bedlam turnaround since 1921.

Here are my 5 Thoughts on Oklahoma State’s 94-90 overtime upset of Oklahoma

Cade Finally Had That Game

We’ve seen several impressive performances from Cade all season long. He’s played in 20 games since the start of the year and has scored in double digits in 19 of them. He’s averaging 20.2 points and 6.5 rebounds in conference play this year and 19.8 points and 6.3 rebounds per game on the season. Prior to Bedlam, his career-high was an impressive 29 points in the win over ORU and he had hit the 20-point mark nine times. We knew he could rise up at any moment, but Cade played 44 out of 45 minutes of the first Bedlam game and dropped an insane 40 points while hauling in 11 rebounds for a double-double. He took over when it mattered most and led the Pokes to the win.

“I still went into the game with the same intensity, you know, play to win, play for my team and my team trusted me throughout the game to take shots,” said Cunningham. “With that confidence, I’m only confident to make them. So, I kept shooting and I didn’t know I had 40 [points] until the end, so it was cool to see that for sure.”

Bryce Williams and Kalib Boone Were Clutch Down the Stretch

There’s no question Cade Cunningham’s 40-point performance against OU has been the highlight of the season so far, but Bryce Williams’ 15 second half and overtime points, including four made 3-pointers, and Kalib Boone’s clutch rebound and two made free throws in overtime sealed the deal.

“Let’s talk about understanding the moment and what’s necessary for our team,” said coach Boynton. “To start the game, you saw it, we made a conscientious effort to try and go inside, that’s what we thought we needed to do, and we got a good result. When the game got going, [Cade] understood that he needed to understand the moment and be more aggressive. Bryce [Williams’] two threes were huge to keep us there and continue to take pressure off cade and the play of the game might have been Kalib [Boone] getting an offense rebound late and preserving the possession for us.”

Williams finished the game with 15 points and Boone with six, but Boone’s heads up play to remain calm and come up with the rebound in overtime when Brady Manek dove on the floor attempting to save the game for the Sooners, then knocking down two free throws with 19 seconds left absolutely sealed the deal.

The Pokes Still Need to Clean Up the Turnovers

By the time the final buzzer sounded in Norman, the Cowboys had turned the ball over an astonishing 20 times. This has been an issue all season long, but the Pokes have found ways around it, just as they did against OU. But they came at inopportune times against OU, such as Cade Cunningham getting the ball taken away by Austin Reaves at the end of regulation to force overtime.

“I think we can play better as a team [on Monday],” said coach Boynton. “I don’t think we played our best game; we turned it over a lot, we didn’t really get [Kalib Boone] established as well as we wanted to. I thought our guys played as hard as they could for 45 minutes and gave ourselves a chance, but there’s a lot of room to grow this for this team in terms of executing.”

There’s no question the Sooners will be making the trip up to Stillwater with the goal of getting a game back and if the Pokes turn the ball over 20 times again, it’ll make it a lot easier to get back in the win column for the Sooners.

Cade’s 40-Point Performance Was One to Remember

It seemed as if Cade couldn’t miss at times against the Sooners. He finished the game going 12-of-21 from the field, 13-of-14 from the free throw line and had an answer for seemingly every shot the Sooners made in the final 10 minutes of the second half and the entirety of overtime.

In fact, he joins Jawun Evans as the only two Cowboys in program history to score at least 40 points against the Sooners.

“Obviously, there’s been a lot made about his performance this year and I think people know he’s a really good player, but I think I maybe said it two weeks ago, you need to appreciate what you’re watching; it’s special,” said coach Boynton. “I’ve watched it now five years; I’ve seen this for a long time and I’m not surprised that on the biggest game on our schedule, on the road, that he stepped up and was ready to go compete at the highest level. Obviously, we played against a really good team, it was a hell of a game. I’ve only been around here for eight games in this season, well 10 I guess with the year I was an assistant – Jawun Evans’ performance in Stillwater my year as an assistant coach was pretty damn good, but I think you’ll have to dig pretty deep to find one better than this one today.”

Should Isaac Likekele Play on Monday if Healthy? Absolutely

Isaac Likekele missed his third out of the last four games with an injury, this time a hand injury he suffered in practice this past week. He was on the sidelines in Norman as a student coach with his hand in a small, soft brace. If Ice is healthy enough to go on Monday, he needs to play. He adds a whole other level of intensity and obviously takes pressure off guys like Cade and Avery Anderson III to have to score every single trip down the court.

He also adds a big body into the mix against talented Sooner guard Austin Reaves. Boynton said after the game the doctors would make the decision either tomorrow on Monday on Likekele’s status, so it will most likely be a game time decision.

Discussion from...

5 Thoughts on Oklahoma State's 94-90 Overtime Upset of No. 7 OU

2,440 Views | 7 Replies | Last: 3 yr ago by CaliforniaCowboy
Tulsa Booster
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Where is California Cowboy?
CaliforniaCowboy
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Tulsa Booster said:

Where is California Cowboy?
I'm here, what do you need?

waaaayyy too many turnovers. Never should have gone to OT.

The goons don't have a strong presence inside, and Larry Bird Manek hasn't played well since he had COVID.

Great win by the Pokes, great game by Cade.


were you just trying to pick a fight?
Tulsa Booster
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Not trying to pick a fight. Just a difference in opinion. Saying Coach Boynton is "in over his head" and 'he's lost control of his team" are strong statements. I disagree. I think winning all 4 of his overtime games this year plus having beaten 3 top 10 teams is evidence enough that he can compete in the Big 12 and the national stage as well.

I think it's wise to remember he was given the head coaching job as a young coach with NO head coaching experience. I've heard him say he had a lot to learn about being a head coach at this level. He has made mistakes along the way, first and foremost was the high attrition rate among his initial recruiting classes. He chose those players and it's his responsibility to sign players that are good citizens and will exemplify what OSU basketball is all about. I believe that he learned something there as evidenced by this years class.

Do we turn the ball over much? Yep. Are there times when we look out of control? In my opinion, yes. But OU was doing much of the same as the speed in which the game was being played were contributing to the sloppiness of both teams. Also, we played the entire game without out Likekele our most experienced point guard.

Young coaches need time to grow and Coach Boynton is no exception. But he loves OSU, he continuously tells us how thankful he is for the opportunity he was given and he seems to be a man of character. Hopefully when other coaching opportunities present themselves after this season, he will chose to stay with us. But that will be his choice. Personally, regardless of how he does the rest of the season or whether he wins an NCAA tournament game, I think he's the right coach for us at the right time.

Oh, and by the way, I'd rather our coach or players jump on the furniture in our locker room after a big victory than fighting with each other on the bench (Texas) or getting in the coaches face. That's when you've lost control of team.
CaliforniaCowboy
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fair enough... lack of discipline is lack of discipline, you can color it any shad that makes you feel better, we need a high standard.

I'm not picking on Boynton, or against him, I'm simply stating what I think is obvious. So he's young. So what. Why do we have to be the team that gambles on coaches and suffers through multiple consecutive sub-par seasons?

Maybe we've turned a corner, but we won't really know until this season is over. If this is one of the best teams in recent OSU history (lots of 4 and a 5 star kid), then what should be the expectation for that group? 4th place in conference? One NCAA win and a plane trip home?

No more "young coach" or "young players" excuses, those only hold weight at the beginning of the year, or the beginning of a career - not the end of year 4.

I hope this team can continue to improve and get through 2 NCAA wins, that's my minimum acceptable low-bar for the talent that we have on this team.

I'm not looking at what I want us to be, I'm simply commenting on what we have been, and where we are....

IMHO, we won't advance very far with the lack of discipline that this team continues to show (even the TV talking heads keep saying the same thing about this team).... but I'm still hoping for the best.

NJAggie
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OK Cali I actually agree with you that Boynton needs to tighten some things up, and I think he will.

I also think you're missing one thing about the tournament. This team has had more trouble in the Big XII where as always in conference where they have the most scouting info will always be harder. When we were playing ooc we've seen much cleaner games, and the other teams are usually reacting to us rather than forcing us to adapt which is what we've seen in conference. So I think this team can be very dangerous in tournament play, and I think they'll do better in the tournament than they did in conference.

I agree we probably should have 4 more wins in conference right now, but hey you don't always get what you want, so I'll go with where we're at. If Boynton can convert his experience this year into a better coaching job next year he will have a scary good team. If not we'll be having much the same talk next year at this time.
Tulsa Booster
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California, I have a question. Regardless of how we finish the year and how we do NCAA tournament, Coach Boynton will be judged by other Athletic Directors on his body of work and all the other factors they look for in hiring a new coach. Do you hope with what you've seen up to this point in his time at OSU, that we either fire him or hope he accepts a head coaching positioned if offered by another team?

We definitely have things in which we need to improve to get to the next level. But, I believe he can recruit and now that he has the players he needs. Granted losing Cade will hurt but winning all his OT games and beating 3 top 10 teams with a young team proves to me he understands X and O's enough to be successful. His pay is on the low side for a Power 4 program and rightfully so with his experience level. But, I think we'll be surprised at level of interest he gets particularly for a coach that you say "Is in over his head and has lost control of his team" We play OU again followed by West Virginia and Baylor on the road. We may lose all three of those games but I'll still believe he has us on the right track. Regardless of the success we had with Eddie, we aren't a basketball dynasty and we don't replace coaches with Mark Few or other coaches of his caliber.
CaliforniaCowboy
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geez guys, I didn't say OSU had any options, or that he wasn't bargain basement, and over his head and no discipline are relative terms (as compared to our past coaches)....

This coach is barely older than his players, and goes along to get along (IMO), following the AAU coaching style that the kids seem to prefer (over disciplined offensive BB).

I'm not sure I know what "headed in the right direction is", beyond what I described (solid conf finish and not one-n-done in the Tourney)

How many years does a BB coach get to progress? This is the year to show us... after this Cade is gone, 31 is gone, Bryce is gone (I think - may get a COVID year, I'm not sure)

Boynton's record at OSU is not good... this year is better, and could live up to a minimal standard for OSU.

I've been around too long to hope for things.... Ford was fine, the fans drove him off. Underwood was too good for us (according to him).

I'm on board with Boynton, despite him rubbing his social agenda in our faces..... but the only thing that should matter to any of us is results.

I'll cheer for him (us) and hope he can continue getting good talent on the roster, but mostly I'll be cheering that he can get the results that we expect.

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