5 Thoughts On Cowboys Second Bedlam Win In Three Days
Mike Boynton’s squad traveled to Norman just this past Saturday and beat Oklahoma in what was was one of the most exciting games of the season, highlighted by Cade Cunningma dropping a season high 40 points.
The second go around, as the Sooners made their way to Stillwater, did not have as much star factor, but it was in no way less entertaining as the Cowboys edged out a 79-75 win over Oklahoma.
Here are my 5 thoughts on the game:
Its Not Just Cade
Last game, Cade scored 40. This game, he scored 15, but the team still managed to win the game. The young core that Boynton has built know their roles and they know how to execute them. Outside of Cade, three other Cowboys were in double digits. Kalib Boone finished with a team high 17, Bryce Williams finished with 14, and Avery Anderson with 11. Kalib Boone also had nine rebounds in the game. We constantly see Anderson and Rondel Walker making hustle plays, Williams hitting big shots and when Isaac Likekele is on the court, he brings a whole ‘nother level to this team. This team is not just built for this year, but the future.
There’s No Slowing Down
This Oklahoma State squad is one of, if not the, hottest teams in the country right now. Out of their last 11 wins, six of them have come against ranked opponents. They now have a tie for the most quadrant one wins in college basketball, with eight. This team has shown they can win in a variety of ways and have shown they can rely on multiple players to make the important plays down the stretch, headlined by the best player in college basketball, Cade Cunningham. The Cowboys have put themselves in a good position to end up with a very good seed both in the Big 12 tournament as well as the NCAA tournament. If they can stay healthy, this team will make a push.
From Choking to Closing
Early season, it seemed like there were too many games where the Cowboys had a chance to close games or run away with it, but they kept letting teams hang in or takeover. That is the way of the old Cowboys. The new Cowboys take control late in games and take all the momentum out of their opponents. Cade Cunningham has a knack for turning it on in the second half of games and it is a major factor of why they have been so good late. Tonight, Cade had 2 points with 10 minutes left in the game, but finished with 15 points, nine of which came from free throws.
One More Year
Before the game, the team honored a very unorthodox senior class for “senior night”, one of which was first year Cowboy Bryce Williams. Williams has made it publicly known he is thinking about utilizing the free year he has available to him and coming back for one more year under Mike Boyton. After the game, Boynton grabbed the microphone to lobby for Bryce to come back, causing an eruption from the crowd in attendance in Gallagher-Iba Arena. Ferron Flavorsis the only other “senior” who could make a return.
It Will Get Even Better
As hot as the Cowboys are right now, they are doing all of this without Isaac Likekele on the court as he has dealt with some injuries. When he is on the floor, a whole different dimension is unlocked for Mike Boynton to unleash on opponents. He should be back healthy soon and when he is, this Cowboys team will be one no other team will want to mess with.
