Abou Ousmane's OSU's First Big 12 Weekly Newcomer In Two Years

STILLWATER – There have been flashes from Oklahoma State big man, Abou Ousmane, all season, but never enough to put him over the top. Well, following a solid week last week, it was announced on Monday Ousmane is the Big 12 Newcomer of the Week.

He marks the program’s first Newcomer award in more than two years when guard John-Michael Wright earned the honor back on Feb. 13, 2023.

In two games last week, Ousmane posted 34 points on 67% shooting from the floor with 12 rebounds in just over 40 minutes of action. He also shot 50% from 3-point range, went 11-of-12 from the free throw line and recorded four steals.

While his performance in the win over Kansas State in Stillwater earlier this season gave him most of his season highs, I consider what he did against Iowa State to be his best game of the season. He posted 25 points on 7-of-11 shooting from the floor, which included 3-of-5 from 3-point range, 7-of-8 from the free throw line, six rebounds and four steals in just 27 minutes of action in the 74-68 upset of then-No. 9 Iowa State.

The Cowboys will need more from him in the next two games as they’re looking to complete the season-sweep of UCF this coming Wednesday on the road in Orlando, followed by senior day on Saturday afternoon against Cincinnati. The Cowboys have a chance to finish the regular season above the .500 mark, which would qualify them for a possible trip to the NIT.

Of course, they’d still have a chance at the NCAA tournament should they run the table and win the Big 12 tournament next week. It would be a tall order, but it’s not out of the realm of possibilty given how this team has played at times this season.