Oklahoma State Cowboys
Big 12 (18-13, 8-10)
Oklahoma State is a proud program that has had an up-and-down season in 2014-2015. Luckily, they play in one of the best and deepest leagues in the country in the Big 12. Though they were a middle-of-the-pack team during the regular season, they had the advantage of earning some tough wins against tough opponents. They are certainly well-prepared for tournament competition.
Big Wins: 1/27 Baylor (64-53), 2/7 Kansas (67-62), 2/9 at Baylor (74-65)
Bad Losses: 12/6 at South Carolina (49-75), 2/14 at TCU (55-70), 2/28 at Texas Tech (62-63)
Coach: Travis Ford
Why They Can Surprise:
Oklahoma State may not be the deepest team, but there are some stars on this team that can take over. Le’Bryan Nash is a great player who displays athleticism and versatility. He averaged 17.1 points per game to lead the Cowboys. Phil Forte III is the three-point specialist on this team and has had a really nice career in Stillwater. He shoots nearly 40% from beyond the arc, and is almost automatic from the foul line. Add in Anthony Hickey Jr., a consistent player that adds some balance, and Oklahoma State has a nice line-up night in and night out. The Cowboys are a solid defensive team that challenges an offense to hit shots and be smart in transition. They are 22nd in the nation in steals per game. This team has proven they can play with just about anybody as long as they can rebound and limit possessions.
Why They Can Disappoint:
The problem for Oklahoma State is their ability to be physical. They have a difficult time underneath the basket, and rebounding can become a problem for them. They give up many second chance opportunities and are often one-and-done at their own end. Their inside players do not provide much for them in the way of offensive production. They are not a very big team and rely on strong shooting to win. Unfortunately, they have had poor shooting games throughout the season, which really puts them in a bind. When Forte III goes cold from behind the arc, it becomes a long night. They can ill-afford to shoot poorly in March.
Probable Starters:
Anthony Hickey Jr., Senior, Guard, 9.6 ppg, 3.5 apg, 4.2 rpg
Phil Forte III, Junior, Guard, 15.1 ppg, 1.7 apg, 1.9 spg
Jeff Newberry, Junior, Guard, 6.9 ppg, 1.5 apg
Le’Bryan Nash, Senior, Forward, 17.1 ppg, 5.6 rpg, 1.0 bpg
Michael Cobbins, Senior, Center, 6.7 ppg, 5.9 rpg, 1.9 bpg
Key Roleplayers:
Tyree Griffin, Freshman, Guard, 1.5 ppg, 1.1 apg
Tavarius Shine, Freshman, Guard-Forward, 3.1 ppg, 1.5 rpg
By the Numbers:
Scoring Offense: 67.9 (160th in nation, 8th in conference)
Scoring Defense: 62.3 (68, 4)
Field-Goal Percentage: 44.3 (122, 2)
Field-Goal Defense: 40.0 (56, 6)
Three-Point Field Goals Per Game: 7.1 (90, 3)
Three-Point Field-Goal Percentage: 35.7 (108, 4)
Free-Throw Percentage: 73.1 (45, 1)
Rebound Margin: -1.9 (262, 10)
Assists Per Game: 11.5 (254, 9)
Turnovers Per Game: 12.3 (151, 4)
Recent Postseason Appearances:
2014 NCAA Second Round loss to Gonzaga
2013 NCAA Second Round loss to Oregon
2011 NIT First Round win over Harvard
2011 NIT Second Round loss to Washington State
2010 NCAA Round of 64 loss to Georgia Tech
2009 NCAA Round of 64 win over Tennessee
2009 NCAA Round of 32 loss to Pittsburgh
2008 NIT First Round loss to Southern Illinois
2007 NIT First Round loss to Marist
*all team stats through 3/8
See All Men’s Basketball Postseason Capsules
