Oklahoma State Cowboys
2020-2021 Overall Rank: #32
Conference Rank: #6 Big 12
This will be Coach Mike Boynton’s fourth season with Oklahoma State. The first three years have not gone great, but the expectations are getting much higher. However, the Cowboys are facing a postseason ban in 2020-2021 and, as things stand now, OSU will not be eligible for the postseason. By March though, their appeal could go through. The program did lose some players due to transfer and in all four starters are gone. That leaves some big holes to fill, but Oklahoma State should be able to fill them with their newcomers and some younger returning players.
2019-20 Record: 18-14, 7-11
Coach: Mike Boynton
Coach Record: 51-49 at Oklahoma State, 51-49 overall
Key Departed Players:
Cameron McGriff, Forward, 12.3 ppg
Lindy Waters III, Guard, 10.5 ppg
Thomas Dziagwa, Guard, 9.0 ppg
Yor Anel, Forward, 8.1 ppg
Jonathan Laurent, Guard/Forward, 5.1 ppg
Key Returning Players:
Isaac Likekele, Junior, Guard, 10.9 ppg
Kalib Boone, Sophomore, Forward, 4.7 ppg
Avery Anderson III, Sophomore, Guard, 4.2 ppg
Chris Harris Jr, Sophomore, Guard, 3.4 ppg
Keylan Boone, Sophomore, Guard/Forward, 2.7 ppg
Key New Players:
Cade Cunningham, Freshman, Guard
Ferron Flavors Jr, Senior, Guard, Grad Transfer from Cal Baptist
Bernard Kouma, Sophomore, Forward, JC Transfer
Matthew-Alexander Moncrieffe, Freshman, Forward
Montreal Pena, Freshman, Forward
Rondel Walker, Freshman, Guard
Donovan Williams, Freshman, Guard
Bryce Williams, Senior, Guard, Transfer from Ole Miss
Projection:
Isaac Likekele is the lone returning starter and the lone returning upperclassmen. The junior guard averaged 10.9 points and 5.6 rebounds and led the team with 4.5 assists and 1.9 steals. He is extremely dangerous when attacking the basket and, even if his three-point shooting remains pretty much non-existent, Likekele will do plenty of scoring. Avery Anderson III and Chris Harris both averaged around 15 minutes per game as freshmen and showed some promise in that limited playing time. Kalib and Keylan Boone saw fewer minutes as freshmen, but both have the talent to emerge as key contributors. Cade Cunningham is widely considered the best recruit in the class of 2020 and he will likely be around for just one year before heading off to the NBA. The 6-8 guard can do it all and he has the ability to carry this team to big things this season. Coach Boynton also has another very talented freshman guard headed to Stillwater in Rondel Walker. Transfers Ferron Flavors and Bryce Williams will add a bit of experience to the backcourt. Flavors was one of the more prolific three-point shooters in the country last season at Cal Baptist. Williams did not see too much playing time at Ole Miss, but he too should at least be a productive shooter off the bench. If all the youngsters live up to their potential, this is an Oklahoma State team that can beat anybody in the Big 12. Remaining consistent though could be a big concern for such a young team.
Projected Postseason Tournament: None (postseason ban)
By the Numbers:
Scoring Offense: 67.6 (275th in nation, 7th in conference)
Scoring Defense: 66.1 (78, 8)
Field-Goal Percentage: 42.5 (243, 6)
Field-Goal Defense: 40.1 (41, 5)
Three-Point Field Goals Per Game: 5.9 (290, 9)
Three-Point Field-Goal Percentage: 31.5 (273, 8)
Free-Throw Percentage: 73.4 (94, 4)
Rebound Margin: 1.0 (153, 5)
Assists Per Game: 11.8 (273, 8)
Turnovers Per Game: 13.3 (194, 5)
Madness 2021 NBA Draft Rankings:
#1 Cade Cunningham
Madness 2020 Men’s Basketball Recruit Rankings:
#1 Cade Cunningham
#82 Rondel Walker
