At the beginning of the season, the Oklahoma State basketball team needed something to be judged by. Coming into the season, it appeared as if the Cowboys would finish somewhere in the middle of the pack of the Big 12. A good team, but not a great team.
After ripping off 13 straight wins in what is currently the nation’s longest winning streak, OSU (15-1, 4-0 in Big 12) is on the verge of being considered a great team.
Road tests separate the real teams from the frauds, and the 13th-ranked Cowboys will face such a test in Lubbock when on Sunday at 1 p.m. against the Texas Tech Red Raiders (13-3, 2-2 in Big 12).
“Road games are the type of games that we need,” said Cowboy forward Ivan McFarlin. “Coach told us a good quote, saying ‘good teams win at home, but great teams go on the road and win.’ That’s what we want to do, and we want to come out and just play hard.”
With the Cowboys’ spotless Big 12 record, every team in the conference will be gunning for OSU. The Cowboys will be ready, though.
“And I know Texas Tech is going to be ready for us, and I know Coach Knight is really working them hard,” said McFarlin. “For us, we’re the team to beat, and we’re just going to come out and play with our ‘A’ game, and just come out ready to play.”
In the Cowboys’ last contest, it took overtime to beat the Baylor Bears, 67-64. In the game, OSU squandered a 10-point second-half lead to BU.
However, after seeing Kansas lose at Colorado Wednesday night, Cowboy coaches feel lucky to have escaped Waco with a ‘W.’
“Well, every one of them are tough,” said OSU assistant coach James Dickey. “We are certainly have been fortunate to play well the second half at A&M. And then well enough to play well against Baylor, but not play as well as you need to play to win on the road consistently. So, we’re going to try to correct some things before we go to Lubbock.
“Take better care of the basketball, do a better job on the defensive boards. Then also protect the lead, when we have a 10-point lead in the second half.”
The Red Raiders are led by All-Big 12 guard Andre Emmett and forward Kasib Powell. In the three OSU/Tech meetings last season, Emmett torched the Cowboys for 32, 23 and 29 points. Powell scored 18, 17 and 17 against OSU.
Running out of coach Bobby Knight’s motion offense, tough players like Powell and Emmett make the offense what it is.
“Well, I think one of the things that makes the motion offense tough is the players who are running it,” said Dickey. “When you look at Emmett and Kasib Powell, they are able to get out on the baseline.
“There are some good passers on that team. They set some good screens. It is a good offense, but the players are what make it go.”
The Red Raiders also play tough defense. A non factor against Baylor, the bench play of OSU will have to produce against Tech.
“Well, we certainly have to get more production off of the bench,” said Dickey. “And our players understand that. We need everyone that is over there to come in and play like they’re capable.
“Cheyne, Spoon, and Jason Miller certainly need to step up for us, and they’ve been working hard in practice. Coach has been very positive with them and you never know when you’re going to be called on, so you’ve got to be ready.”
Brad Blood can be reached via e-mail at: bblood@ocolly.com
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