The Oklahoma State Cowboys have long known they wouldn’t be advancing to the postseason, thanks to an NCAA ban, so they have to make the most of the few chances they have left.
One of the biggest comes Saturday when they take on Oklahoma in Norman, Okla.
The Cowboys dealt the Sooners a 64-55 setback on Feb. 5, helping to deflate their archrivals’ season. Misery loves company.
“Every team in the Big 12 we play it means something,” Cowboys junior Kalib Boone said. “But when it’s time to play little brother, it’s time to beat up little brother at times. And I have so much respect for OU … but yeah.”
Boone, an Oklahoma native, wasn’t offered a scholarship by Oklahoma out of high school. Neither was his brother, Keylan Boone, another Cowboys standout.
Kalib Boone said he savors every chance to play for Oklahoma State (13-14, 6-9 Big 12) in the Bedlam series and played a major role in the earlier meeting, scoring 12 points off the bench. Moussa Cisse also scored 12 in a balanced OSU attack that had four players score in double figures.
Oklahoma State, which is also banned from the Big 12 tournament, follows the OU game with a trip to Iowa State on Wednesday and the Cowboys’ home finale against Texas Tech on March 5.
Oklahoma’s season has come apart in the past six weeks. The Sooners (14-14, 4-11) had been cruising along with a 12-3 start – had beaten three ranked teams and appeared to be a sure-fire NCAA Tournament team before the bottom fell out. But they have dropped 11 of their past 13 games and now seem to be a longshot at best for the NCAA Tournament.
Oklahoma coach Porter Moser’s message hasn’t wavered, even after the Sooners lost Elijah Harkless last week for the season due to injury. Harkless is considered OU’s best on-ball defender, and averages 10 points and four assists a game.
We have some ball left,” Moser said. “Don’t count us out.”
Despite their current four-game losing streak, the Sooners are still acting like they can turn things around, though time is drawing short in Moser’s first season.
They have endured a collection of close defeats, losing three times in overtime and three more by three points or fewer. Yet, they have scored a total of just 96 points in their past two one-sided losses, 75-54 at Iowa State and 66-42 at Texas Tech.
–Field Level Media