Oklahoma State Cowboys (Overall: 20-12, Conf: 9-9)
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Team Strengths:
Oklahoma State will open the tournament against 7-seed Michigan after finishing the season with an exemplary 20-12 record. It was quite a turnaround for the Cowboys who started Big 12 play by losing their first six conference games. Key to Oklahoma State’s resurgence has been their incredible play on the offensive end. The Cowboys are eighth in the nation in scoring, averaging a whopping 85.5 points per game this season. They’re even better when it comes to offensive efficiency, with Oklahoma State scoring 124.8 points per 100 possessions. That’s tops in the entire nation, according to KenPom.com.
The triumvirate of Jawun Evans, Jeffrey Carroll, and Phil Forte III has simply been too much to handle for opposing teams. Evans leads the team in scoring with 19.0 points per contest, Carroll is second with 17.4, and Forte is third with 13.3. Together, they make up more than half of Oklahoma State’s offense. The Cowboys’ odds of winning the national tournament are currently priced at +10,000.
Team Weaknesses:
The only thing holding back Oklahoma State from greatness is its abysmal defense. The Cowboys are 303rd in the nation in scoring defense, surrendering 78.0 points per game this season. That was pretty much evident in their last three losses wherein they allowed an average of 89.3 points. Rebounding is also a major problem for head coach Brad Underwood. Oklahoma State is ranked all the way down to the 121st spot in this department.
Team Stats:
| Category | Stat | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| Points Per Game | 85.5 | 8 |
| Rebounds Per Game | 36.7 | 121 |
| Assists Per Game | 14.7 | 99 |
| 3-Point Percentage | 40.1 | 16 |
| Free Throw Percentage | 78.7 | 4 |
Starting Lineup:
| Position | Name | PPG |
|---|---|---|
| F | Leyton Hammonds | 8.0 |
| F | Mitchell Solomon | 5.4 |
| G | Jeffrey Carroll | 17.4 |
| G | Jawun Evans | 19.0 |
| G | Phil Forte III | 13.3 |
Writer’s Prediction:
Oklahoma State (+10,000) loses to Michigan in the first round.
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