11 Predictions For The 2016-17 Season

The basketball season starts at 7 p.m. tonight in Gallagher-Iba Arena, and we have some predictions for Brad Underwood’s first campaign in Stillwater.

Kyle Porter

Jawun Evans leads the team in points, rebounds and assists

I went there! Also, this might not seem great, but he came within a half rebound a game of doing it last season. Only Leyton Hammonds nipped him. Evans has more game to grow into, but hopefully Hammonds improves from his 5.1 mark as well.

Phil Forte breaks the three-point record on January 23 against TCU

He needs 56 for the record. That’s Oklahoma State’s 20th game. He averages about 2.5 made threes a game in his career. You do the math (because I didn’t).

Cam McGriff ends up being OSU most valuable freshman

Lindy Waters will get the headlines. Brandon Averette may get the playing time. But it will be McGriff who becomes an invaluable part of Underwood’s hounding defense that results in easy transition buckets. He is the most ferocious defender of all the freshmen (by far) and maybe on the entire team. That will endear him to the home faithful and could earn him a slot as one of Underwood’s most trusted players early on in his career.

Kyle Boone

Oklahoma State will finish sixth in conference play

It’s not a super #boldprediction that many people want to see, but it takes more than a day to rebuild a program — especially in the Big 12. It will still be a much improved squad from a year ago.

Oklahoma State will land two players on the All-Big 12 team

I think Jawun Evans will be a lock to land on the first team, and Leyton Hammonds is the other I think may sneak onto the first team. Hammonds may receive the biggest boost from the Underwood hire, as he’ll play a versatile role for the Cowboys seeing time at the 3, 4, and 5 positions depending on the lineup they roll out.

Kyle Cox

Lindy Waters will be the first Cowboy to post a triple-double since Maurice Baker 2001

The kid’s got a chance to be really good. I’m not just basing this on the Pitt State game either. He has the skill set to excel at this level. He can shoot, he can create and his length should allow him to be a good defender. He also seemed to play with confidence in his first action as a Cowboy.

Davon Dillard will work his way into the starting lineup

As a freshman, Dillard found his way into Travis Ford’s doghouse. But Brad Underwood called him the most improved player in the first three weeks of practice.

#OKState coach Brad Underwood said Davon Dillard has been the most improved player from the start of practice Oct. 1 to today.

— Mark Cooper (@mark_cooperjr) October 17, 2016

The Cowboys will be sweep Bedlam

Yep, I’m going there. The Cowboys who have lost seven straight to the Sooners? The Cowboys who are 2-9 against Lon Kruger? Yeah, those Cowboys. They’ve got their own K-State alum and he’s going to out-yell and out-coach his Crimson counterpart this year.

Bonus bold prediction: Thomas Dziagwa will break Cezar “the Mexican Assassin” Guerrero’s record for eight three-pointers made off of the bench. And I’ll learn to spell Dziagwa without Google.

Sam Aldrich

Jawun Evans will win the Big 12 Player of the Year

You heard it here first. Jawun is the best point guard in a loaded conference of guards (Devonte Graham and Frank Mason at Kansas, Monte Morris at Iowa State, Jordan Woodward at Oklahoma, Daxter Miles Jr. and Jevon Carter at West Virginia).

Jawun is going for 16/5.5/4 on average and will spearhead the next prediction..

Oklahoma State will get back to the NCAA Tournament (If they stay healthy)

Last year’s Cowboys team was perfect storm of injuries, lack of depth, poor coaching, a tough conference, lack of size, and a little bad luck. This year’s team is well-equipped to make a fast turnaround in year one of Underwood in Stillwater, if they can avoid injuries.

Jawun and Phil need to stay healthy — if they do, this team’s backcourt is lethal, and guards win in college basketball. I’m all in.

Mitch Solomon becomes the most important player on this team behind Jawun

I know, I’m talking about the goofy white dude that averaged less than four points and rebounds per game last year, but hear me out.

This team has zero — ZERO — chance to win consistently without some semblance of a post player. Here is the list of players 6’8 or taller on the roster:

• Mitch Solomon, 6’9 (a real post player)
• Leyton Hammonds, 6’8 (a natural wing being forced to play in the post)
• Lucas N’Guessan, 7’0 (weighs 215 lbs. and is a true freshman that joined the team late)

That’s it! If Mitch can’t stay out of foul trouble and rebound/protect the rim, the Cowboys won’t go anywhere this season. If he stays on the floor and just does those two things, this team’s ceiling is much higher.