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Predicting the 2017-18 Oklahoma State Basketball Schedule: Part 1, The Nonconference Games

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A lot has happened to the Oklahoma State basketball program this offseason. Underwood taking the money at Illinois, Lamont Evans getting arrested by the FBI for taking the money, a Sutton joining the staff and much more. But after a summer and fall of turmoil, it’s finally time to focus on actual basketball.

OSU tips off their season on Friday with a home game against lowly Pepperdine in Gallagher-Iba Arena.

While there are a lot of questions heading into the season, with a new head coach, new point guards, and new leading man, why not still try and figure out exactly what the Cowboys’ record will be at the end of the regular season.

Let’s kick this off with a look at the non-conference schedule and break down some of the key games.

Non-Conference Schedule
Date Time Opp. Loc. Watch Prediction
Fri. Nov. 10, 2017 7:30 p.m. Pepperdine Stillwater, Okla. FCS  W
Mon. Nov. 13, 2017 7 p.m. Charlotte Stillwater, Okla. Fox-Plus  W
Thu. Nov. 16, 2017 7 p.m. Oral Roberts Stillwater, Okla. Fox-Plus  W
Mon Nov. 20, 2017 6 p.m. Texas A&M New York, NY ESPN2  L
Tue. Nov. 21, 2017 TBD Penn State or Pittsburgh New York, NY TBD  W
Sun. Nov. 26, 2017 2 p.m. Houston Baptist Stillwater, Okla. FSOK  W
Wed. Nov. 29, 2017 7 p.m. Austin Peay Stillwater, Okla. Fox- Plus  W
Sun. Dec. 3, 2017 2 p.m. Mississippi State Valley Stillwater, Okla. FSOK  W
Sat. Dec. 9, 2017 3 p.m. Wichita State Stillwater, Okla. ESPN2  W
Sat. Dec. 16, 2017 1 p.m. Florida State Sunrise, FL. FS2  L
Tue. Dec. 19, 2017 8 p.m. Tulsa Stillwater, Okla. FSOK  W
Fri. Dec. 22, 2017 12 p.m. UT- Rio Grande Valley Stillwater, Okla. FSOK  W
Sat. Jan. 27, 2017 5 p.m. Arkansas Fayetteville, AR ESPN2  L
Key Games
Season Opener – Pepperdine

November 17 | Stillwater, OK
Last Season: 9-22 (5-13 West Coast Conference)

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We’ll get our first look at this year’s OSU on Friday, Nov. 10th when they welcome the Waves of Pepperdine to Gallagher-Iba Arena.

Similar to OSU, the Waves will be looking to replace a lot of production. Their top three scorers from last season are gone. Their top returning player is forward Nolan Taylor who averaged 7.1 points, 3.7 rebounds, and an assist a game.

The Waves did add two JUCO transfers; forward Darnell Dunn who averaged 18.3 points, 7.2 rebounds, and 2.4 assists last season for Miami Dade College, and power forward Harrison Meads who averaged  9.3 points and 6.6 rebounds while shooting 66 percent for Laramie County Community College.

Head Coach Marty Wilson is in his seventh season with the program with a record of 82-103. Pepperdine might be one of the worst teams in college basketball this season. They’re a perfect warm up for a new-look Oklahoma State team trying to figure themselves out.

Projection: Win


Revenge Game – Oral Roberts

November 16 | Stillwater
Last Season: 8-22 (4-12 Summit League)

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With Scott Sutton joining Oklahoma State’s coaching staff, the Cowboys will get the opportunity to put it to the team that, frankly, screwed a good man out of his job. While the coaching staff and players would never admit it, you know the players will feel some extra motivation in this one. Not that they’ll need it.

ORU brings back two of their top for scorers from last year; leading scorer and center Albert Owens who averaged 17.4 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 1.2 blocks a game, and forward Emmanuel Nzekwesi who averaged 9.8 points and 6.4 rebounds. Both earned All-Summit League pre-season honors; Owens made the first team, while Nzekwesi was named to the second team.

ORU will be led by first year head coach Paul Mills who spent the last eight years as an assistant coach at Baylor. The Cowboys will come into this game eager to beat a team that should be no match for them.

Projection: Big Win.


First Chance to Impress – Texas A&M

November 20 | Brooklyn, NY | Legends Classic
Last Season: 16-15 (8-10 Southeastern Conference)

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OSU heads to Brooklyn for the Legends Classic, and their first real test of the season. They’ll open the doubleheader against Texas A&M before facing either Pitt or Penn State.

After a down year, the Aggies were picked to finish third in the SEC in the preseason poll behind Kentucky and Florida. They tout two preseason All-SEC players; Robert Williams who was named first team, and second-team pick Tyler Davis. Williams was also chosen as the conference preseason player of the year, a distinction he split with two other players.

During his rookie season, Williams had 11 double-doubles on the season, and nearly averaged one in league play, finishing with 12.9 points and 9.6 rebounds per game. Davis is entering his junior season after an impressive sophomore year where he averaged 14.1 points a game on 62.9 percent shooting.

Throw in the 14th-best recruiting class according to 247Sports, and the Aggies are primed for at least a bounce-back year, if not a really good one.

I think this game is close early, but the Aggies just out-talent the Cowboys in their first real test of the season.

Prediction: Loss


Revenge Game 2 – Wichita State

December 9 | Stillwater
Last Season: 31-5 (17-1 Missouri Valley Conference)

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Last season, OSU did the unthinkable and went into Intrust Bank Arena, the Shockers home away from home, and thumped them. That Wichita State team was good, not great.

This year, the Cowboys welcome the Shockers to Stillwater in what will be a revenge game for the opposition, one I think they’ll be ready for. Wichita State starts the season ranked No.7/No.8 in the country, and is the favorite to win the American in their first season in the conference.

When they arrive to town keep an eye on starting point guard Landry Shamet and center Shaquille Morris. Shamet is the leading scorer for the team, averaging 11.4 points per game on 47 percent shooting, to go with 3.25 assists. Meanwhile Morris (who somehow escaped the state of Oklahoma), averages 9.6 points and 1 block per game, and plays fantastic defense.

**Can we just stop for a moment and appreciate that this game is on the schedule? Home-and-homes like this and the one against Maryland should be on the schedule every year. OSU players and fans deserve it.**

I think OSU is going to pull off one win over a non-conference Power-5 opponent that it shouldn’t. With this one at home, I’ll say the Cowboys nab a marquee win over Wichita State.

Prediction: Upset Win


Revenge Game 3 – Arkansas

January 27 | Fayetteville, AR
Last Season: 26-10 (12-6 Southeastern Conference)

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OSU will again face the Arkansas Razorbacks in the Big 12/SEC challenge, this time traveling to Fayetteville, Arkansas.

Arkansas loses two of their top scorers from last season; Dusty Hannahs who averaged 14.4 points per game, and Moses Kingsley who averaged 12 points per game.

However, they return two other double digit scorers in Daryl Macon and Jaylen Barford. Throw in senior Anton Beard and this will be a talented Razorback team that should finish in the top five of the SEC this season.

I think Arkansas will be pumped to beat OSU after getting destroyed in Stillwater last season. With the game at Arkansas, I think the Hogs win a close one.

Prediction: Loss


Non-Conference Record Prediction: 10-3

I’m really trying to be optimistic here and believe the Cowboys will beat the teams they should beat, and show up against a couple they aren’t. This could easily swing to 8-5 with loses to Wichita State and, dare I say it, Tulsa, but I believe there is still enough talent for this team to pull off some upsets.

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