Hoops Preview: Cowboys Set to Open Season Saturday Against 0-1 Charlotte

STILLWATER — The Cowboys’ six freshmen will play in their first college game (that counts) away from the comfort of Gallagher-Iba Arena on Saturday.

Although Charlotte might not be the most daunting opponent, Oklahoma State coach Mike Boynton said he looks forward to seeing how his young guys react to life on the road.

“We don’t get to decide that we’re not going to Lawrence this year because we’re young,” Boynton said. “We gotta go. We gotta be ready to play when we get there. Same in Morgantown, same in Austin, same in Manhattan, who will all be really, really talented teams. This will be a great challenge for those guys to step up and learn what it’s like to come together on the road and try to win.”

The Cowboys’ youth will be matched with youth from Charlotte. Charlotte started three freshmen in its season-opening 80-69 loss to Chattanooga. The 49ers shot 48 percent from the field and were a dismal 4-of-16 from 3-point range.

The 49ers already having played a game could be seen as an advantage or disadvantage for the Pokes. The disadvantage is Charlotte’s young guys have an extra game of experience. The advantage is the Cowboys have game film to see the 49ers’ new coaching staff’s approach. Charlotte coach Ron Sanchez is in his first year at the program after being an assistant at Virginia last season.

The Cowboys are thin at point guard. Isaac Likekele, a freshman, started the Cowboys’ exhibition against Ouachita Baptist and will likely start again Saturday. Michael Weathers’ suspension was lifted Thursday, but Weathers had missed practices since September, and it’s unknown whether Boynton will use him against Charlotte.

Graduate transfer point guard Mike Cunningham has dealt with a nagging hamstring injury, and his status for Saturday is uncertain. Boynton said Cunningham participated sparingly in practice Wednesday.

Down traditional point guards, Lindy Waters brought the ball down the floor some against Ouachita Baptist. Waters’ versatility has been beneficial for the Cowboys in his first two seasons. Last season, Waters even spent time at power forward.

“I know the offense very well,” Waters said. “I’ve been in the system for three years now. I’ve been able to handle the ball ever since I was little. That’s what my dad taught me to do is handle the ball.”

Along with handling the ball, Waters will likely be given the task of handling Jon Davis, who scored 31 points in Charlotte’s opener. Last season, Waters looked forward to the challenge of matching up against Trae Young, and Waters said his mindset isn’t too different with Davis or anyone else.

“It doesn’t matter who it is, I’m ready to guard anybody,” Waters said. “(I’m) ready to go against anybody in this country.”

Davis was 2-for-11 from the field against OSU last season, an 83-65 OSU victory. He managed to score 15 points after shooting 12 free throws.

“I’m very confident in our guys,” Boynton said. “I don’t know if there will be a guy that you can ask (if OSU can handle defensively) that I won’t feel we can figure something out against. He’s obviously a real dynamic player, and he’s gonna score because he’s gonna get a lot of opportunities. He’s gonna have the ball in his hands. He’s gonna play 35, 40 minutes. Our job is to make him inefficient. To make sure that all of his shots are challenged and that he always sees a second defender when he gets by a first one and to make sure he works for everything his gets.”