Despite Slow Start, It’s Not Time to Panic for OSU Hoops

Oklahoma State has the third-least experienced team in the Big 12.

Three of its top four leading scorers are true freshmen. And in terms of cohesiveness, this team is still trying to find its way — Mike Boynton on Sunday altered the starting lineup in the wake of the TCU loss, inserting Avery Anderson into the mix in an effort to capitalize on OSU’s strengths on both ends of the court.

There’s still plenty of learning, growing and gelling for this unit to be a factor in the Big 12, and an 0-2 hole to open Big 12 play is less than ideal. But it’s not yet time to hit the panic button. Because despite the youth, despite the lack of experience as a team together, despite the lack of outside shooting, OSU’s two losses in league play have come by a combined 4 points.

“Really disappointed,” said Boynton on Sunday. “Thought we did some things good enough to give ourselves a chance, but we didn’t do enough things well enough or long enough to finish the game.”

The backbreaker from Sunday was Texas’ 17-0 second-half run, which erased OSU’s narrow lead and dug the Pokes into a deficit they ultimately couldn’t climb out of. And yet they nearly did dig out of that, cutting the game to within two points in the final seconds.

Truth is, OSU’s success this season needs to be found in the margins. And sure, stopping 17-0 runs should probably be high on the priority list. But taking smart shots, getting shots off before the shot clock, limiting second-chance opportunities and taking care of the ball will all determine the ceiling of this team. It gets back to fundamentals, to players understanding their teammates’ strengths, to the coaching staff putting those players in positions to succeed. OSU has been close to open league play, but it must be better. And here’s the spoiler: OSU can (and I believe will) be better.

“Are we getting the right shots? Are we trying to get ourselves to the free throw line? Are we attacking the paint to get easier, higher percentage shots?” posed Mike Boynton on Sunday when analyzing how OSU could stop runs like Texas had and solutions to snapping in-game funks. “Our lack of being able to defensive rebound [hurt us], and we didn’t do a great job in transition defense. A one-possession game where the other team gets 13 more shots is going to be hard to win.

“… You’re talking about two one-possession games. We’re not getting run out of anyone’s gym. We’re not not competing. But that’s not the goal; the goal is to win.”