Five Thoughts on Oklahoma State’s 79-66 Loss to TCU

Oklahoma State dropped its second consecutive conference game and third straight overall on Tuesday in a lopsided 79-66 affair vs. TCU that was never all that close in the waning minutes of action.

As has become a trend for the Cowboys, their opponent was able to turn on the jets in the second half while OSU wilted, scoring just 35 in the final frame and going cold from the 3-point line. Meanwhile, TCU heated up quicker than a hot pocket and distanced themselves down the stretch to get their fourth win in conference play.

The Horned Frogs are now one step closer to an NCAA Tournament berth, while OSU inched a step closer to the NIT.

Let’s get into five thoughts from the game.

1. Cam McGriff was the best player on the floor

It’s a shame the Crime Dog’s big night was semi-squandered, because he was the best player on the floor and had one of his better games all season.

McGriff scored 11 points on a somewhat inefficient 3 of 11 shooting, but his impact was felt elsewhere. He had two massive dunks down the stretch at a time that I felt the momentum could have shifted, and added 6 rebounds, 2 assists and 34 minutes of play.

He was keeping OSU within striking distance in the final frame before TCU eventually got a stranglehold and took over.

OK then Cam McGriff. ? pic.twitter.com/w2ttWqKDqI

— Kyle Boone (@PFBoone) January 31, 2018

McDUNK pic.twitter.com/jQxrPqueSD

— Kyle Boone (@PFBoone) January 31, 2018

2. Dziagwa disappearance?

You won’t catch me slamming my fists and demanding 35 minutes a game out of sophomore sharpshooter Thomas Dziagwa, but in certain games — like this one — I feel like he can be generally useful.

And he was!

Dizzy dropped in two 3-pointers early in the game then was pulled and essentially never returned, logging just 8 minutes despite hitting both 3s while he was in the game. I know he’s no Andre Roberson on the defensive side of the ball, but with offense being as hard to come by as it has been during OSU’s losing streak, I feel like they could’ve rode the Florida Flamethrower until he missed.

3. Point guard play ?

When (or if) both OSU point guards can find a rhythm in the same game, will be the day OSU can knock off a team it might typically not be able to.

Tuesday was …. not the day.

Just days after OSU rolled out with one point guard, Brandon Averette, Kendall Smith exploded off the bench for 13 points, 3 assists and endless long 2s. As for Averette: he finished 0 for 3 with 0 points, six assists and three turnovers and a final plus/minus of minus-18.

4. Scoring options are few and far between

Carson Cunningham brought this up on the PFB podcast and I found it worth exploring after the game: Who in the universe is going to be OSU’s go-to next season?!

This season we (generally) know what Jeff Carroll will give you. And the same, mostly, goes for Kendall Smith and Mitch Solomon. But none of those guys will be back next season. That leaves transfer Michael Weathers, Cam McGriff, Tavarius Shine and Lindy Waters shouldering loads none have ever previously carried before.

That makes me … nervie. Especially because this season, with all those options on the table, OSU’s offense has turned into a floundering fish swimming through the sea like Dory with no direction.

5. Second half struggles

This is a rinse-repeat issue that is discussed on a game-by-game basis now, so I hate to wear this point thin. But, it’s absolutely worth mentioning. If only because second half struggles once again reared their ugly head against TCU.

“We practiced halftime a couple days just to try to break the psychology of it, maybe try to see if the guys can do it in practice so to speak, they can maybe do it in a game,” Boynton said of his team’s second half struggles. “Tonight was a different story. We didn’t bring the same type energy and fight in the second half that we needed to have success in this league on a night-in and night-out basis.”

• Death, taxes and long 2s from Kendall Smith.

• TCU turned the ball over 20 times but dominated the game in basically every facet. It won the rebounding battle 37-26, scored 42 points in the paint to OSU’s 20, and hit an efficient 8-of-12 from the 3-point line to OSU’s 8-of-14 clip.

• TCU is so dang disciplined it hurts. They are like robots. I saw a TCU player get called for a charge, and he quickly put the ball on the ground humbly, gave a glance to Jamie Dixon (who nodded in approval), then he sprinted back on defense and put his hands up ready to work. Anyone that tells you a coach doesn’t make a difference is lying — TCU is night-and-day different than it was two seasons ago.

• Shout out to my Game of Thrones homies out there. This shirt is awesome.

The shirts worn to the postgame news conference by the TCU players. That says “conference win #4,” right? pic.twitter.com/oraB9GDz7d

— Mark Cooper (@mark_cooperjr) January 31, 2018

• Not having Tavarius Shine is an absolute killer on both ends of the floor. Maybe the best defensive player, and, at times, the best shooter. His absence has loomed large this week.

• Vlad Brodziansky is the whitest Giannis Antetokounmpo I have ever seen.

• Jeff Carroll converted a 4-point play. I have nothing to add to that, other than to say it was awesome and I would like to see that happen more often.