Five Thoughts on OSU’s 101-74 Win over Houston Baptist

BOX SCORE

The Cowboys housed Houston Baptist 101-74 inside Gallagher-Iba Arena on Sunday and it wasn’t that close. Five Pokes reached double digits in the first 100-point game of Mike Boynton’s young tenure.

I had a few thoughts, so let’s get into them.

1. Mike Boynton’s rotations are still taking shape

For the third-straight game, Jeffrey Carroll came off of the bench. I guess that really doesn’t matter. He played 21 minutes in a blowout win. But I’m curious to see when Mike Boynton makes his first change to the starting lineup and lets his best player start.

Davon Dillard made his season debut after missing the first five games due to disciplinary issues. He came in at around the halfway point of the first period, and looked like someone who hasn’t played in eight months would. He’s not quite in game shape yet but he showed glimpses of what he can provide this team as probably its most versatile player.

2. Charges on top of Charges

I don’t know how many charges the Cowboys have taken this year but it’s got to be more than they normally do in an entire season. Nick Collision is impressed.

It’s obviously been an emphasis of Boynton’s and I like it. When the Cowboys get into conference play, they aren’t going to be out-athleting many teams and with the type of man, pressure defense they play, good rotations and help will be key.

3. Kendall Smith was aggressive, in a good way

Kendall Smith, who didn’t shoot the ball well during the Cowboys’ trip to Brooklyn, made his first shot, a corner 3. He would go 3 for 3 from long distance and 5 of 9 from the field, sharing lead-scorer honors with Thomas Dziagwa at 16 points.

The offense looked off for the first 10 minutes or so but once the Cowboys settled in, it was maybe the best we’ve see this season. A lot of that was Smith continuing to learn when to be aggressive and when to let the game came to him.

4. Transition offense, is OSU’s best offense

Oklahoma State was intent on feeding Mitchell Solomon in the paint and it was a good matchup early for the Pokes. Lucas N’Guessan was also used a lot with some high-low action in the second half and looks serviceable as a passer.

But everyone knows the best offense for this team. Force turnovers with your length and push the ball up the floor. The Cowboys gained 20 points off of 15 turnovers by the Huskies.

5. Have we really learned anything about this team?

Through six games, I still don’t have a good read on what this team is going to look like in January and beyond. The first 10 minutes of this game had me wondering if the Cowboys were going to win a single Big 12 game. The Cowboys looked disjointed on offense, moving the ball without purpose and just for the sake of moving the ball.

Then they just woke up and outscored the visiting Southland Conference team 32-11 over the last nine minutes before halftime. But, it’s Houston Baptist. The West Virginias, Oklahomas or even TCUs of the world aren’t going to spot you 10 minutes to figure it out.

What’s next: The Cowboys welcome Austin Peay on Wednesday night at 7 p.m. at GIA.