Notebook: Layup Woes Doom OSU Against Iowa State

So maybe winning three games in three attempts in one season isn’t as difficult as we all thought.

Iowa State completed the regular season sweep of the Cowboys, and at the hands of the Cyclones, OSU is one-and-done in the Big 12 Tournament and headed back home with a 92-83 loss. Some notes from the game below:

• Cameron McGriff is super young, and on the whole OSU is outmatched down low. But he really has no business playing down low and banging with Iowa State’s bigs at this point in his career. Understand reason for frustration there, but him playing down low is more of a lack of depth issue than it is a coaching thing.

• Also: Cam McGriff is going to be very good. He’s just more suited for a 3-guard spot.

• Holly Rowe reported that Jeff Carroll had a goal to average 15 points per game this year after a talk from Brad Underwood, who challenged him that he could be an elite wing in the Big 12. He’s at 17.3 PPG. #UnderwoodDaGawd

• Jawun Evans: Elite.

I've seen this move before … on NBA Jam. pic.twitter.com/g8gvC7EmDR

— Pistols Firing (@pistolsguys) March 9, 2017

• Per OSU’s game notes, Oklahoma State turned the ball over only three times in the first half of action. And they still trailed. That’s kindaaaa what happens when you play one of the best shooting teams in the Big 12.

• Brandon Averette getting a technical with 10 minutes left in the second half? And no technical from Monte Morris who instigated it? Cool deal, brah.

hdsportsclips: Technicals being thrown around left an right in Iowa! ESPN 2 Big 12 Basketba… https://t.co/4iXQWkHTLA pic.twitter.com/odrAeGc7eZ

— FanSportsClips (@FanSportsClips) March 9, 2017

• Jawun Evans has perfected the “draw contact and throw head back” move, but kind of feel like the Big 12 refs have figured out his tendency. Not getting the call much here.

• Curious stat here: OSU finished 13-of-33 on layups. Jawun had some drives that ended in short misses, Carroll same. But those second chance putbacks and easy buckets around the rim were limited by ISU. Brutal, brutal stat.

The lack of size doesn’t help, but Iowa State isn’t exactly the largest team in the conference down low. Size clearly bothered them — so the draw in the NCAA Tournament will be interesting. If they draw size, it might be another one-and-done tourney appearance.