Notebook: Oklahoma State-Texas

Oklahoma State, winless on the road in conference play this season, faced the Longhorns in Austin Saturday evening and came up on the short end. Here’s my leftover notes from the game. You can read my five thoughts here.

• Pre-game thought: I 100% agree with Mark Cooper. The vests gotta go.

#OKState warming up. Still has those hideous vests. pic.twitter.com/q0fzYfmf4c

— Mark Cooper (@mark_cooperjr) January 16, 2016

• Five minutes into the game, and Travis’ rotation has been STEADY. Not sure if he’s trying to keep bodies fresh, but I feel like no one can get loose playing in three-minute stints.
• I keep touting Olivier’s offensive skill, but his inability to put a body on someone to block out keeps proving why he’s the odd-man-out in the rotation.
• Seven minutes into the game, OSU is 2-of-13 from field goals. That’s 15% from the field.
• Oklahoma State started the game in attack mode getting to the rim, but Evans, Griffin and Shine all clanking off the rim from short distance. Gotta finish.
• Now 3-of-18 from the field…

• Oklahoma State is getting mauled down low, even with the absence of arguably the best Longhorn big man – Cam Ridley.
• *flips to Patriots game*
• Announcer: “Travis Ford likes to run a lot of sets. He’s pulled off that, and just letting Evans run the floor and make decisions.” Sounds like something we should pay a couple mil a year for.
• A pass to Mitch Solomon is essentially a self-volunteered turnover.
• Our big men are no bueno …
• With the exception of maybe Hasheem Thabeet, I feel like if you’re 7-foot or taller you should be a fairly valuable offensive threat for a basketball team. But Anthony Allen is not.
• Pokes currently own an 11-0 run and it’s still a 10-point lead for the Horns.

Yep.

Texas has two field goals in the last 9:05. And still leads by 12. A game of missed opportunities for #OKState.

— Mark Cooper (@mark_cooperjr) January 17, 2016

• OSU on a 34-13 run… all of a sudden a 65-62 game in favor of the Horns.
• Why do we continue to have the shortest player on our roster pass the ball in bounds under the basket?
• OSU ran out of timeouts with 30 seconds remaining. When you’re playing from behind on the road, that should absolutely never happen.
• Jawun Evans’ open floor game is incredible. So quick in space and extremely high basketball IQ for a freshman. Sees everything as it develops.
• And….game. Pokes fall short. Next up: Kansas comes to GIA on Tuesday night.