Notebook: Oklahoma State-West Virginia

Oklahoma State lost it’s 13th conference game of the season on Saturday evening in Stillwater, falling to the Mountaineers 70-56. Here’s my leftover notes from a less than spectacular game in GIA. Five thoughts are here.

• Tavarius Shine has been riding a hot streak like no other, and so far he’s started the game 4-for-4 with 12 points.
• Turnovers are really turning out to be a big factor early…obviously playing against the Cowboys. Not having a true point guard is really hurting.
• Tyree Griffin is a true point, but he’s operating at about 50%. That ankle is still obviously hindering him.
• Igor Ibaka coming in to finish up the first half…I like the move actually. Him and Allen both are solely defensive players, but still feels like Ibaka gives better effort.
• So Joe Burton, Mitch Solomon and Tavarius Shine combine for 26 of the 29 first half points. Brutal!
• It’s like deja vu. Oklahoma State shows big game early, but absolutely wilt toward the end of the first. West Virginia takes all the momentum at half after a strange sequence leads to an ‘Eers buzzer beater.
• Going to leave this here.

4 of #OKState's 13 1st half turnovers came when Cowboys couldn't get ball inbounds, 4 others were tosses OB w players going wrong direction.

— John E. Hoover (@johnehoover) February 28, 2016

• Joseph Burton’s shot is smooooth. Thinking too far ahead here, but Forte + Hammonds + Evans + Burton could be a pretty good group next season.
• Really like Tyree Griffin’s development over the last month. Despite injury, he has really shown some charisma on the court and a willingness to slash and drive that wasn’t there before.
• Interrupt this incredibly entertaining basketball notebook for a breaking Mike Gundy update:

Mike Gundy in the building for Thunder-Warriors because why not? pic.twitter.com/2uDVo9z1Zq

— Anthony Slater (@anthonyVslater) February 28, 2016

• The Travis Ford angry face screenshots are in abundance this evening.
• Surprisingly, they have really turned around the turnover situation in the second half. But they’ve gone completely cold in the second half shooting.
• Oklahoma State currently on a 7:00 minute + streak WITHOUT a field goal. Not the streak you want to go on!
• Body language across the board has been really sad to watch…from the coaches all the way down to the players and even fans on television, everyone seems really bummed we are still in basketball season.