Preview: South Florida vs. OSU

Vitals

Tip: 8:00 PM
Location: Stillwater, OK
TV: ESPNU (Cox OKC – 253 | Cox Tulsa – 253 | Suddenlink – 503 | DirecTV – 208 | Dish – 141)
Online Stream: here
Radio: Cowboy Radio Network
Online radio: here
Announcers: Mitch Holthus and Matt Doherty
Line: OSU -10.5

Records

Cowboys – 5-1
Bulls – 5-2

Best win

Cowboys – NC State (KenPom: #28)
Bulls – Georgia (KenPom: #110)

Worst loss

Cowboys – Virginia Tech (KenPom: #67)
Bulls – Western Michgan (KenPom: #212)

KenPom rank

Cowboys – #30
Bulls – #95

Data nerds

[table id=69 /]

Adj. efficiency – Points per 100 possessions (adjusted for quality of opponent and site of game).
Adj. tempo – Possessions per game (adjusted for schedule and pace of other team).
Effective FG % – Takes into account extra value of 3s.
Turnover % – Turnovers divided by possessions.

Three things to watch

1. Big crowd – This is OSU’s first (real) home game since winning the Puerto Rico tournament. Ford is all in on the “bring the rowdy back” thing, a phrase I don’t really understand [stops post to design t-shirt], and I hope it works. This team could use 2-3 wins from what’s been a recently lackluster showing at home. Tonight, with a Big East team in town, will go a long way in showing whether or not they’re going to get it.

2. Cobbins factor – Mike Cobbins only played seven minutes in Blacksburg but he should get more minutes in his second game back from a broken toe. Will he fit seamlessly into what’s been a pretty unselfish offense or will he need a few more games to get in the swing of things?

3. Forte’s response – Phil Forte had his first horrific shooting performance of the season last time out (1-10 from three, 2-11 overall) — will he come back with a more efficient performance or will the frosh let it seep into his head? Tune in tonight to find out.

Predictions

Cowboys 72-67