Stat of the Week: Oklahoma State’s Defense Declining in 2nd Half of Games

We’re introducing a new recurring post that we hope that you will enjoy. I will spend each edition trying to wrap my head around one stat that sticks out to me, and then do my best to extrapolate something close to discernible point and posture.

For this inaugural rendition let’s focus on basketball and an issue that has plagued the Cowboys since the start of that meat grinder we call conference play in the Big 12.

Mike Boynton and Oklahoma State, currently suffering through a three-game skid, are looking for answers, and depth. The Cowboys sit at 3-6, good for 8th place in the Big 12 and have just nine games left — only four of those are at home — and can only grasp a prayer of making the NCAA Tournament.

Here it is. Oklahoma State is not a second half team and there are reasons for it.

Kyle Porter broke down the Cowboys’ final-frame 3-point struggles on the road recently and the numbers are pretty telling.

Unfortunately, OSU seems to have an overall problem in second halves regardless of where the game is played. Let’s look at those numbers.

The Cowboys actually start out games alright. OSU is ranked 59th in first-half scoring and 60th in first-half scoring defense. But it’s in the final 20 minutes that the Cowboys’ lack of depth catches up with them. OSU is 123rd in second-half scoring and 292nd (out of 351) in second-half scoring defense.

To Porter’s point, on the road those numbers wane even more. OSU’s second-half scoring drops from an average of 39.1 to 36.6 and scoring defense goes from 40.4 points allowed to 43.2 allowed, on average.

There are probably two reasons for this that both are equally simple and disconcerting. 1. Mike Boynton’s depth chart makes the homecoming fountain in front of Edmon Low look cavernous. 2. His talent pool isn’t far behind. You need talent to score and tired legs mean weak legs and short jumpers — and a drop in defensive effort.

I think Carson summed up it pretty well on the latest PFB podcast, OSU is just not that good, unfortunately. This is a rebuilding year’s rebuilding year with a rookie coach who took over a team without two of its best scorers and a lot more from last season.

But excuses are like tax filings. We’ve all got ’em and no one wants to deal with them (unless you have somebody to do it for you!), even if Boynton’s got some legitimate exemptions to claim.

Since he took over, all hell has broken loose. From the FBI investigation/firing of Boynton’s right-hand man Lamont Evans, to the suspension and subsequent dismissal of Davon Dillard and Zack Dawson, and now the injury bug that’s bitten his Cowboys.

It’s clear that the Cowboys lack depth and don’t exactly look like they should stand toe-to-toe with the KUs or even West Virginias of this league from a talent standpoint. You’ve got to have dudes to compete, especially in this league. And even then, starting a regular season game with eight warm bodies would cause Bill Self to break into a sweat.

This thing isn’t getting fixed on Saturday against KU or any time soon. A boost in depth and talent may have to wait. But all signs point to the fact that Boynton’s got this team bought in and fighting, and that’s a good sign for the future. Here’s to a couple of stolen games along the way.