What Worries Us About OSU Hoops This Season

We have talked a lot both internally and externally this year about managing expectations. It’s so easy to dream about what could be without facing reality. So a bit of sobriety for those of us already drunk on the Brad Underwood era. Here is how this could very badly.

Kyle Porter: Depth

I know we don’t want to talk about it, but what if last year wasn’t a one-off? What if last year was a microcosm of a bigger issue which is that when one (or two) of your studs goes down, you have nothing in the tank to finish the year?

Brandon Averette is a nice player who I think can be a solid Big 12 point guard. Lindy Waters and Davon Dillard are average role players. Lucas N’Guessan is … intriguing. None of them are ready to shoulder any sort of load if Jawun Evans, Phil Forte and Mitch Solomon go down. That’s how this thing goes sideways in a hurry.

Sam Aldrich: Lack of size in the paint

Mitch Solomon often got himself into foul trouble early in games last season, and there is not another player on the roster above 6’8 other than true freshman Lucas N’Guessan, who weighs just 215 lbs. The Cowboys do not have a consistent scoring presence in the paint and do not have a rim protector, which will limit their ceiling in the Big 12.

Kyle Cox: Youth

That’s really it. It would be nice if the Cowboys had more size down low but I see Cam McGriff being physical enough to banging with some of those front courts the Cowboys will face. Plus, OSU hasn’t had a true low-post presence since Ivan McFarlin, anyway (I don’t really count Michael Cobbins, Mario Boggan or Marrshall Moses).

The youth can be an issue. But even if it is, that’s excusable. No one is expecting Underwood to win the Big 12 this year. Hopefully the Evans-Forte back court can stay healthy enough for him to lean on.

Kyle Boone: Where the offense will come from

Phil Forte, Jawun Evans and Leyton Hammonds are all reliable scorers. Outside of their production, it will be a mish-mash of production that will need to come from Mitch Solomon, Tavarius Shine, and Jeff Carroll, among others. It seems evident this teams identity is built on their defensive prowess, but there isn’t many true scorers they can truly count on.