Cowboy chatter
Published: 3/18/2008 11:09 AM
Last Modified: 3/18/2008 11:09 AM
Quick-hitting thoughts on the Oklahoma State sports scene:
*** Three years ago Thursday (March 20), OSU beat Southern Illinois in a well-played NCAA Tournament second-round game in Oklahoma City. That happened to be the last one shining moment in March for the Cowboys basketball program. If the Cowboys cannot triumph tonight in Carbondale, Ill.; the Sean Sutton watch commences full bore. Three years does not seem that long ago. But those glory days of John Lucas, Joey Graham and Ivan McFarlin seem like an eternity ago.
*** The Oklahoma State women's basketball team should feel jilted about the NCAA Tournament path they were given. Earning a third seed was justified and earned by coach Kurt Budke's team. However, being placed in the New Orleans region where a potential Sweet Sixteen matchup awaits against LSU does not seem fair. However, the women's game and its tournament still has not built the fan base that the men's tourney has over the years. That's why the perceived home-court advantages are common annually in the women's bracket. There has been a lot of fuss about Oklahoma being given placement in the Oklahoma City region instead of OSU. But Texas A&M also was placed in the OKC region as well as the No. 2 seed. It appears, from this perspective, the Big 12 women's final result was the reason the Cowgirls may have a not-so-easy time in the Big Easy – if they can survive Des Moines this weekend.
*** After viewing last Friday's practice and mini-scrimmage, not much can truly be gleaned about the OSU football team. Zac Robinson is a given playmaker at quarterback. But the skill position talent around Robinson is unproven. Tight end Brandon Pettigrew did not participate in the scrimmage and did running and exercise drills during the practice portion (part of his punishment for his incident with law enforcement in January????) Dez Bryant can make the spectacular catches at receiver. But Bryant also still has issues making the simple catch. There is no Dantrell Savage in the backfield, but the hope is that the combination of Kendall Hunter, Beau Johnson and Keith Toston can fill the void. As for the defense, let's not get too excited until the unit can make stops and force turnovers in game situations repeatedly and win a 21-17 or 24-21 type game on more than one occasion.
*** The NCAA Wrestling Tournament starts Thursday in St. Louis. Based on the late-season results, it is tough to envision national title number 35 for the Cowboys. The prediction here is a fourth-place team finish behind Iowa, Minnesota and Iowa State. Coleman Scott wins the 133-pound national title. Nathan Morgan takes third at 141, Jared Rosholt finishes fifth at heavyweight and Jake Dieffenbach and Brandon Mason place seventh at 165 and 174, respectively.
--- Matt Doyle
Written by
Bill Haisten
Sports Writer
