Oklahoma State University Athletics
Cowboys Host The America's Youth Classic
November 18, 1999 | Cowboy Basketball
Nov. 18, 1999
STILLWATER, Okla. - This Weekend's Games - OSU, ranked 23rd in the latest Associated Press poll and 25th in the preseason USA Today/ESPN poll, opens its 1999-2000 season Friday and Saturday when it hosts the America's Youth Classic, sponsored by the Eddie G. Robinson Foundation.
The Cowboys start the season with Friday's game against Appalachian State. Oral Roberts, in its first game under first-year head coach Scott Sutton, plays Idaho in the tournament opener. OSU and Oral Roberts will swap opponents in Saturday's final games of the Classic.
America's Youth Classic Schedule
Friday, November 19
Idaho vs. Oral Roberts, 6:20 p.m.
Appalachian State at Oklahoma State, 8:40 p.m.
Saturday, November 20
Appalachian State vs. Oral Roberts, 6 p.m.
Idaho at Oklahoma State, 8:30 p.m.
For Starters
Oklahoma State opens its 91st season of collegiate basketball and its 62nd season in Gallagher-Iba Arena with Friday's game. OSU is 58-3 in Gallagher-Iba openers and has won 24 straight home-opening games.
Probable Oklahoma State Starters
Pos. No. Name Ht. Wt. Yr. PPG RPG F 34 Desmond Mason 6-6 207 Sr. 17.5 9.5 Preseason fourth-team All-American according to Blue RibbonF 30 Brian Montonati 6-10 220 Sr. 13.0 3.0 Tied Mason for team high vs. Athletes First with 18 points
C 45 Alex Webber 6-10 257 Sr. 8.0 3.5 Last regular-season home game was 22-point outing vs. Texas Tech
G 35 Joe Adkins 6-2 190 Sr. 16.0 *7.0 Shot 12-for-19 in exhibition games, had 14 assists, 3 turnovers
G 44 Doug Gottlieb 6-1 180 Sr. 8.5 *9.5 Holds or shares every school and Big 12 record for assists
Statistics are from exhibition games
OSU Coach Eddie Sutton
Eddie Sutton (Oklahoma State, 1958) is in his 10th year at OSU and his 30th year of collegiate coaching. Under his guidance, OSU has advanced to the NCAA Tournament seven times. Sutton currently owns a career record of 632-252 (71.5 percent) overall and is 202-88 (69.7 percent) at OSU. Sutton is just the seventh coach to reach 600 coaching victories in 28 or fewer seasons.
1999-2000 OSU Schedule/Results
Wednesday, Nov. 10 Athletes First (Exh.) W 93-80 Wednesday, Nov. 17 Global Sports (Exh.) W 91-63 Friday, Nov. 19 Appalachian State& 8:40 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 20 Idaho& 8:30 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 23 at UALR 7:05 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 27 North Texas 8:05 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 1 Wichita State 7:05 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 4 Texas-San Antonio 7:05 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 12 vs. San Diego State% 3:30 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 15 Alcorn State 7:05 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 18 at UNLV# 11 p.m. (9 p.m. PST) Tuesday, Dec. 21 at Washington 9 p.m. (7 p.m. PST) Thursday, Dec. 30 vs. LSU@ 9 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 5 Langston 7:05 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 8 Texas Tech* 12:45 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 15 at Baylor* 3 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 19 Texas* 8 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 22 at Texas A&M* 12:45 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 26 at Kansas State* 7 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 30 Baylor* 12 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 2 at Texas Tech* 7 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 5 Texas A&M* 3 p.m. Monday, Feb. 7 Kansas* 8 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 12 at Oklahoma* 3 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 16 at Texas* 8 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 19 Nebraska* 6 p.m. Monday, Feb. 21 at Missouri* 8 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 26 at Iowa State* 3 p.m. Wednesday, March 1 Colorado* 7:05 p.m. Saturday, March 4 Oklahoma* 8 p.m. Thur.-Sun., March 9-12 Big 12 Championship.pre
All times CST, * - Big 12 Conference games,
& - America's Youth Classic,
Stillwater, Okla., % - game played in Oklahoma City,
# - Las Vegas Showdown, Las Vegas, Nev.,
@ - Sugar Bowl Classic, New Orleans, La.
Scouting the other Classic participants
Appalachian State
Sports Illustrated picks the Mountaineers as the 55th-best team in the country and predicts that Buzz Peterson's team will win the Southern Conference and advance to the NCAA Tournament. ASU returns three starters from last year's 21-8 season, including 5-9 point guard Tyson Patterson, a strong candidate for the Francis Pomeroy Naismith Award, given annually to the nation's top player under six feet tall. Probable starters with exhibition statistics:
Pos. No. Name Ht. Wt. Yr. PPG RPG F 30 Cedrick Holmes 6-5 220 Sr. 20.0 7.0 C 4 Corey Cooper 6-7 290 Jr. 8.0 3.5 G 10 Tyson Patterson 5-9 165 Sr. 7.0 *5.5 G 14 Matt McMahon 6-1 180 Sr. 13.0 *4.0 G 45 Shawn Alexander 6-2 195 So. 17.0 5.5
Idaho Senior forward Gordon Scott, a preseason All-Big West selection by Blue Ribbon, leads the Vandals, who hope to improve on last year's 16-11 season that saw them go 11-5 in league play to finish third. Scott, who hit 70 three-pointers a year ago, will get help from solid swingman Devon Ford, who averaged 10 points and six rebounds a year ago. Probable starters and exhibition statistics:
Pos. No. Name Ht. Wt. Yr. PPG RPG F 4 Clifford Gray 6-6 220 Sr. 11.0 8.0 F 23 Gordon Scott 6-5 205 Sr. 24.0 4.0 C 34 Kaniel Dickens 6-8 235 Jr. 9.5 9.0 G 3 Lance Buoncristiani 5-8 140 Fr. 0.0 *4.0 G 22 Devon Ford 6-4 200 Sr. 17.5 5.5
Oral Roberts
Although ORU is not on the list of Oklahoma State opponents this weekend, Cowboy fans will certainly be interested in the Golden Eagles. First-year head coach Scott Sutton, a son of OSU coach Eddie Sutton and a former OSU player, will make his regular-season debut as boss of the Golden Eagles on Friday. Scott Sutton inherits an ORU team that boasts one of the top backcourts in the Mid-Continent Conference, led by point guard Eric Perry. The Golden Eagles were 17-11 a year ago and tied for first in the Mid-Con.
OSU scorches Global Sports to close exhibition slate
Oklahoma State shot 58.7 percent from the field while holding its opponent to 37.3 percent shooting as the Cowboys routed the Global Sports exhibition team 91-63 on Wednesday. The margin was by far Global's worst in its 12-game collegiate tour, the team had previously beaten Alabama, Old Dominion, Tulane, Troy State and Texas A&M.
Mason turns in solid performances in exhibitions
Preseason All-American Desmond Mason had a breakout performance in last year's NCAA Tournament, scoring 54 points in two games, and he picked up where he left off in OSU's two exhibition games this fall. Mason tied for the team's high-scoring honors in both games, tallying 18 times against Athletes First and 17 against Global Sports, and he chipped in 13 rebounds for good measure against Athletes First. Mason ranks 19th in OSU history in scoring (1,091 points) and needs 21 to tie Richard Dumas for 18th. He also ranks 10th in career rebounds (570 boards) and needs four to tie Adrian Peterson for ninth.
Cowboy guards display backcourt prowess
OSU's senior backcourt of Joe Adkins, Glendon Alexander, Doug Gottlieb and sometimes Mason is tabbed as one of the best in the country, and the group did nothing to dispel that theory in the exhibition schedule. Adkins and Gottlieb combined for 33 assists and just seven turnovers in the two exhibition games, Adkins and Alexander combined for 55 points, shooting 22-for-33 (66.7 percent) from the field and 5-for-7 (57.1 percent) from three-point range.
OSU opens exhibition season with victory
Desmond Mason and Brian Montonati each scored 18 points as OSU opened its 1999-2000 season with a 93-80 exhibition victory over Athletes First on Nov. 10. Mason, who ranks sixth in school history with 16 double-doubles, also garnered 13 rebounds in the victory. Joe Adkins, playing what Eddie Sutton called the best all-around game of the night, had 15 points, seven assists and just one turnover while shooting 5-for-7 from the field. Glendon Alexander scored 11 points in just 16 minutes of action, and Doug Gottlieb, the nation's assist leader last season, scored eight points and dished out eight assists.
On the air
OSU games will be broadcast on the OSU Radio Network with KWTV's Bill Teegins handling play-by-play duties and Tom Dirato, OSU coordinator of radio & TV, providing commentary. Dirato and Teegins are in their ninth year as the Cowboys' basketball radio team, and Dirato is calling OSU men's basketball for the 23rd season. The OSU radio network can be accessed through the Internet (www.okstate.com) or on Teamline. Fans wishing to use Teamline should call (800) 846-4700 and use team code No. 1750. Use of Teamline requires a Visa or MasterCard. Teegins and Dirato will have a busy weekend, they plan to call the action on Friday's game with Appalachian State, fly to Waco, call Saturday's football game against Baylor, fly back to Stillwater and call Saturday night's basketball contest with Idaho.
Preseason publications like the Cowboys
In addition to the two major wire-service polls -- AP ranked OSU 22nd in its preseason poll, and USA Today/ESPN has the Cowboys 25th -- several other preseason polls are out, and most put OSU in the top third of the Big 12 and the top 25 in the nation. Here's a look at what some pubs have to say about the Cowboys:
- Athlon's college basketball preview has OSU reaching the NCAA's second round and finishing third in the league behind Kansas and Texas in that order. Sutton is picked as the league's coach of the year, and Gottlieb and Mason are second-team All-Big 12 selections.
- Basketball News rates OSU No. 32 in its top 64 and picked fourth in the Big 12 behind Kansas, Oklahoma and Texas. Mason is rated as the nation's ninth-best "slasher" and is a first-team All-Big 12 pick. Gottlieb is a second-team All-Big 12 selection.
- The Big 12 coaches picked OSU third in the league behind Kansas and Texas and tabbed Mason as an all-conference player.
- Blue Ribbon College Basketball Yearbook says that OSU is the 19th-best team in the country and that Mason is a fourth-team All-American.
- ESPN.com columnist Jay Bilas picks OSU No. 23 in the country.
- Sport magazine tabs OSU at No. 25 nationally.
- On its web site, The Sporting News lists OSU No. 24.
- Ultimate Sports has the Cowboys picked No. 24 in the nation.
Tickets available for season-opening Classic Tickets are still available for the America's Youth Classic. Fans interested in attending the Classic, which is not a part of the OSU student season-ticket package, may purchase reserved-seat tickets at $20 per night (two games each night). Students may purchase the same tickets for $15 per night. Persons interested in purchasing tickets may call the OSU athletics ticket office at (877) ALL-4-OSU or (405) 744-5745.
Player Thumbnails
- #35 - Joe Adkins - 6-1 - 190 - Sr. - G
Needs 189 points to become OSU's 22nd 1,000-point scorer ... 32 points, 14 assists in two exhibitions ... earned the team's "Mr. Clutch" Award last season by hitting several key baskets late in games ... hit three treys in the final three minutes of regulation at Kansas to bring the Cowboys back from a nine-point deficit ... hit 25-foot three-pointers to clinch victories at UNLV and Nebraska and in the NCAA Tournament against Syracuse. - #4 - Glendon Alexander - 6-5 - 215 - Sr. - G
Scored 25 points in 34 minutes in the two exhibition games ... showing no ill effects from a knee injury that bothered him early in the season ... set a Big 12 Tournament record last season with 16 three-pointers, including five against Baylor and a career-high six against Oklahoma ... named to the all-tournament team at the conference tourney. - Antoine Broxsie - 6-10 - 240 - Jr. - F
Injured a knee in practice recently and has been diagnosed with ligament damage ... played in 57 games in two years for Minnesota, averaging over four blocks per 40 minutes of playing time ... second on the team in blocked shots in both 1997-98 and 1998-99 despite averaging 10 minutes of playing time ... eligible 2000-01. - #52 - Roy Candley - 7-2 - 390 - Jr. - C
Currently suspended from the team due to poor conditioning ... joined the program last Christmas after transferring from Panola (Texas) JC. - #42 - Zac Cazzelle - 6-5 - 215 - Jr. - G
A walk-on redshirt last season, Cazzelle saw his first court time Wednesday and scored two points ... spent 1997-98 at Northern Oklahoma College after transferring from Centenary ... started the final nine games of the year as a freshman with the Gents ... averaged 7.7 points in 27 games, playing over 20 minutes per contest ... scored in double figures nine times, including a career-high 18 in one game. - #11 - Nate Fleming - 6-0 - 180 - Fr. - G
Played the final minute against Global Sports ... lettered three years in basketball under coach Garret Mantle and four in tennis while at Edmond North ... two-year team captain in basketball and three-year captain in tennis ... outstanding student who was class valedictorian and a National Honor Society member ... senator on the student council ... helped lead Edmond North to a state semifinal appearance and was a member of the national eighth-place AAU team. - #44 - Doug Gottlieb - 6-1 - 180 - Sr. - G
11 assists, nine points against Global Sports ... holds or shares school and Big 12 records for assists in a half (11), game (18), season (299) and career (500) ... led the nation in assists last season with 8.8 per game, an average that ranked 13th in NCAA Division I history. - #12 - Fredrik Jonzen - 6-10 - 230 - So. - F
Scored 12 points, four over his career high, against Global Sports ... pulled down 10 rebounds vs. Athletes First ... played for the club team Sallens, which won the Swedish 20-and-under championship in 1997-98, Sallens made news by facing Magic Johnson in a recent game ... spent one year at Shawnee Mission (Kan.) East High School. - #43 - Jason Keep - 6-10 - 290 - So. - C
Nine points, seven rebounds in exhibition debut ... injured his left knee against Global Sports and is questionable for this weekend ... attended North Idaho College in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, last year ... averaged 15 points, nine rebounds and two blocked shots in 1998-99, his freshman season ... attended Moscow High School until his senior year, when he moved to Pullman ... earned All-America honors in football and All-Idaho and all-league plaudits as a basketball player. - #3 - Daniel Lawson - 6-3 - 205 - Jr. - G
Made a quick impression in the exhibition vs. Athletes First, scoring a bucket almost immediately after being inserted in the lineup late in the game ... second-team NJCAA Division II All-American at Mott (Mich.) CC ... averaged 15.7 points, 7.1 rebounds, 4.0 assists and 3.4 steals ... earned Michigan community college player-of-the-year honors ... helped lead mott to a 26-6 overall record, and a final No. 2 national ranking. - #34 - Desmond Mason - 6-5 - 215 - Sr. - F
Named to the preseason all-conference team by the league's coaches ... preseason fourth-team All-American according to Blue Ribbon ... 18 points, 13 rebounds vs. Athletes First ... best career game statistically: 32 points, 10 rebounds, career-high four three-pointers at Baylor ... starred in the NCAA Tournament with 54 points in two games, ranking third among all players through the tourney's first two rounds. - #30 - Brian Montonati - 6-10 - 220 - Sr. - F
A crucial reserve on the Cowboys' front line last season who will probably make his first career start Friday ... 18 points in exhibition opener ... scored in double figures 11 times last year, five coming when he played under 20 minutes ... shot 80.5 percent from the foul line and was 6-of-6 in "clutch" situations ... named the team's Most Improved Player. - #24 - Rodney Sooter - 6-2 - 190 - Sr. - G
Walked on to the program last season ... saw his first action of the year in the UALR game and saw his three-point attempt go in and then out of the hoop ... also played against Houston Baptist and Baylor at home ... played for two years at Northeastern Oklahoma A&M, playing for Coach Lonnie Spencer ... three-time all-conference and -district performer at Miami (Okla.) High School. - #45 - Alex Webber - 6-10 - 270 - Sr. - C
Tied a career high with 22 points against Texas Tech last season, scoring 16 in the second half ... led OSU in field-goal percentage ... 13 points, nine rebounds, key late free throws in the victory over Oklahoma ... career-high 11 rebounds against Kansas in the league tournament ... earned OSU's award for most charges taken. - #40 - Andre Williams - 6-7 - 210 - Fr. - F
Blocked three shots in five minutes of playing time against Global Sports ... was ranked as the nation's No. 21 power forward by Future Stars out of high school... spent 1998-99 at Maine Central Institute ... averaged 15.1 points, a team-high 12.7 rebounds and a team-high 3.4 blocks while shooting 52.8 percent from the field ... the team's best leaper -- can reach 11-7. - Victor Williams - 5-10 - 170 - So. - G
Illinois State's starting point guard as a freshman and named the top freshman in the MVC ... began his career with a stellar performance against Oakland with 19 points, seven rebounds and seven steals ... came into his own late in the year, averaging 13.4 points and 4.0 assists while hitting 53.1 percent of his three-pointers in the final eight games of the season ... eligible 2000-01.
Head Coach Eddie Sutton
Eddie Sutton (Oklahoma State, 1958) is in his 10th year at his alma mater with a 202-88 record at the school as well as a 632-252 overall mark in his 30th year of collegiate coaching. Under his guidance, OSU has advanced to postseason play in eight of nine years and has won 20 games or more seven times. Sutton is the 20th coach in Division I history to reach the 600-victory mark, and he is just the seventh coach to reach it in 28 years or less, joining Denny Crum, Bob Knight, Adolph Rupp, Dean Smith, Jerry Tarkanian and John Wooden.
Only two active coaches (Knight and Tarkanian) rank ahead of Sutton in both victories and winning percentage, and only one other coach -- TCU's Billy Tubbs -- joins OSU's boss in having won coach-of-the-year awards in four different leagues. Sutton, who previously coached at Creighton, Arkansas and Kentucky, is the only coach in NCAA history to lead four different schools to the national tournament. With Sutton and Henry P. Iba among the 600-win club, OSU is one of only three schools -- joining Illinois and Kentucky -- with two coaches among the all-time top 20.
Years School (No. of Years) Record Pct. Conf. NCAA 1970-74 Creighton (five) 82-50 .621 --- 2-1 1975-85 Arkansas (11) 260-75 .776 139-35 10-9 1986-89 Kentucky (four) 88-39 .693 48-24 5-3 1991-99 Oklahoma State (10th) 202-88 .695 81-51 12-7 Totals 30th year (884 games) 632-252 .715 268-110 29-20
Sutton at Oklahoma State
Year Record Conf./Finish NCAA Final 1990-91 24-8 10-4/First 2-1 14th 1991-92 28-8 8-6/T-Second 2-1 11th 1992-93 20-9 8-6/T-Second 1-1 23rd 1993-94 24-10 10-4/Second 1-1 19th 1994-95 27-10 10-4/Second 4-1 14th 1995-96 17-10 7-7/T-Fourth --- --- 1996-97 17-15 7-9/T-Sixth --- --- 1997-98 22-7 11-5/T-Second 1-1 --- 1998-99 23-11 10-6/T-Fifth 1-1 ---
National Rankings
Associated Press Top 25
Through Nov. 14
Team Points Pvs. 1. Cincinnati (25) (0-0) 1,605 2 2. Michigan State (24) (0-0) 1,573 3 3. Auburn (8) (0-0) 1,551 4 4. Ohio State (7) (0-0) 1,417 5 5. North Carolina (1) (0-0) 1,383 6 6. Temple (2) (0-0) 1,327 7 7. Florida (1) (0-0) 1,315 8 8. Connecticut (1-1) 1,277 1 9. Stanford (1) (2-0) 1,197 13 10. Arizona (0-0) 1,170 9 11. Kansas (0-0) 1,012 11 12. UCLA (0-0) 890 12 13. Syracuse (2-0) 801 17 14. Kentucky (0-0) 766 14 15. St John's (0-0) 631 18 16. Utah (0-0) 605 15 17. Illinois (0-0) 583 16 18. Duke (0-2) 558 10 19. Tennessee (0-0) 496 19 20. DePaul (0-0) 428 20 21. Texas (0-0) 316 21 22. Iowa (1-1) 261 NR 23. Oklahoma State (0-0) 230 22 24. Purdue (0-0) 199 23 25. Gonzaga (0-0) 190 24
Others Receiving Votes (OSU opponents only): 30. Oklahoma 38.
USA Today/ESPN Top 25
Preseason
Team Points Prvs. 1. Connecticut (9) (34-2) 712 1 2. Michigan St (8) (33-5) 688 3 3. Cincinnati (8) (27-6) 684 11 4. Auburn (29-4) 616 7 5. North Carolina (2) (24-10) 594 18 6. Ohio St (2) (27-9) 579 4 7. Temple (2) (24-11) 574 14 8. Florida (22-9) 570 17 9. Arizona (22-7) 492 16 10. Duke (37-2) 466 2 11. Kansas (23-10) 381 23 12. Kentucky (28-9) 361 5 13. Stanford (26-7) 349 9 14. UCLA (22-9) 345 21 15. Utah (28-5) 283 10 16. Tennessee (21-9) 277 NR 17. Syracuse (21-12) 276 NR 18. Illinois (14-18) 275 NR 19. St John's (28-9) 256 5 20. DePaul (18-13) 177 NR 21. Purdue (21-13) 171 22 22. Texas (19-13) 157 NR 23. Maryland (28-6) 140 8 24. Miami Fla (23-7) 118 12 25. Oklahoma St (23-11) 102 NR
Others Receiving Votes (OSU opponents only): 29. Oklahoma 31, 44. Colorado 4.
Big 12 Standings
Big 12 All Games thru Nov. 17 W L Pct. W L Pct. Iowa State 0 0 .000 1 0 1.000 Missouri 0 0 .000 1 1 .500 Baylor 0 0 .000 0 0 .000 Colorado 0 0 .000 0 0 .000 Kansas 0 0 .000 0 0 .000 Nebraska 0 0 .000 0 0 .000 Oklahoma 0 0 .000 0 0 .000 OSU 0 0 .000 0 0 .000 Texas 0 0 .000 0 0 .000 Texas A&M 0 0 .000 0 0 .000 Texas Tech 0 0 .000 0 0 .000 Kansas State 0 0 .000 0 1 .000
Inside the OSU Athletic Center Oklahoma State will play its home games in a construction zone this year as massive Gallagher-Iba Arena renovations get into full swing. Here is a quick look at the facts of the construction:
Facility name: The arena itself will continue to be called "Gallagher-Iba Arena," but the entire facility is currently known as "The OSU Athletic Center."
Architects: Gary Sparks Companies
Contractor: Manhattan Construction
Projected capacity: 13,025
Projected completion date: Dec. 1, 2000
For current construction information, see the "Facility Update" section of OSU's web site (http://www.okstate.com).
Here's a look at what's on tap with the construction this week:
Week of Nov. 15, 1999
- Renovation work in Gallagher-Iba (basement,1st and 2nd floors ) - Renovation of coaches building (first and second floors ) - Complete work on south half of ramp to Lewis Field - Work on metal stairs (stair 2, stair 9 and stair 10) - East-side steel and precast erection - Continue detailing north side box truss - Assemble seat and court side of south box truss - Assemble south truss shoring towers - Excavation for stair 1 (delayed due to safety issues) - Masonry work at stair 10, stair 9 and west elevation - Caulk and seal precast seat risers (west side) - Hydrotherapy area concrete work - MEP rough-in work on west concourse areas - Concrete work on east concourse (grout column base plates) - Foundation work for stair 1 - Fireproofing at west concourse area (mobilization) - North side grade beams (east end)
Media issues
The 500-ton crane that previously sat in the north parking lot of Gallagher-Iba Arena was relocated last week to the south side of the arena. However, contrary to earlier reports in this space, the media pass gate will remain on the south side of the arena.
