Oklahoma State University Athletics
Cowboys Prepare For Season Opener
November 15, 2001 | Cowboy Basketball
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Cincinnati Bearcats [0-0]
at
Oklahoma State Cowboys [0-0]
Friday, Nov. 16, 2001 * 8 p.m. [CST] * ESPN
Gallagher-Iba Arena [13,611] * Stillwater, Okla. *Cowboy Radio Network
Tonight's Game
Oklahoma State opens the 2001-02 season this Friday as the Cowboys host nationally-ranked Cincinnati in a game televised by ESPN. This game is also the first of five games over a six-day span for OSU. After Friday night's 8 p.m. game, the Cowboys will host Austin Peay State on Saturday at 2 p.m. in the first round of the Las Vegas Tournament. After a day off on Monday, Oklahoma State will play three-straight games in Las Vegas.
OSU-Cincinnati Series
Oklahoma State leads the all-time series with Cincinnati, 2-1. The last meeting between these two schools was on Dec. 28, 1985, when the Cowboys picked up a 62-58 win in the Myriad in Oklahoma City. In the only game between these two teams in Gallagher-Iba Arena, OSU head coach Eddie Sutton scored 10 points for the Cowboys. Here is a look at the three-game series:
Year Winner Score Location Note
J6, 1958 OSU 61-57 Stillwater Eddie Sutton scores 10 points for OSU
F15, 1958 UC 71-59 Cincinnati Oscar Robertson scores 30 for UC
D28, 1985 OSU 62-58 Okla. City Muhammad Akbar scores 25 for OSU
Cowboys On Television
Oklahoma State's season opener with Cincinnati will be nationally televised by ESPN. Bob Carpenter will call the play-by-play while Larry Conley will provide color analysis. It will be OSU's 93rd appearance on national television since 1982-83, and the 84th showing in the Eddie Sutton era. It will be just the second season opener in school history to be televised nationally. OSU is 51-41 all-time on television, including a 46-37 record in the Sutton era. The Cowboys are 30-20 all-time on ESPN, and 17-8 all-time in the friendly confines of Gallagher-Iba Arena.
Cowboys In The Polls
Oklahoma State is ranked 18th in both the Associated Press and USA Today/ ESPN Coaches Preseason Poll, it was announced last week. OSU received 561 points in the AP poll, 71 points behind No. 17 Boston College and 143 points ahead of No. 19 North Carolina. In the ESPN Poll, the Cowboys received 267 points, 22 behind No. 17 Temple and 112 ahead of No. 19 North Carolina. The Big 12 is well represented with five teams in both preseason polls. No. 7/7 Kansas, No. 8/8 Missouri, No. 23/22 Texas and No. 25/23 Oklahoma all show up in the polls. Four of OSU's non-conference opponents are receiving votes in the Associated Press poll, including No. 26 Cincinnati, No. 29 Fresno State, No. 35 Providence and No. 43 Arkansas. Fresno State is ranked 25th in the ESPN Poll, with Cincinnati ranked 29th and Arkansas 41st.
Last Time Out For Oklahoma State
Oklahoma State improved its exhibition record to 2-0 last Saturday night with an 89-77 victory over the EA Sports Central All-Stars in Gallagher-Iba Arena. Junior Victor Williams led the Cowboy offensive attack, scoring 31 points on 12-of-23 shooting from the floor and 5-of-8 from behind the arc. Senior Maurice Baker had a hand in the offense as well, scoring 24 point for the Pokes while pulling down 10 rebounds and dishing out six assists. As a team, OSU shot 45 percent from three-point range, but just 57.1 percent from the floor. Meanwhile, the Cowboys limited EA Sports to just 35.5 percent from the floor and outrebounded the All-Stars, 51-41. Ivan McFarlin chipped in 11 points for OSU.
Last Time Out For Cincinnati
Cincinnati got 22 points each from guards Steve Logan and Immanuel McElroy as the Bearcats won their final exhibition game of the season, 96-66, over Kentucky Wesleyan. McElroy was 10-of-13 from the floor, and Logan was perfect on 10 free-throw attempts. He also dished out seven assists. No UC player had more than six rebounds, and only had 31 as a team. The Bearcats shot 57.9 percent from the field, compared to just 38.3 percent for Kentucky Wesleyan. Field Williams added 16 points for Cincy off the bench, and Jamaal Davis chipped in 13.
Cowboy Basketball On The Air
Every Oklahoma State Basketball game can be heard live on the Cowboy Radio Network. Dave Hunziker, in his first year with OSU, will handle play-by-play, while Tom Dirato, in his silver anniversary of working Cowboy Basketball games, is the color analyst.
Up Next: The Las Vegas Tournament
Oklahoma State will host the Austin Peay Governors on Saturday, Nov. 17, at 2 p.m. in Gallagher-Iba Arena. The game is part of the Las Vegas Tournament, which begins on Monday, Nov. 19. OSU will play Providence College on Monday at 5 p.m. PST, and will face Siena College on Tuesday at 5 p.m. as well. Wednesday's games will depend on the previous outings.
