Oklahoma State University Athletics
Cowboys Set To Compete In Great Alaska Shootout
November 24, 2002 | Cowboy Basketball
Nov. 24, 2002
Oklahoma State Cowboys
(1-0 overall) plays the Alaska-Anchorage Seawolves (1-1)
in the first round of the Great Alaska Shootout
Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2002 * 10:30 p.m. (CST) * ESPN2
Sullivan Arena [8,700] * Anchorage, Alaska
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Oklahoma State Cowboys
Probable Starters
Name Ht. Wt. Yr. PPG RPG F 23 Ivan McFarlin 6-8 237 Jr. 11.0 6.0 F 40 Andre Williams 6-8 225 Sr. 10.0 13.0 G 5 Victor Williams 5-10 187 Sr. 6.0 5.0^ G 30 Cheyne Gadson 6-3 190 Sr. 10.0 3.0 G 34 Melvin Sanders 6-5 210 Sr. 18.0 8.0
Off the Bench
Name Ht. Wt. Yr. PPG RPG C 4 Frans Steyn 7-2 306 So. 0.0 0.0 G 24 Tony Allen 6-4 205 Jr. 11.0 5.0 G 25 Janavor Weatherspoon 6-1 165 Jr. 0.0 0.0 F 33 Jason Miller 6-9 245 Jr. 2.0 3.0
Alaska Seawolves
Probable Starters
Name Ht. Wt. Yr. PPG RPG F 13 Blaine Durrant 6-4 200 Jr. 4.0 3.0^ F 15 Peter Bullock 6-6 215 Jr. 24.0 11.0 C 44 Bob Austin 6-7 210 Jr. 6.0 8.0 G 11 Mark Drake 6-1 185 So. 16.0 2.0 G 20 Scott Stevens 6-3 175 Jr. 3.5 3.5^ denotes assists per game
Quickly
Oklahoma State travels to Anchorage, Alaska, this week to compete in the Great Alaska Shootout. The Cowboys will take on host school Alaska-Anchorage on Wednesday night at 7:30 p.m. local time in the first game of the tournament. OSU is 1-0 early into this season with a 68-59 victory over Yale last Friday night. Alaska is 1-1 this season with an 87-79 win over Lincoln Christian in overtime Friday night and a 95-80 setback to Cardinal Stritch Saturday. Both games were played in Anchorage as part of the AT&T Alascom Jamboree.
Last Time Out For OSU
Melvin Sanders scored 18 points and grabbed eight rebounds, while Andre Williams scored 10 points and grabbed 13 boards to go along with his five blocks off the bench, as Oklahoma State defeated Yale of the Ivy League, 68-59, Friday night in Gallagher-Iba Arena. OSU had five players score in double figures, including 11 and 10 by starters Ivan McFarlin and Victor Williams, respectively. Newcomer Tony Allen chipped in 11 off the bench. OSU shot just 41.4 percent from the floor, but connected on 8-of-20 three pointers against a zone defense for most of the game. The Cowboys also outrebounded the Bulldogs, 43-30. Williams' five swats tied a career high. The OSU defense was average, allowing Yale to shoot just 38.2 percent, but forcing only 13 turnovers. Paul Vitelli was the Bulldogs' leading scorer, getting 15 points on 6-of-9 shooting off the bench.
About Alaska-Anchorage
The Seawolves are 1-1 this season entering their game with Oklahoma State, defeating Lincoln Christian, 87-79 in overtime Friday night before falling to Cardinal Stritch, 95-80, in their second game. Peter Bullock scored 34 points in UAA's season opener on 12-of-20 shooting from the floor and 10-of-14 shooting from the line. He also had a game-high 12 rebounds. In the second contest, Bullock had another double-double with 14 points and 10 boards. Mark Drake was the Seawolves leading scorer with 22 points on 9-of-14 shooting, including 4-of-8 from beyond the arc. Alaska is shooting 44.2 percent from the floor, but just 29.1 percent from behind the three-point line.
More About the Great Alaska Shootout
The 25th Anniversary of the Carrs/Safeway Great Alaska Shootout begins on Wednesday, Nov. 27, as the Cowboys and Seawolves take the court. The Great Alaska Shootout is an eight-team tournament which guarantees each team three games. Other teams competing are the College of Charleston, Wyoming, Montana, Michigan State, Loyola Marymount and Villanova. Here is a schedule of games in the tournament:
Wednesday, Nov. 27
1 Oklahoma State at Alaska 10:30 p.m. ESPN2 2 College of Charleston vs. Wyoming 12:45 a.m.Thursday, Nov. 28
3 Loyola Marymount vs. Villanova 8:30 p.m. 4 Montana vs. Michigan State 11 p.m. ESPNFriday, Nov. 29
5 Game 1 loser vs. Game 2 loser 3 p.m. 6 Game 3 loser vs. Game 4 loser 5 p.m. 7 Game 1 winner vs. Game 2 winner 8:30 p.m. 8 Game 3 winner vs. Game 4 winner 11 p.m.Saturday, Nov. 30
9 Game 5 loser vs. Game 6 loser 3 p.m. 10 Game 5 winner vs. Game 6 winner 5 p.m. 11 Game 7 loser vs. Game 8 loser 8:30 p.m. 12 Game 7 winner vs. Game 8 winner 11:30 p.m. ESPN2All times are Central. The time difference is three hours.
OSU at the Great Alaska Shootout
This will be Oklahoma State's second appearance in the Great Alaska Shootout. The Cowboys' first traveled to Anchorage eight years ago in 1994, when OSU went 1-2 in the tournament. Oklahoma State lost to BYU, 69-59, in the first round before defeating Jackson State, 75-57, in the second. The Cowboys finished sixth in the tournament after falling to Arizona, 79-63. Four months later, OSU was playing in the Final Four.
Coach Sutton at the Great Alaska Shootout
While Coach Sutton has only taken Oklahoma State to the Great Alaska Shootout once, this will be his fifth trip to the North as a coach. His first appearance at the Great Alaska Shootout was in 1980, when he took the Arkansas Razorbacks to Anchorage. That team went 2-1, defeating Missouri and LSU before falling to North Carolina in the finals. Coach Sutton took the Hogs back three years later in 1983 when, once again, UA won the first two games over Fordham and Oklahoma before dropping its final contest to N.C. State. His third trip came in his final year at Kentucky in 1988. The Wildcats finished third at the Great Alaska Shootout, defeating Iona in the first round, falling to Seton Hall in the second and defeating California in the third-place game. Coach Sutton's overall record in the tournament is 7-5.
Up Next: Hartford
Oklahoma State will return to action on Thursday, Dec. 5, as the Cowboys host another Connecticut school, the Hartford Hawks. Game time is set for 7 p.m. in Gallagher-Iba Arena. It will be the first of four-consecutive home games for the Cowboys. OSU and Hartford have never met on the hardwood.
Great Alaska Shootout on TV
ESPN and ESPN2 will broadcast three games from the Great Alaska Shootout, including OSU's first game with the Seawolves. Bob Carpenter of Tulsa will handle the play-by-play duties, while Jimmy Dykes, for Sutton assistant, will provide the expert analysis. The Montana-Michigan State game will be televised, as well as the championship game on Saturday night.
Brief OSU Basketball History
Oklahoma State enters its 94th season of basketball with an all-time record of 1,318 wins and 952 losses, a .581 winning percentage. The Cowboys have won two national championships (1945-46), appeared in five Final Fours, and made 19 appearances in the NCAA Tournament, including 10 in the Sutton era. In fact, Coach Sutton has more wins (273) in his 12-plus years as the OSU head coach than the previous five coaches had (242) in a combined 20 seasons.
Four Seniors Return For Final Season
Four Cowboys enter the 2002-03 season as seniors. Andre Williams, a senior from Kansas City, Kan., is the lone four-year senior on the squad. Victor Williams, Kansas City, Kan., and Melvin Sanders, Liberal, Kan., are both entering their third year of play at Oklahoma State. Cheyne Gadson, a senior from Jamaica, N.Y., transferred to OSU last season for his junior year.
Transfers, Jucos Dot Cowboy Roster
Eight newcomers are listed on the Oklahoma State roster, including three transfers that will have to sit out the 2002-03 season. Tony Allen, a junior-college player from Wabash Valley Community College, and Janavor Weatherspoon, a juco transfer from Odessa College, should make an immediate impact. Freshmen Ross DeRogatis, Onye Ibekwe and Julian Richardson could also see playing time. Daniel Bobik and the twins, Joey and Stevie Graham, will have to sit out a year after transferring from BYU and Central Florida. All three, however are allowed to practice with the team. Other players that are not new to the program but will see their first action in a Cowboy uniform this season are Frans Steyn and Jason Miller. Steyn came to OSU a year ago and sat out as a true freshman. Miller, who transferred to Oklahoma State a year ago, had to sit out due to NCAA transfer guidelines.
Victor Williams Picks Up Where He Left Off
Senior guard Victor Williams, the Cowboys' leading scorer a year ago, seems to apparently want to continue as the primary scorer this season. Williams scored 13 points in OSU's first exhibition game vs. Global Sports, and led all scorers in the game vs. Branch West Basketball Academy with 19 points. In two exhibition contests, Victor averaged 16 points per game while shooting 54.2 percent from the floor and an impressive 55.6 (5-of-9) percent from beyond the three-point arc. He also had five steals to lead the squad. In the season opener, Victor had just six points, but dished out a game-high five assists.
I-Mac Showcases His Rebounding Abilities
Junior forward Ivan McFarlin, considered one of the top rebounders in the league, showcased his rebounding abilities in Oklahoma State's two exhibition games. Against Global Sports, he grabbed a team-high nine boards. In the game versus Branch West Basketball Academy, I-Mac was even more effective, grabbing a game-high 17 rebounds. Ivan had 11 points on 4-of-5 shooting from the floor in the season opener.
Sanders Records Double-Double
Senior guard/forward Melvin Sanders, who has had two double-doubles in his career, recorded another one Monday night vs. Branch West Basketball Academy. The Liberal, Kan., native had 14 points and 11 rebounds for the Cowboys, and also had two assists in 30 minutes. Melvin had a game-high 18 points, eight rebounds and three steals in the season opener vs. Yale.
Gadson Leads OSU Over Global Sports
Senior guard Cheyne Gadson scored a game-high 18 points on 9-of-13 shooting, and also dished out six assists in the Cowboys exhibition opener over Global Sports. The Jamaica, N.Y., native averaged 12 points per game in the exhibition contests, connecting on 12-of-19 shots from the floor. He also had nine assists and just three turnovers. Cheyne had 10 points in the Cowboys' season opener over Yale.
Miller Providing Points off the Bench
Junior forward Jason Miller, a transfer from North Texas a year ago, has been productive for the Cowboys so far. The Livingston, Texas, native has scored eight points in each of the Cowboys' two exhibition games, and has connected on 8-of-12 (66.7 percent) of his shots from the floor. He also had nine rebounds in exhibition play, the fourth-most on the squad. Jason started the season opener vs. Yale.
Allen Extremely Productive
Junior college transfer Tony Allen has been very productive in his first two games in a Cowboy uniform. In the two exhibition contests, Allen scored 20 points in 33 minutes of play. He was 8-of-14 (57.1 percent) from the floor. In 18 minutes off the bench for OSU in the season opener, Tony had 11 points on 4-of-7 shooting (3-of-4 from beyond the arc) and added five rebounds.
Williams Ranks Among Elite Shot Blockers
Forward Andre Williams enters his senior season with 129 career blocked shots, which ranks fifth on the all-time school list. Williams is 39 blocks away from moving past Leroy Combs and into fourth place on the list. Byron Houston is the all-time Cowboy shot blocker with 223, just eight ahead of Joe Atkinson.
Sanders Has String of Starts
Cowboy senior Melvin Sanders has started every game of his Cowboy career, and is tied with former Cowboy Byron Houston for the sixth-most consecutive starts in school history. Sanders needs to continue his string just six games into the season to surpass Fredrik J?nz?n, who had a string of 67 straight when his career ended last season. Sanders has a chance to move into second place on the all-time list, but cannot reach Desmond Mason, who had 104 straight starts in his career, for the top spot.
Head Coach Eddie Sutton
Coach Eddie Sutton enters his 13th season at Oklahoma State and his 33rd season overall. He brings with him an all-time record of 703-278, including a 273-114 mark at OSU. Last season, Coach Sutton was nominated for induction into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame. He currently ranks as the 14th-winningest coach in NCAA Division I history, and is the fifth-winningest active coach in the Division I ranks. Coach Sutton returned to his alma mater in 1990, and has since brought the Cowboys back to basketball prominence. He has four times taken the Pokes to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament, and twice gone to the Elite Eight. In 1995, he guided the Cowboys to the Final Four and a No. 4 national ranking according to the Coaches' Poll. OSU has finished in the top three of the conference on eight occasions since his return, and has finished in the top five in all but one of his OSU seasons. Coach Sutton is a four-time National Coach of the Year, and was the first coach in NCAA history to lead four different schools to the Big Dance. Only Bob Knight ranks higher in both winning percentage and victories for an active coach that Coach Sutton, and only Dean Smith won more games in his first 32 years as a head coach.
Great Alaska Shootout on the Cowboy Radio Network
All three Cowboy games in the Great Alaska Shootout will be broadcast live on the Cowboy Radio Network. Kelly Thompson of Anchorage will handle the play-by-play duties, while Tom Dirato will provide the expert analysis on the network broadcast that begins 30 minutes prior to tipoff. The OSU network is a production of Cowboy Sports Properties, a division of Learfield Sports.
Coach Sutton Radio Show
Coach Sutton's weekly radio show, hosted by Tom Dirato, will be broadcast Tuesday night this week, due to travel to the Great Alaska Shootout, from 7:05 - 8 p.m. on the Cowboy Radio Network.
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