Oklahoma State University Athletics
OSU, KU Battle For First Place
February 09, 2004 | Cowboy Basketball
Oklahoma State (17-2, 7-1) hosts Kansas (16-4, 7-1)
in a battle of Big 12 leaders
Monday, Feb. 9, 2004 • 8:05 p.m.
Gallagher-Iba Arena • Stillwater, Okla.
radio - Cowboy Radio Network • internet - okstate.com • TV - ESPN
Cowboys host Jayhawks
Oklahoma State returns to action inside the friendly confines of Gallagher-Iba Arena Monday night as the Cowboys host the Kansas Jayhawks in a Big Monday matchup. The Pokes have been on the road for two straight games, but will play three of the next four at home. OSU is 17-2 overall this season, 7-1 in Big 12 Conference action after an 88-67 win over Iowa State Saturday afternoon in Ames. KU is 16-4 overall and 7-1 in league play after a 96-77 win over Texas Tech on Saturday afternoon in Lawrence. Both teams are tied for the top spot in the conference standings.
Rankings
The updated rankings won't come out until approximately 5 p.m. on Monday, but this game will match up two of the top teams in the country. Oklahoma State is ranked 13th in both the Associated Press and USA Today/ESPN Coaches polls, while Kansas is ranked 17th in the USA Today/ESPN Coaches poll and 20th in the Associated Press poll. According to the most recent RPI rankings presented by Collegiate Basketball News, the Jayhawks are rated ninth while the Cowboys are ranked 11th. In the Sagarin College Basketball rankings, OSU is seventh while KU is 20th.
On television
Monday night's game will be televised live by ESPN as part of its Big Monday package. Dan Shulman will handle the play-by-play duties, while Dick Vitale will provide expert analysis. Doris Burke will also be on the baseline for ESPN. This is the first of three Big Monday's games that will involve Oklahoma State. Next Monday, Feb. 16, the Pokes will play at Oklahoma, and then, on Monday, March 1, Big Monday will return to Gallagher-Iba Arena for the Oklahoma State-Texas contest.
Last time out
Oklahoma State had two players score 20 points for the second-consecutive game, and the Cowboys shot 63 percent from the floor as OSU handed Iowa State its first home loss of the season, 88-67. Ivan McFarlin and John Lucas each scored 21 points, connecting on 16-of-24 shots from the floor combined. Tony Allen added 18 points and eight rebounds for the Pokes, who won their seventh-consecutive game. ISU had four players score in double figures, and the Cyclones shot 50 percent themselves, but could not stop the red-hot Cowboys.
About Kansas
Kansas is 15-4 overall this season and 7-1 in Big 12 Conference action. The Jayhawks are led by junior guard Keith Langford, who is averaging 16.3 points per game. Forward Wayne Simien is averaging 15.9 points and 9.4 rebounds per contest, while freshman J.R. Giddens is chipping in 10.2 points per game. As a team, the ‘Hawks are averaging 75.5 points per game, nearly 11 points better than their opponents. KU is shooting 45.7 percent from the floor, but just 31.5 percent from beyond the three-point arc. The Jayhawks are also averaging 3.7 more rebounds per contest. Kansas' only conference loss was a 68-61 decision to ISU in Ames. KU's other losses are vs. Stanford, at Nevada, and Richmond in Allen Fieldhouse.
Series history
Kansas leads the all-time series with Oklahoma State, 97-49, including a 32-28 mark in Stillwater. Kansas has won the last three meetings, including a 79-61 score in each of the last two meetings (last year in Lawrence and two years ago in Gallagher-Iba Arena). Since Coach Sutton's return to Stillwater, OSU is 7-17 vs. the Jayhawks. Since the Big 12 formed in 1996-97, the Cowboys are 2-8 against KU.
Taking advantage of the home court
The Cowboys have been very successful at home so far this season, sporting a perfect 10-0 record. OSU has used its up-tempo offense and stifling defense to be successful. The Pokes are averaging 81.3 points per game in the friendly confines of Gallagher-Iba Arena this season, and are outscoring their opponents by an average of 22.3 points per game. Oklahoma State is shooting 53.5 percent from the field, including 37.8 percent from long range in the historic building. OSU is outrebounding its opponents by an average of 6.9 boards per contest, and the Cowboys have a 1.30 assist/turnover ratio in GIA. The one glaring statistic that has not improved in home games is free-throw percentage. OSU is shooting 66.4 percent from the charity stripe overall this season, but just 65.1 percent in Gallagher-Iba Arena.
Doing well against the North Division
Oklahoma State is 3-0 so far against teams from the Big 12's North Division, including a 2-0 mark on the road. OSU defeated Kansas State, 57-56, in Manhattan, won against Colorado, 71-62, in Stillwater, and defeated Iowa State last time out, 88-67, in Ames. As a team, the Cowboys are averaging 72 points per game, but allowing just 61.7 points by their North foes. The Pokes are shooting 47.6 percent from the floor and 38.1 percent from long range in those types of games. John Lucas has been outstanding, scoring 18.7 points per game, including a 12-of-23 shooting effort from beyond the arc. He also has 14 assists, six steals and just one turnover. Tony Allen has played well, too, scoring 16.7 points and six rebounds per contest. Ivan McFarlin is averaging 12 points and six boards per game vs. North Division opponents.
Offensive dominance
Oklahoma State's offense has been impressive this season. The Cowboys have scored at least 80 points in 11 games this season, and are currently averaging 78.8 points per game, the second-best mark in the Big 12 Conference and the highest by a Cowboy squad since the 1997-98 season (78.9 ppg). The Cowboys have outscored their opponents by 30 or more points in six games this season, and lead the league with a +16.7 scoring margin. OSU is shooting 52.3 percent as a team, which leads not only the Big 12 but the country. The Pokes' are connecting on 39.7 percent of their shots from beyond the three-point arc, the second-best mark in the league. Oklahoma State has 325 assists on 566 made shots, an average of one assist for every 1.74 shots made. Compare that to last year, when the Cowboys had one assist for every 1.96 shots made.
Defensive pressure
While Oklahoma State's offense has been quite potent, the defense has also been playing well. The Cowboys are giving up just 62.1 points per game, the third-best mark in the league, while allowing 40.5 percent shooting from the floor and 31.9 percent shooting from beyond the three-point arc. The OSU defense has forced 334 turnovers, an average of 17.6 per contest (second-best mark in the Big 12) and scored an average of 20.3 points per game off those miscues. The defense has taken 21 charges as a team, led by Ivan McFarlin's eight. The Cowboys are second in the league in allowing rebounds, giving up just 31.2 boards per contest. OSU is also third in the league in steals, averaging 8.68 thefts per game.
Minimizing miscues
The Cowboys have made some dramatic improvements in their ball-handling skills this year as opposed to last season. In 2002-03, OSU had a +1.97 turnover margin when the season was complete. This year, the Pokes have a +3.58 turnover margin. Last season, Oklahoma State ranked 11th in the league in assist/turnover ratio at 0.86. This year, OSU leads the league in the same category, averaging 1.22 assists for every turnover. The Pokes are second in the Big 12 in assists, averaging 17.1 dishouts per game. OSU was 10th in that category last year, averaging just 12.8 assists per contest. The Cowboys have 266 turnovers this season, an average of 14 per game, while forcing an average of 17.6 per contest.
Shooting lights out
Oklahoma State is shooting 52.3 percent from the floor this season, one of the best all-time marks in school history. The best shooting season OSU has ever had occurred in 1982-83, when the Cowboys shot a school-record 53.1 percent from the floor. That year, the Pokes were 931-of-1,753 from the field. The second-best mark in school history is 51.4 percent, shot by the 1992-93 squad. Oklahoma State has shot better than 50 percent for an entire season only four times in school history (53.1 percent in 1982-83, 51.4 in 1992-93, 50.4 in 1983-84, and 50.2 in 1994-95), with two of those occuring in the Eddie Sutton era.
Free throw improvement
Oklahoma State's free-throw shooting has improved dramatically recently. After the Colorado game, OSU was shooting 63.9 percent from the free-throw line for the season. That average has improved to 66.4 percent over the last four games, thanks to a 70-of-93 shooting performance (75.3 percent) from the charity stripe in the last four contests. Of OSU's eight games shooting better than 70 percent this season from the line, four of them have come in the last four games.
Seven-game streak promising
During OSU's current seven-game winning streak, several trends appear promising. The Cowboys are shooting just over 70 percent from the free throw line, and shooting 43 percent from long range. More specifically, the Cowboys' two most consistent three-point shooters, John Lucas and Daniel Bobik, are shooting 54.1 and 46.2 percent, respectively, from beyond the arc. OSU's five primary post players are shooting 53.6 percent. Six of the Cowboys' 10 regulars have an assist/turnover ratio of 1:1 or better. The five OSU starters are scoring 87 percent of the team's total points during that seven-game streak, and yet each player of the bench has played a vital role on the court.
Ivan ranks among school's best
Foward Ivan McFarlin, who grabbed double-figure rebounds in back-to-back games against Southeastern State and Arkansas, ranks among the best rebounders of all-time in OSU history. He became the 12th player in school history to record 600 boards when he grabbed eight vs. Colorado. He also moved into 11th place on the all-time rebounding list in that game. He needs 46 rebounds to move past Andre Williams and into 10th place on the school career list.
I-Mac moving up other career lists
With 21 points vs. Iowa State, McFarlin became the 33rd player in school history to record 900 points in an OSU career. He now has 912 points in his career. He needs 18 points to move past Melvin Sanders and into 32nd place. Ivan recorded his fourth double-double of the season and the 18th of his career with 13 points and 10 rebounds vs. the SMU Mustangs. His 18 double-doubles ties him with Joe Atkinson and Don Youman for the fifth most in school history. Ivan has 96 career blocked shots, and sits in sixth place all-time in school history. Ivan recorded a career-best six blocks against Southeastern State. Leroy Combs sits in fifth place with 167 career blocked shots. Ivan needs 71 more deflections before catching the top five.
Lucas is the real deal
Junior John Lucas was named the Big 12 Conference's Player of the Week for his efforts in wins over Oklahoma and Kansas State. He leads the league with his 3.4 assist/turnover ratio, and is second in the Big 12 Conference in assists per game, averaging five assists per contest. The 5-10 guard has 95 assists and just 28 turnovers in 19 games this season. He dished out a career-high 13 assists vs. SMU, recording his second double-double as a Poke. He also had 10 points against the Ponies. Against Southeastern State, he recorded his first double-double with 11 assists and 10 points. He has had double-figure scoring in 14 games this season, including a season-best 27 at Texas A&M. He is averaging 19 points per game over the last seven contests, and is second to just Andre Emmett for scoring average in conference games only. In the last 12 games, he has 61 assists and just 14 turnovers. He leads the team in free-throw shooting at 89.8 percent. John made ESPN Sportscenter's top plays of the week for his midcourt heave against Arkansas just before halftime.
Allen one of league's best
Senior guard Tony Allen is one of the best players in the Big 12 Conference. The 6-4 Chicago, Ill., native currently ranks fifth in the league in scoring, averaging 16.3 points per game. He's also averaging five rebounds per contest and 2.8 assists per game. Tony has made more shots than anybody else on the team at 112, and is shooting 52.1 percent from the field. He scored a season-high 24 points against Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, and also tied career bests in assists with seven and steals with five in that game. Tony scored 20 or more points for the fifth time this season with 21 vs. Texas A&M, a game in which he connected on 8-of-14 shots from the floor.
Bobik coming up big time
Junior Daniel Bobik has been a pleasant surprise this season. The 6-4 guard was named the MVP of the Touchtone Energy All-College Classic. He is averaging 9.1 points per game this season, and is shooting 52.6 percent from the field. His long-range accuracy is just as impressive. He has made 33-of-68 shots from beyond the arc this season, good for 48.5 percent. That includes a 5-of-7 effort against Southeastern State and a 4-of-5 outing against SMU. He is second in the Big 12 Conference in three-point field-goal percentage, and eighth in three-point field goals made. Daniel has 62 assists in 19 games this season, surpassing his single-season best (34) while at BYU. In two seasons with the Cougars, Bobik averaged 5.2 points and 1.8 rebounds per game.
Coming up
Oklahoma State will host the Baylor Bears (7-14, 2-6) on Saturday, Feb. 14, at 3 p.m. The game will be televised by ESPN Regional, with Bill Doleman handling the play-by-play duties and Paul Splittorff providing expert analysis. On Monday, Feb. 16, the Cowboys will once again be on ESPN's Big Monday, this time against Oklahoma (14-5, 4-4) in Norman. Tipoff is set for 8 p.m.
Miscellaneous Notes
Oklahoma State is now 12-0 this season when making more free throws than its opponent, and 15-0 when allowing fewer than 70 points ... the Cowboys are 3-0 this year against teams ranked in the Associated Press Top 25 poll at game time ... the Cowboys shot over 70 percent from the free throw line for just the eighth time this season against Iowa State, but for the fourth-consecutive game. OSU is 70-of-93 over the last four games from the charity stripe, or 75.3 percent ... the Pokes were outrebounded by their opponent for just the fifth time this season against Texas A&M ... OSU is currently 10-0 this season in Gallagher-Iba Arena, and has won 10 or more games at home for the 16th-consecutive season ... the Cowboys are now 175-20 at home under Sutton, an 89.7 winning percentage ... Oklahoma State has won seven-consecutive home games over teams ranked in the AP Top 25. That dates back to a 79-61 loss to fourth-ranked Kansas on Jan. 15, 2002 ... with OSU's No. 13 ranking in the Associated Press, it marks the fifth time in the last six seasons that the Cowboys have made it into the top 15 nationally at some point during the season ... of the 10 teams remaining with two or fewer losses, only Duke and St. Joseph's have a tougher strength of schedule than OSU.
