Cowboys Excited For Return To Postseason Play

KANSAS CITY, Mo.— Unfinished business.

Oklahoma State men's basketball is ready to return to the postseason Wednesday night when it faces Oklahoma at 8:30 PM CT on ESPNU in the T-Mobile Center. The Cowboys are entering the Big 12 tournament with high hopes that they have, and will continue to, made their case that they belong in field for the NCAA Tournament.

"It's amazing, especially from last year when we were done at this time," Bryce Thompson said. "To be able to be here and compete for something really big, I'm really glad."

The Cowboys are back in action this postseason after last season's absence ready for the challenge, but the first thing that stands in their way is their in-state rival in their opening game of the 2023 Phillips 66 Big 12 Championship.

"It definitely adds to the fire…. That's a rivalry that stems back years and years so to have that as our first game, we are ready, we are coming out with a chip on our shoulder," Thompson added.

Oklahoma State comes into Wednesday night 2-0 this year when playing Oklahoma, winning both times by double digits. The pair of victories gave the Cowboys their second sweep in the past three years over OU.

"You know we have already beaten them twice, but we can't let us beating them twice affect how we come out and play," Thompson said.

No matter what numbers you check, whatever metrics you track, one truth holds true. The best basketball in the country this season has been played in the Big 12 conference. In a conference that provides no nights off, the championship event is expected to provide plenty of fireworks.

Don't let the records fool you.

When you come to the Big 12 Championship, any team can win on any night. Oklahoma closed the regular season winning two of its final three games, with both coming against ranked opponents.
First, the Sooners knocked off No. 23 Iowa State in Ames before beating No. 22 TCU in Norman two games later to close their regular season.

The No. 10-seed this year, the Sooners aren't to be overlooked. OU upset Baylor in the first round of the Big 12 Championship last season before falling to Texas Tech, 56-55, in the semifinals.

"If this is your first time watching Big 12 basketball just know you're in for a show," Tyreek Smith said.

For the Cowboys, historically this has been the time of the year they've played their best basketball. Head coach Mike Boynton's teams have especially excelled during the postseason, as they are 17-7 in March in his six seasons leading the program. With a victory Wednesday night, that would give the Cowboys their fourth-straight win in the first round of the Big 12 Championship.

Every college basketball team knows the deal in March. Eventually, one of these games will be their last together as a team.

It's a truth that can't be ignored.

For Smith, he knows he can't think that way or let it slip into his mind and is sure to not let it interfere with how they play the game.

"The main thing is trying to play with no regrets, just leave it all on the court and have fun while doing it," he said.

The Cowboys are attacking the tournament coming off a win against Texas Tech in their regular season finale. The victory gave OSU its third Big 12 sweep of the season. Equally important, the win gave the Cowboys another key resume point, their sixth quad one win, in their quest for the next challenge.

But first, there are certain things they need to execute to move on to the next round of the Big 12 Championship.

"You have to come out and put your best foot forward and fire on all cylinders along with all the other little things to make sure we play our best game," Thompson said.

Everything the Cowboys want to accomplish this March is still in front of them.

A chance to defeat their in-state rival for the third time in the same season, an opportunity to make a run in the Big 12 Championship and a return trip to the NCAA Postseason Tournament.

It all starts Wednesday night in Kansas City.

"It's what everybody waits for, what everybody works out for, this is what everything is for," Thompson said.

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