The Sports Bank’s college basketball season previews undergo a facelift this season. Rather than counting down the top 111 teams in 111 days, we will go conference-by-conference. I’ve already counted down the Pac-12 and now we turn our attention to the Big 12.
After getting off to a 15-2 start last season, the Oklahoma State Cowboys went into a downward spiral by losing ten of their next 16 games. Travis Ford now faces the daunting task of replacing his starting backcourt of Marcus Smart and Markel Brown.
OKLAHOMA STATE COWBOYS
Last Season: 8th, 8-10 in Big 12, 21-13 overall
Predicted Big 12 Finish: 7th
Projected Depth Chart
F/C: Michael Cobbins (Sr)/Anthony Allen (Jr)/Marek Soucek (Sr)/Mitch Solomon (Fr)
F: Le’Bryan Nash (Sr)/Leyton Hammonds (So)
SF: Joe Burton (Fr)/Jeffrey Carroll (Fr)/Tavarius Shine (Fr)
SG: Phil Forte (Jr)/Christien Sager (Sr)
PG: Anthony Hickey (Sr)/Jeff Newberry (Jr)/Tyree Griffin (Fr)
Gone: PG-Marcus Smart, SG-Markel Brown, G/F-Brian Williams (transfer-LA-Lafayette), PF-Kamari Murphy (transfer-Miami FL), PF-Gary Gaskins (transfer-Prairie View A&M), PG-Stevie Clark (transfer-Indian Hills CC)
2014-2015 Outlook:
A pair of newcomers try to help fill the void left behind by Smart and Brown. Anthony Hickey is a transfer from LSU who was granted immediate eligibility for the Cowboys and should compete with junior college transfer Jeff Newberry for the starting point guard role. Phil Forte is expected to become a permanent fixture in the starting lineup and though extremely undersized for a shooting guard, can stroke it from deep. Whatever guard combination Ford uses, OK State will have a small backcourt tandem which could be a liability on the defensive end.
Up-front, senior Le’Bryan Nash looks to have a monster senior year since he hasn’t exactly lived up to expectations in Stillwater. His combination of strength and athleticism makes him a tough matchup but he needs to improve his perimeter game to really become a true all-around threat. Michael Cobbins missed all of conference play last seasondue a torn Achilles tendon but returns to the lineup. At 6-8, he isn’t a true big man but is still a solid rebounder and shot blocker. That is why the Cowboys need 7-1 JUCO transfer Anthony Allen to provide some real size and physicality down low.
Expect freshman wing, Joe Burton to be an immediate factor for the Pokes as he should be a starter from the opening tip of the season. Ford did lose a couple of key contributors to transfer this off-season so minutes are up for grabs on the bench. Leyton Hammonds should see more playing time as a sophomore but freshmen wings Jeffrey Carroll and Tavarius Shine will fight for a spot in the rotation as well.
Key Non-Conference Games:
11/24 vs. Oregon State (MGM Grand Main Event)
11/26 vs. Tulsa/Auburn (MGM Grand Main Event)
12/6 at South Carolina (SEC/Big 12 Challenge)
12/13 at Memphis
12/21 vs. Maryland
12/30 vs. Missouri (in Kansas City)
OTHER BIG 12 PREVIEWS:
PAC-12 PREVIEWS:
#1 ARIZONA WILDCATS
#4 UCLA BRUINS
David Kay is a senior feature NBA Draft, NBA, and college basketball writer for the Sports Bank. He also heads up the NBA and college basketball material at Walter Football.com and is a former contributor at The Washington Times Communities. David has appeared on numerous national radio programs spanning from Cleveland to New Orleans to Milwaukee to Honolulu. He also had the most accurate 2011 NBA Mock Draft and the most accurate 2012 NBA Mock Draft on the internet (Yup, repeat champ… #humblebrag), and finished with the second most accurate 2013 NBA Mock Draft (nearly a three-peat.) You can follow him on Twitter at David_Kmiecik.