It didn't end up mattering because Eaton did the most important thing of the night just fine: He hit the game-winning shot, putting OSU up 75-73 with 1.7 seconds remaining.
With the score tied 73-73, OSU got the ball with 32 seconds remaining. Eaton dribbled down the clock to about six seconds, drove into the lane, pulled up, pump-faked and shot an off-balance 12-footer that rattled around and went in.
"When he pump-faked I didn't think he was gonna get it off but he got the shot up,” senior Marcus Dove said. "He's been playing huge for us lately and as long as he keeps playing like that we'll keep winning games.”
The win is OSU's fourth-straight and second consecutive win on the road. The win keeps OSU (15-12, 6-7) mathematically alive for fourth place in the conference and knocks Missouri (15-12, 5-8) out of contention for fourth in the conference, which is extremely muddled in the middle.
OSU coach Sean Sutton said he was worried about where his team would be emotionally after Saturday's dramatic win over Kansas. It was a reasonable concern as OSU came out slow and, "real out of it,” Sutton said.
The Cowboys weren't as aggressive offensively, due in large part to Eaton failing to drive the ball like he had in recent games, and they positively struggled to contain Missouri's Leo Lyons, who finished with 27 points. Missouri's full-court pressure got to OSU at times.
But OSU hit a season-record 14 3-pointers, and the barrage of 3s kept them in the game.
"I thought we were sloppy and not very good the first half but we made some shots to keep ourselves in it,” Sutton said. "In the second half I thought we hit timely 3s.”
A couple of timely shots helped OSU chisel away at the Tigers' eight-point second-half lead. Terrel Harris, who started for the first time in nearly a month but played just 17 minutes because of foul trouble, came in and hit a 3-pointer to cut Missouri's lead to two and a jumper to tie the score with 5 minutes to play.
But perhaps the most timely shot of the night – Eaton's aside – was a Dove 3-pointer with just over two minutes to play that gave OSU a two-point lead. It was déjà vu, as Dove hit a go-ahead 3-pointer using the same play in the Kansas game.
"Like I told (Dove), ‘You put us back in it and I'll win it,'” Eaton said.
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Loved the Barry Trammel video - Face for Radio, Voice for Newsprint. If he could only write he'd have something. Good thing there is the Oklahoman. God Bless the Sooner nation for keeping this worthless rag around.
Barry, you say that the players have no pride for OSU or respect for Sean, right? Then why have the players turned the season around? Why did the players do the things for the family at the Baylor game? This team is full of young players and took time to gel. I know a lot of other teams have young players but not all players are the same. It has been repoerted numerous time that Sean drew up specific plyas at the end of the tesas and A&M games but for whatever reason players took shots when they weren't supposed to. I agree that at first, Sean may have been trying to fit square pegs in round holes but he has changed his thinking, made the approiate changes and the team has been responded. He has finally got Eaon to believe that he is a good player. Sean has been working on this for the last 2 years and Eaton has finally accepted it and is playing the way he is. Yes I do know people in the inside and yes it a situation where Byron is the one that is finally stepping up and accepting his responsibility and accepting that he is a very good player. No one understands why it has taken this long but they are extrmly happy that it has occured. Plus MANY of the young players are finally learning their rolls and are able to provide support.
As for last years team, there was a lot of inner turmoil. One of the players slept with another playere girlfrind/ex girlfriend. This caused a drift between 2 of the starters and the rest of the players started taking sides. Sean tried hard to get the players to get back together and play as a team but the aminosty was too strong.
Sean is still learning on the job and continues to get better. On occasion mistakes will happen but overall things will continue to get better.
James-It is infinitely more fun when it's mostly just OSU fans on here discussing the team/game and we don't have to waste our time defending ourselves against Sooner comments. I agree with your assessment of Sean's recent improvement. One other thing I've noticed is he doesn't seem to be sweating as much! Maybe he's finally settling in and getting comfortable and figuring this thing out. We'll see. One thing's for sure, we can at least look forward to the rest of the season whereas a month ago, it was just playing out the string.
Patrick, Barry, and Sax, I thoroughly enjoy reading your insights. All of you really bring a unique perspective to this. Thanks for the insights. The things I would say have been the difference over these last four games is Sean's intensity, and more importantly, his timing. It seems like he is exercising more strategic thinking by the timeliness of his timeouts and substitutions (granted, three to's were wasted on inbounds plays last night). He has appeared to be more mentally into the game over the past couple of weeks.
Not sure I answered you Sax. But no one is blaming Calipari's kids because his kids are not doing anything wrong now. He took the trouble kids and they have pretty much kept their noses clean. And no, these are not mature adults. Maybe legal adults, but not mature adults. Think to when you were 18-21. How much help did you need from your elders? Unless you were the exception, you still needed their advice and direction. Funny how Bobby Reid was defended as a young man but now you are saying these kids should be responsible adults. Can not swing both ways. Sorry, now I am really out.
Stop asking questions!!! No, really though, if you want an answer. If we had a better record, it would reflect better coaching so yes, I would have a better opinion of Sean Sutton. But we do not, so it is a moot point. Again, it is not all about wins/losses either which brings me to...I guess we will have to disagree about the coaches responsibility as well. No, a coach can not prevent a kid from screwing up. But a coach can instill a sense of obligation, dedication and morals to a kid which is where Sean fails as well. A sense of pride and accomplishment goes a long way. Another recent story conveyed the depressing news that Faye O'Dell had passed away. Faye was an awesome man who invoked quality from his players as well as athletic accomplishment. He was a motivator that his kids would bend over backwards to please. Sean does not have this ability and I think a lot of it is respect. Chalk it up to immaturity or whatever, but last year and parts of this year it appeared to me the respect aspect was not there. Huggins and Tarkanian had similar problems. Kids that were great on the court but total screw ups off the court. Where are they now? Where are their programs now? Now what discipline issues do you not see with someone like Knight or Mike K? Sorry you do not see the correlation between Calipari's kids and Sean's but it is there. If those kids were here, we would be reading about them stealing from WalMart. If Fleming was there, he would be on a front runner team for a national championship. It is all about environment and Sean has not established an environment of pride and loyalty to the program. If he had, Curry would be here too but he got out of town on the first ship that sailed. No respect. Signing off to go play some ball, you guys have a good evening.
Right on Sax. The Calipari comparison didn't fly with me either, but I was tired of arguing with Barry. For one thing, Calipari has been around forever. He was at UMass when we beat them to advance to the Final Four in 1995. I have no idea where he was before that, but the point is, I doubt he was born knowing everything about how to run a college basketball program. He had to learn on the job somewhere just like Sean is doing. I'm sure he made mistakes along the way and at some point probably had fans and alums down on him for not winning enough.
Barry, I will also agree to disagree on many of your points here. We are cowboy fans and want the same thing. But if the team had not collapsed late last season and started out so poorly this season, lets say if they are 19-7 at this point instead of 14-12. Would you still blame Sutton for the players actions? When a teacher has a troubled student, he/she will attempt to correct the student. But if the kid keeps a bad attitude and is late to class and meetings, the teacher has nothing to do with that. Neither does Sean, and blaming him for these adults who are old enough to get free school and benefits (food, housing) because of their immaturity is laughable at best. He made some recruiting mistakes, everyone makes mistakes. He has started to right the ship and is finding recruits who want to work and play in his system better. But Sean had nothing to do with Keith stealing from Wal-mart or Jammal Brown not showing up to practice or class. That is something disgruntled fans do when they want to find fault with someone. That is why you don't hear anyone blaming Calipari for his players mistakes.
Barry-Fair enough. But, since I'm still curious, one last question at least until the next OSU game: What is your metric for saying, OK maybe Sean is coming around as a coach and is worth keeping around for another season? Does that metric exist this season? Next? Ever?
And before Brad gets any more upset, Patrick, we will just have to agree to disagree. We keep bringing up points of view that solicit response that I am sure most are probably tired of hearing. Especially my comments as, at least on this board and after a 4-win streak, I am obviously in the minority. Enjoyed the banter. When all is said and done, we want the Cowboys to be successful....let us just leave it at that.
Patrick, Gerald Green is a non-entity. Never stepped foot on campus as a player so he was neither a loss nor a gain. The players you mentioned that were dismissed for disciplinary or academic reasons, how can you not put the responsibility on Sean? He is responsible for his players on and off the court. A coach at this level must be responsible. Just look at Memphis right now. They are lambasted in the national boards because, apparently, 3/4 of the team is comprised of delinquents of some ilk. But Calipari, as the coach, has reined them in and has them singularly focused. Brown and Johnson had compatibility issues that again, a coach is responsible for overcoming or at least compensating for. Kicking them off the team was the easy way out. The correct, but more difficult option would have been to work with them, get them motivated and again, singularly focused. All of them would have helped, sure. But, repeating here, all programs lose players. Shoot, Paul or Leonard (I forget which but think it was Leonard) pulled Jay Davis out of the Colvin Center in the early 80's to play point. Low numbers/inadequate quality is not a new or unique situation to this school or the sport. Most every program goes through it to some degree at some point. I agree the point has been a sore spot, but the offense in general is deficient. Go look at ESPN's Basketball 101 board about offenses. A poster asks what offense OSU runs and Fraschilla can not even give a definitive answer. A "modified motion" offense. What is that? The offense is blah and predictable and relies on 1-on-1 match up instead of taking advantage the athleticism/skills of the team as a whole. In my opinion, we have quite a gifted team as far as talent and skills go. Just look at Harris' block the other night. 3 of 4 kids would never have attempted it, let alone been successful. Dove is a monster. Byron shows flashes of brilliance. But they stand around doing nothing without the ball because that is what the coach's offense tells them to do. At times they look like they are searching for the chalk marks on the floor trying to figure our where they should go next. They still get confused with switches on defense 4/5th the way through the season. Either they are really dumb, which I doubt, or there is a breakdown in how/what they are being taught. And poor James Anderson. He was mentioned in some early season press as being a candidate for the national freshman team honors. But opponents are on to him now and his coach can not even get him back to a fraction of what he was. He will be lucky to make the Big 12 freshman team now. It is not just wins/losses. These kids need help that Sutton is simply not giving them.
You boys play nice! haha! I'm a Sooner and think it's a fantastic win for you guys! I don't know if Sean is the second coming or not but I do think he should get one more year to work things out. It all goes by way of the PG. When Eaton's playing well, you guys usually win. When he's erratic and turning the ball over every other trip you guys usually lose. I think Byron's finally figured out exactly that and has done a lot better. I don't know if you say that's on him, coaches or whoever but either way he's improved. I still think the only loss the rest of the regular season for you guys will be at Texass. Go Po.....ahh, can't say it but you know what I mean! : )
Since I never mentioned you by name Barry, you must have recognized yourself. But, if the apropism fits... Anyway, just because I happen to not agree with your view doesn't mean that I am not objective. I think I am at least as objective as you, just at the opposite end of the argument. I'm pasting over some of the text from our previous "discussion" to which you never responded as follows: "we lost almost a whole recuiting class except for Eaton and Harris for many factors outside of Sean's control. Two years ago, Gerald Green (NBA draft) and Keith Brumbaugh (some SAT test controversy) were both highly-recruited, HS All-American type players and neither ever saw the floor for us. Last year, Gary Flowers was another highly-recruited player and Sean kicked him off for some off-court incident. Torre Johnson wasn't the only existing player we lost last year either. Anybody would agree PG has been one of our biggest problems the past three seasons since we lost John Lucas. Jamaal Brown was kicked off before last season and he was a tough and savvy PG and consistently outplayed Eaton. And don't forget Roderick Flemings. He didn't play a lot as a freshman but had excellent ability to go with his poor attitude. Do you think perhaps all these guys could have helped just a bit the last two-plus seasons?" The one thing I didn't metion in that post was the fact that the one of the big factors in last year's collapse was the fact that Obi was injured. He was scoring 10-12 points a game and brought a lot of energy to the team. I don't claim to have any "inside ear" about whether Sean will return next year. It just stands to reason. Why would you can a coach just when it looks like he AND his team are POSSIBLY starting to jell in their respective roles? But then again, if Mr. Pickens thinks otherwise, i.e, like you, then Sean could be gone. That said, I do agree with you on two points: 1) Kenny Cooper was a stiff and would not likely be any better than Adams or Thomas; and 2) MOST Sooner posters are obnoxious.
Habitual malcontent purveyors of negativism. Got to love it. But, no, Patrick, it is called being a realist and not letting sentiment cloud my judgment because, gosh darn it, all is just peachy-keen at OSU-ville. I have read your posts for a long time and come to respect most of what you say, Patrick, but you are simply too optimistic and a loyalist to take an objective view on this one. All losses are not Sean's fault and all wins are not the players. What is Seans fault is the 12-17 conference record during his tenure and the 2-19 road skid. I do not have the "inside ear" as some here claim, but do find it interesting how you avow he will be here next year. Others have posted otherwise so we will see. All I can say is, if he does come back, and this crap is repeated once again, an entire recruiting cycle has been wasted and it will take another full cycle of kids get back to where we once stood. Hope that makes you guys happy. Those obnoxious Sooner posters are right in one aspect. Wait til next year should become the school motto at this rate. I AM SICK AND TIRED OF WAITING TIL NEXT YEAR.
I'm with you Kurt. I've been harping on this for weeks now, well before the winning streak started. But what I've found is that you can't convince the habitual malcontent purveyors of negativism. In their world, all losses are Sean's fault, no matter what, no excuses. But when they win, it's all the players and not Sean. OSU could go to the Final Four and lose and they would still want Sean fired for not winning the National Championship. Anyway, I guess we can continue the argument next season seeing how Sean will definitely be back.
Yeah, they really mailed it in during that Texas game that went 3-OT and won by Boggan himself. Shebus people are so myopic. People leave, part of life. Cooper was a stiff that played 3-5 minutes a game and scored even less. They only had eight players because Sean had absolutely no control over some of the kids and had no idea how to make a cohesive team out of what he did have. Sean is 10000000000% to blame. The 12-0 start was primarily against Nobody U. Outside of the Big 12, they played two teams worth a crap and beat them ('cuse and Pitt). They did not give up, they were figured out. Cripes, I got suckered into the discussion again. OK, fine, just so everyone is happy.....SEAN SUTTON IS A BASKETBALL GOD THAT IS ACTUALLY THE REINCARNATE OF DR. NAISMITH AND SHOULD BE IMMEDIATELY ENSHRINED IN THE HOF AFTER TAKING PRIMA NOCTURNA WITH ALL NEW BRIDES.
Sean's coaching was never to blame. Remember the 12-0 start last year before Bogan and Co. gave up? Remember how they only had 8 players last year, and had to play Bowman and Hatch? Remember how Curry and Cooper left? He's doing all he can with what he has, and they have finally decided to follow his instruction. Kudos to the team, keep it up.
first off, im not an OSU fan but i must admit that it kind of warms my heart to see the cowboys keep winning , because watching them earlier in the season and watching sean drench his shirt in sweat before tip off was just painful, i cant imagine watching that being a die hard OSU fan...I think the cowboys have a realistic shot to finish 8-8 in league (lose at texas) which would put them at 17-13 overall and if that happens then i think that they would need to get to sunday at the big 12 to get in the dance, but honestly on valentines day NO ONE in our state besides sean sutton even fathomed this scenario. kudos to sean for showing that he's more than just eddie's son, would everyone please put away the job security issue, they aren't firing him after this momentum especially if they keep winning.
Big win and Sean has been more intense over these last 5 or 6 games. This may be helping (Along with Eaton and better defensive play) the turnaround this season!
And that is ALL because of the exemplary coaching of Sean Sutton. I have said my peace on the topic so it is simply redundant at this point. The players need to be congratulated for their hard work and effort to obtain the win.
One important factor you didn't mention Barry - ON THE ROAD. This is a game we lose by 10 points in late Jan. The fact that we can win a game on the road with an off-balance, miracle shot went in at the last second against a .500 team with as many off-court issues as our own.
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OSU's Terrel Harris, right, scored 15 points in the Cowboys' 75-73 win over Missouri. Associated press
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As for last years team, there was a lot of inner turmoil. One of the players slept with another playere girlfrind/ex girlfriend. This caused a drift between 2 of the starters and the rest of the players started taking sides. Sean tried hard to get the players to get back together and play as a team but the aminosty was too strong.
Sean is still learning on the job and continues to get better. On occasion mistakes will happen but overall things will continue to get better.