The new Byron Eaton — the one who is taking over games, playing confidently and aggressively — Capel saw before anyone else took notice.
"The last five minutes when we played (Oklahoma State in Norman), he played at a different level,” the Oklahoma coach said. "He almost willed their team to win.”
The Sooners outlasted Eaton's charge that night at Lloyd Noble Center, but it will be different trying to contain Oklahoma State's surging point guard for a full 40 minutes tonight at Gallagher-Iba Arena (7 p.m.).
In that Jan. 28 meeting, OU had taken a 53-45 lead with 4:45 left. Eaton, OSU's junior point guard, had eight points and an assist from that point, pulling the Cowboys briefly back into a tie before he narrowly missed a running 3-point attempt at the buzzer that would have forced overtime in OU's 64-61 win.
OU point guard Austin Johnson spent a lot of time guarding Eaton that night and will likely get another chance, though Tony Crocker and David Godbold also will get their opportunities to slow down one of the Big 12 Conference's hottest players.
"He's playing well right now,” Johnson said. "He has great size. He's quick and can get to the lane.
"He was good even before he started playing so well, so we know he's gonna be that much better.”
It's quite a change for the former McDonald's All-American out of Dallas. During much of his indifferent career at OSU, Eaton has been viewed as part of the problem in the Cowboys' inability to reach expectations.
Now he's the solution, and he has the Cowboys rolling. During the five-game stretch, Eaton is averaging 20.6 points per game while making 12 of 16 3-pointers.
"He's being more aggressive and taking more of a leadership role on the team, and it's really helping them out,” Godbold said. "All we've got to do is try to contain him. You're not gonna stop him. Contain him and their other guys, and we should have a chance to win the game.”
The Cowboys have won five straight, including a win over then-No. 4 Kansas, and they're back in the discussion for the NCAA Tournament.
"They're playing awfully, awfully well right now,” Capel said. "(Head coach Sean Sutton) is doing a great job of getting those guys to buy in.
"They could've easily put their heads (down) and just gone on and felt sorry for themselves. But they showed toughness and grit. They're playing as well as anyone right now.”
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Hey Scott -who's whipping whose ass tonight? Your aggies were outplayed, outcoached, and outclassed. Your state's "basketball school" is now 88-124 against the Sooners. Please,please keep Sean Sutton as your coach. Have fun in the NIT while the Sooners advance to the NCAA. losur
OSU will be tough tonight. The Sooners are thin and missing their best player. The others will have to step up big time for the Sooners to have any chance at all. OSU has a good team and are coming together at the right time.
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The matchup tonight between OSU's Byron Eaton, left, and OU's Austin Johnson will be crucial in determining the winner of the Bedlam game. The Sooners won the first meeting this season 64-61. by CHRIS LANDSBERGER, THE OKLAHOMANOklahoma at Oklahoma State
•When: 7 tonight
•Where: Gallagher-Iba Arena
•Radio: KSPI 93.7 FM
•TV: KOCB-34 (Cox 11)
Projected Lineups
Oklahoma (19-10, 7-7)
Pos.
Player
Ht.
Cl.
Pts.
Reb
G
Cade Davis
6-5
Fr.
3.8
1.6
G
Austin Johnson
6-3
Jr.
8.7
2.8
G
Tony Crocker
So.
6-6
11.2
4
C
Longar Longar
Sr.
6-11
11.9
5.5
F
Taylor Griffin
Jr.
6-7
6.4
4.6
Oklahoma State (16-12, 7-7)
Pos.
Player
Ht.
Cl.
Pts.
Reb.
G
James Anderson
6-
Fr.
13.9
3.4
G
Byron Eaton
5-11
Jr.
11.7
*3.3
G
Obi Muonelo
6-5
So.
9.8
3.4
F
Marcus Dove
6-9
Sr.
9.9
5.4
F
Ibrahima Thomas
6-11
Fr.
5.9
4.1
* assists average
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