Eaton says he has to have ‘a big game'
Cowoys visit Texas to end regular season
Eaton says he has to have ‘a big game'

By Andrea Cohen

Published: March 9, 2008

STILLWATER — For five straight games, Byron Eaton was something else.

Watching him from Feb. 13 to March 1, it was hard for fans and foes alike to keep from shaking their heads in amazement. The point guard was averaging 20.6 points and five assists. He was dominating games. He was making his teammates better. He wasn't committing silly turnovers. He wasn't rolling around on the floor with an injury every game, taking a breather and coming back in. He wasn't fouling out.

When explaining away losses to the Cowboys, Eaton's name was mentioned by every coach from Scott Drew to Doc Sadler.

Rolling past those teams, Eaton was playing like a different guy than he'd been the first three months of the season, and really the first three years of his college career. Come to think of it, he was playing an awful lot like Texas point guard D.J. Augustin.

But the Augustin-esque Eaton didn't come to play in Wednesday's deflating loss to Oklahoma.

"I didn't think he was as energetic as he had been,” OSU coach Sean Sutton said. "He didn't really dictate the game the way he has during the other five games during that winning streak. I just didn't think he was as sharp and he didn't play with the same intensity.”

The Cowboys are hopeful that the Eaton of weeks past will reappear today in Austin to take on Augustin and the No. 9 Longhorns. It's a game of debatable significance. A late run at an at-large NCAA Tournament berth was likely halted with the loss to Oklahoma, but crazier things have happened than a bid for an 8-8 conference team with wins over two Top 10 teams at the end of the year. And beating Texas would certainly improve OSU's seeding in the conference tournament, which the Cowboys likely need to win to make the NCAA Tournament.

Sutton said that ideally neither Eaton nor Augustin will be the story of the game. He hopes both point guards will play at a high level and, in a sense, neutralize each other.

"I think Augustin is as good at his position as anyone in the country, and Byron has played as well as he's played since he's been here, and probably about as well as any other guard in the Big 12 during this stretch,” Sutton said. "I think they both play a big part in (the game) but I think the other guys on the floor will determine the outcome.”

"I gotta have a big game,” Eaton said. "I can't come out flat like I was this (last) game. I gotta play great defense. No silly fouls. Move my feet. Challenge (Augustin's) shots. The main thing is me, how I conduct myself, what I do.”

Eaton has a theory on why he wasn't sharp in Bedlam on Wednesday. Before every game, Eaton said he lays awake visualizing the game and running through scenarios in his head — "I'm thinking, what if we're down three? Do I try to go in or do I foul somebody?” he said. He estimates that he hasn't fallen asleep before 3 a.m. prior to any game this year. Well, on Wednesday he let that lack of sleep get the better of him.

"I was trying to get too hyped up for it, too calmed down and then next thing I knew I was waking up (from an hour-and-a-half nap),” Eaton said. "My body was just too tired to play. I never do that — normally I'm all energized and ready to play.”

The nap theory is classic Eaton.

"He just says what's on his mind,” Sutton said. "That's good. I would think (the media) would like it and I like it too because you always know where he's coming from and what he's thinking.”

Today, what Eaton is thinking is clear.

"We've gotta be up for these guys,” Eaton said. "They beat us on our home floor and now it's time to return the favor …And no nap.”

Comments