Oklahoma State basketball notebook: Oregon not playing disrespect card

Yet if the Ducks are feeling disrespected, they aren't showing it publicly.

"No,” said Oregon coach Dana Altman. “It's an inexact science. I'm sure that they crunched the numbers, whatever they came up with, it is what it is. You get to this time of year, you're going to face good teams.

“We're going to play a very good basketball team in Oklahoma State, but it's a tremendous opportunity. And we've got to go win basketball games, that's what it all boils down to.”

Echoed senior forward E.J. Singler: “I don't think we really even thought about it. We were just so happy we made it. Positions don't mean that much to us.”

COBBINS GOOD TO GO

In recent days, there's been some concern regarding the availability of Cowboys big man Michael Cobbins.

During the first half of Friday's Big 12 semifinal against Kansas State, Cobbins briefly dislocated his right shoulder. He finished the game, but lingering soreness forced him into a precautionary sling through the early part of this week, limiting him in practice.

But at Wednesday afternoon's availability, Cobbins was out of the sling and sounding upbeat.

“It's feeling great,” Cobbins said. “Been getting treatment and it shouldn't be a problem at all.”

Minutes later, he was on the court for the Cowboys' open practice, going through full contact drills and showing no ill effects.

COSMO CHRISTIEN?

After Monday's practice, OSU reserve guard Christien Sager returned to his phone to find a strange notification.

Cosmopolitan, the nationally known women's magazine, had sent him a Twitter message (You + us = #MarchHotness) with a link attached. The mag had named Sager the “13th Hottest Guy of March Madness 2013”.

“I originally thought it was spam or something because it was kind of weird,” Sager said. “But I checked and it was the actual Cosmo Twitter, had the little blue check and everything.”

In it, the magazine described Sager as “a real southern gentleman we'd like to sweep us off our feet.”

Within minutes (because that's how Twitter works), word had reached his teammates. And, by Tuesday morning's practice, even OSU coach Travis Ford was razzing Sager with some lighthearted comments about his new distinction.

“Oh yeah, we had some fun with it,” Cobbins said. “But props to him.”