STILLWATER — As we try to decipher what's wrong with Oklahoma State men's basketball, it's time we started to keep our eye on the ball.
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What ails the Cowboys is not the coach on the bench.
It's the players on the court.
OSU dropped a 59-56 decision to Texas A&M before a crowd of 10,369 inside Gallagher-Iba Arena on Saturday afternoon, extending the Cowboys' losing streak to four games.
Like the three losses before this one, OSU had a great chance to win.
And like those three previous losses, the game ended with a thud.
The Cowboys failed to score a point in the final 2:49 and didn't score a field goal in the final 9:34.
They had open shots, and missed them. They clanged free throws. They committed turnovers at key moments.
To me, that sounds like bad playing, not bad coaching.
And yet, during his post-game news conference, much-maligned OSU coach Sean Sutton committed hari-kari.
"I take responsibility for this loss,” Sutton said. "I didn't do a very good job for the last two or three minutes of that game. I made some really poor, poor offensive calls down the stretch. As a result, we didn't get the looks we needed to.
"Just not a very good job on my part.”
Sutton fell on the sword, which is what quality coaches do. But I couldn't disagree more.
In the closing seconds of the last three games, Sutton has called timeouts and diagramed plays that have resulted in his team getting open looks.
Hey, that's all any coach can do.
Coaches get to talk, scream and draw during games. They don't get to pass, dribble or shoot.
It's a shame Sutton has no eligibility remaining, seeing how he was a solid point guard when he played for the Cowboys (1990-92).
Because what OSU is in desperate need of right now is a solid point guard.
Junior Byron Eaton had four turnovers in the final eight minutes against the Aggies, but was only credited with three.
Marcus Dove was slapped with a turnover on the game's final sequence, but the turnover should have gone to Eaton. With the 3.9 seconds remaining, Dove inbounded the ball to a cutting Eaton, who dashed up-court before securing the ball.
The Aggies likely would have fouled Eaton rather than letting OSU get off a 3-pointer, but the play never advanced that far because Donald Sloan stole the ball from Eaton.
"It's my fault,” Eaton said afterward.
Asked to explain why the Cowboys are having trouble closing out games, Eaton said, "I think it's the effort.”
Hear that? It's the effort, not the coaching.
This loss can't be pinned solely on Eaton.
•Senior Marcus Dove struggled offensively, shooting 2-for-12 from the floor.
•Junior guard Terrel Harris went 0-for-5 and scored one point in 37 minutes.
•OSU's juniors and seniors shot a combined 4-for-25 from the field.
•With the Cowboys trailing by one with 20.9 seconds left, freshman center Ibrahima Thomas missed two free throws.
•With six seconds left, freshman James Anderson missed an open 3-pointer that would have given OSU a two-point lead.
You're trying to convince me that's on Sutton?
In a private setting after his news conference, without a camera in sight, Sutton was given a chance to re-think his post-game self-evaluation.
He didn't budge.
"I just thought I made a couple of bad calls,” Sutton said with a shrug.
Next up for OSU is Monday night's Bedlam game in Norman, which is a great place to end a losing streak and a lousy place to lengthen one.
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I care a lot about the school too, can I coach next year? Sean's "heart" isn't winning games. He doesn't make decisive necessary coaching decisions, ie, sitting Eaton. Time for a new coach.
I do agree that Sean cares deeply for OSU and wants to succeed. However, a great coach motivates his players to succeed. Eaton has been a turn over machine his whole career and Harris just flat out disapears at times. Sit these guys and start Obi and Nick. Nick is the point guard of the future for this team. This season is a loss let him take his lumps now so that he will be ready for next year. Go Pokes beat OU! Nothing cures a bad season like winning in Norman!
I'm thinking right now NIT is out of reach. Depending upon the outcome of the Nebraska game I'm seeing dead last in the Big XII Conference. If some of you are seeing effort and continuity from this basketball team then my hats off to you because I see nothing but confusion and futility right on down from the coaches to the players.
Defense and effort have been there since returning from christmas holidays and extra practice. It all starts and ends with poor point guard play and no consistent threat inside. Eddy would have benched Eaton for his turnovers and car wreck waiting to happen style but we have no depth at point guard. We seem to have 2 options on offense; throw up an early and bad three or find ourselves with 8 seconds on the shot clock byron with the ball near mid court and then throw up a bad three with 1 second to go.
This team is woeful. Despite his efforts to slim down, etc. Byron Eaton is a disaster at point guard--he loses as many points as he makes with errors and poor decisions--he is a football player in a basketball uniform. We simply don't have a point guard who can lead the team. In addition, there is no excuse for the number of missed free throws. This team looks more organized than they did earlier, but until they get some guard play it looks like a long season.
3 yrs ago (4 really) we did have an amazing team. Tony Allen (4 yrs ago), Joey & Stephen Graham, Ivan McFarlin, John Lucas, Daniel Bobik, etc.... The difference was a really good point guard and several players who wanted the ball come crunch time. Now we pass the ball around the perimeter until the shot clock gets to 1 sec. left and whoever has the ball at that time launches a prayer.
Once again we have a game where the Cowboys played hard, but didn't have the talent at the end to win. Too many fans seem to think that this team is as talented as those in the Sutton Glory years. I sorry to say that it just isn't true. This year we're just going to have to be happy with good losses and hope that next year things will be better. Go Cowboys!
My favorite play Saturday, was when E-TON drove the middle (when nothing was there) dribbled the ball BEHIND HIS BACK and had it taken away from him. WHAT A HOT-DOG. No serious basketball coach would put up with this kind of play. Just a few years ago, Eddy Sutton would find a way to win the close one's. This team doesn't have any heart.
Fact is, OSU was an elite program three years ago. What's happening? I'm a Sooner, but I always liked Eddie Sutton and rooted for him against everyone else. It's amazing how fast that program has gone south. And it's not good for the conference. C'mon Sean, get it back together. We all benefit from it.
There were two offensive sparks in yesterday's game - one was the customary spark that Obi gives when he comes in. The other was unexpected. Moses came in and didn't hesitate to shoot. And he played really well. We've got talent on this team, Sean just needs to get a better cohesive starting 5 on the floor. Because Harris and Eaton aren't cutting it.
One other thing. Any team (yours, ours, everybodys) doesn't always have guys like Atkinson & Rutherford (in your case) around. Those guys could stick it AND loved the school too by all accounts. Curry & Bogan didn't fit that bill. It really does come down to players who are good and have heart.
I sympathise with Sean having walking pneumonia. It's no fun! I've had it myself for the last couple of weeks. It impairs your ability to think and make decisions. Unfortunately basketball is a sport played in the dead of winter and illness is often an occurrence with both players and coaches. They had a flu epidemic at a Jenks girls basketball tournament and one of the teams playing for the championship had to forfeit because too many of their players came down with the flu. As they were from out of state they couldn't call in the JV recruits to fill in. In retrospect though, having watched many of our games this year, I still think we're trying to make too much of a living from the three point stripe. No we have nothing of a Tony Allen or a Joey Graham on this team. Like I said before, we lack a true power forward. We're recruiting way too many 6'5" swing players who make a living from the three point stripe. This has never been a winning formula in the tough physical Big XII Conference. We need someone who can put the hurt to the backboard. Yes we have a young team with some talent coming in. Now let's face it, Eddie recruited Dove as a defensive stopper. He's improved offensively but you really can't blame him for being hot and cold as offense is not his forte. There are a lot of problems with OSU basketball; team chemistry, lack of a true power forward, lack of bench strength, lack of a legitimate point guard and lack of strength in the middle. Harris is streaky at best. At this point in time I would agree that we don't have the players or the bench strength to compete in the Big XII Conference. I don't see any easy fixes, either. Unfortunately, Sean's time is running out. This is way too much coaching responsiblity for someone with his limited background in head coaching. He should do the noble thing and resign now, turn it over to Dickey and depending upon whether or not Dickey can turn us around consider promoting him to head coach next year. Either that or bring in Brooks Thompson. Ultimately I'd like to see Bill Self come back because the Kansas Jayhawk fans don't like him in spite of his success at Kansas. They want Turgeon back pretty bad. Bill would be welcomed with open arms at OSU and he would continue the legacy that Eddie Sutton began for OSU. Something needs to be addressed in the near immediate future for the sake of the OSU Men's Basketball Program or season tickets will go unsold in years to come.
I'm a Sooner, and I do admit to enjoying OSU having it a little rough from time to time. But, Sean Sutton is not one of those times. It is very clear that SS cares as much as any coach at any school I've ever seen and I would like to see him do well. I'll have to defer to others who have watched closely over time as to his ability as a coach and a head of a program. To all of the OSU followers who want him out - it's a tough call because maybe this is just a bad streak and it'll turn around. I say give him that chance, because if it works, you've got your man for years and stability is good. I think he just needs to concentrate his recruiting towards getting some scorers, the same thing I used to bitch about Kelvin for (Kelvin still can't coach big men. Anybody see yesterdays Indiana game where the Hoosiers were getting killed inside while Kelvin was returning fire his 4 guard attack? Now thats a real example of somebody who can't coach!)
there seems to be only one player who steps on the floor with a scorer's mentality and toughness similar to Tony Allen's - and he is coming OFF THE BENCH...
Why is Obi on the bench and the ice-cold Harris still starting?
Gary - I can't believe I'm going to defend Sutton BUT... the call wasn't for a 3. The play he drew up for Anderson was for him to drive the lane and either get a 2 or get fouled. If you'll watch the post game interview on this website, Sean explains exactly what happened.
Three-fourths of this is inaccurate. It’s fiction and this article embarrasses me to be involved with athletics tremendously. That article had to have been written by a person that doesn’t have a child and has never had a child that’s had their heart broken and come home upset! And had to deal with the child when he is upset! And kick a person when he’s down!
Here’s all that kid did! He goes to class. He is respectful to the media! He’s respectful to the public! And he’s a good kid, and he’s not a professional athlete and he doesn’t deserve to be kicked when he’s down.
If you want to go after an athlete you go after one who doesn’t do the right things! You don’t bedowngrade him because he does everything right and may not play as well on Saturday! I hope someday you have a child and somebody downgrades them and belittles them and you have to look them in the eye and say, “You know what? It’s OK. They are supposed to be mature adults but they’re really not.” Who’s the kid here? Who’s the kid here? Are you kidding me? That’s all I’ve got to say. It makes me want to puke.
Mr. Rohde, I respectfully disagree. The blame, quite obviously goes to both coach and players. Sean's call to shoot a three point shot when one point would have tied the game was clearly a bad call. I could give several other instances in this and other games of questionable coaching calls, but I won't. The facts are that both coaching and players at OSU need an upgrade, and soon.
The fact that Sean tried to take the blame for this loss, when anyone that knows a thing about basketball could see that the players "choked" down the stretch, shows that he truly loves this university. He knows that people are trying to blame him for everything and for him to try and shield his players from ultimate responsibility shows he's cares about the mental state of this team. They may not beat OU MOnday but, if we'll be patient I think we'll benefit in the long run. Bringing some coach in here that doesn't give a crap about this university would likely not last. Most coaches are going to come to Stillwater and if they have success, leave soon thereafter... We need to be realistic...
I agree it's primarily the players. But it's Sean's work as a "general manager" that has left him with this group of players. It all goes back to that wild-eyed recruiting of a few years ago. That signing class imploded on Sean and the Cowboys have still not dug out from that mess. The good news is, he appears to have learned from his mistake. It will take time though.
Oklahoma State's Terrel Harris was held to one point and three assists in a 59-56 loss to Texas A&M on Saturday in Stillwater. By MATT STRASEN, THE OKLAHOMAN
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Thank you for joining our conversations on NewsOK.com. We encourage your discussions but ask that you stay within the bounds of our terms and conditions. Please help us by reporting comments that violate these guidelines. To review our rules of engagement, go to Commenting and posting policy.
Leave a comment. Log in below or sign up (it's free).Editor's note: It is not our intent to offer comments on crime or fatality stories.
Why is Obi on the bench and the ice-cold Harris still starting?
Here’s all that kid did! He goes to class. He is respectful to the media! He’s respectful to the public! And he’s a good kid, and he’s not a professional athlete and he doesn’t deserve to be kicked when he’s down.
If you want to go after an athlete you go after one who doesn’t do the right things! You don’t bedowngrade him because he does everything right and may not play as well on Saturday! I hope someday you have a child and somebody downgrades them and belittles them and you have to look them in the eye and say, “You know what? It’s OK. They are supposed to be mature adults but they’re really not.” Who’s the kid here? Who’s the kid here? Are you kidding me? That’s all I’ve got to say. It makes me want to puke.