Changing the culture
Built around a mantra of “Everyday Guys,” OSU coach Brad Underwood is promoting a culture of hard work, toughness and togetherness, intangibles he craves.
KANSAS CITY, MO. – Coaching changes can be hard on players, especially veterans.
And Oklahoma State players liked Travis Ford, who was fired last March. Still, the arrival of Brad
Underwood offered a fresh voice and a fresh start. And after several seasons of disappointing results and dwindling crowds, the Cowboys were motivated to rewrite their careers and accepted what Underwood had to offer.
“Guys came in willing to do whatever it took to fill this gym up again,” said senior Leyton Hammonds. “I think that was a thing that really kind of shook everything. Losses, playing in an empty gym, especially in an historically-filled gym. You don’t want to be remembered as the group of guys who played at OSU when nobody came to basketball games.
“That kind of shook everybody. We’ve got to walk around campus with our heads down because we’re not producing. I think that’s motivated everyone to buy in. Coach won everywhere else he went. If you need to listen to somebody, I guarantee you need to listen to him to learn how to win.”
Big 12 Tournament experience lacking for OSU
The Cowboys have played this season as one of the youngest and most inexperienced teams in the country, ranking No. 279 in experience.
To the point, OSU arrives at the Big 12 Tournament with just four active players with experience in the event. Only senior Phil Forte has played more than 60 minutes of Big 12 Tournament basketball. By comparison, Kansas’
Frank Mason III and Landen Lucas have as many career starts – six – as the entire Cowboys roster.
Iowa State, OSU’s opening-round opponent Thursday, features seven seniors, including four senior starters.
Can Cyclones’ outside attack be slowed?
Iowa State’s 750 made 3-pointers lead the Big 12 and Naz Long and Matt
Thomas rank first and third in the league in made 3s.
Not that the Cowboys need to be reminded.
The Cyclones fired in 25 of those in two games against OSU, including 15 last week in an 86-83 win in Ames.
So, what can the Cowboys do differently?
“About 10 or 11 of them were really well guarded,” Underwood said. “They make hard shots. We’ve got to do a little bit better job of closing out; we’ve got to be a little bit quicker. Got to have a hand up more consistently.
“They’re going to make shots; that’s what they do. They’ve done it against everybody all year long.”
Underwood isn’t so focused on preventing the 3s as he is other areas, including rebounding.
“We have to eliminate their offensive rebound when they do miss,” he said. “That’s what beat us in Ames. We had three straight stops, and they got three offensive rebounds that broke our back. “Otherwise, we’ve got a great opportunity to win that game.”