Three things to know about Oklahoma State basketball

Already having reached the 10-win mark and pulled one upset over a top-25 team in Florida State, Oklahoma State wants to keep its nonconference momentum going into Big 12 play. Here are three things to know about the Cowboys entering Wednesday’s Bedlam showdown in Norman:

Surprised?

The Cowboys hung close with No. 7 West Virginia in the Big 12 opener last week, losing 85-79. They played then-No. 6 Wichita State within single digits in early December, too. After the season began with suspensions and an FBI investigation, the Cowboys have surprised some people. First-year coach Mike Boynton isn’t one of them, however.

“I’m biased,” he said after the West Virginia loss. “I think the team’s a lot better than everybody else does. I’m not surprised. I think everybody’s surprised that we don’t look horrible. I think that’s kinda what everybody’s waiting — why does this team not suck? I don’t buy into that. I think we’re pretty good.”

Carroll finding his groove

Jeffrey Carroll’s season began with a three-game suspension, and he came off the bench in the next six. He had a season-low three points in 17 minutes against Wichita State, and the next time out, Boynton inserted the preseason All-Big 12 selection into the starting lineup.

The 6-foot-6 swingman has responded 19.0 points and 6.8 rebounds per game, while shooting 40.7 percent from 3-point range as a starter. His two biggest scoring games of the year have come away from home, with 29 against Pittsburgh in New York and 23 against Florida State in Sunrise, Florida.

He had 23 points, including four 3s, in last February’s home win over OU as the Cowboys swept the season series.

Solid Solomon

Boynton calls him the team’s MVP, but it’s not because Mitchell Solomon is going to score 30 a night. It’s because of all the grit work the 6-foot-9 senior from Bixby does.

His 3.3 offensive rebounds per game is tops in the Big 12, and his putback against Florida State was the game-winner.

He takes charges, blocks shots and never slows down. Solomon is averaging 8.8 points and 6.8 rebounds. He had 12 points and 11 boards against Florida State for his first career double double.