Game Preview: Oklahoma State Cowboys

Location: Stillwater, OK (Gallagher-Iba Arena)

Today at 3pm PST/6pm EST on ESPN2

 It’s New Years Eve, are you ready for Zag Basketball? Gonzaga travels to Stillwater, Oklahoma today to play the Oklahoma State Cowboys. In what has become an every other New Years tradition of sorts, the Zags will face an Oklahoma State team that has gone 180-4 in the non conference home games over the last 25 years. Granted, OK State usually does not play ranked teams at home, but this should not lessen the importance of the Zags being able to travel and replicate the success we have enjoyed in Spokane thus far.

The Zags look to continue their perfect run through the Big 12 conference already with a 4-0 record against the likes of West Virginia, Oklahoma, Kansas St., and Baylor. This might just be the biggest test yet, as Travis Ford has his Cowboys in prime position to challenge their rival Big 12 Juggernauts, the Kansas Jayhawks, for conference Supremacy. 

 Oklahoma St. is 10-1 on the season with a big win over then #6 NC St. by 20 points. Their lone loss of the year came at the hands of a wildly inconsistent Virginia Tech team that has since lost to Georgia Southern and WCC member BYU. The Virginia Tech loss is about the only thing currently standing between OK St. and the top 10. 

2012-2013 Non-Conference Recap:

Record: 10-1

Rankings:

AP Poll: 22

Coaches Poll: 22

KenPom.Com: 17

2013 Bracketology: #6 Seed

Key Players:

      LeBryan Nash: Nash was the #6 player in the Rivals.com top 150 for 2011. He is a supremely talented wing from Dallas, TX who has an NBA body and game. He figures to be a future pro and will provide a difficult challenge for the Zags. Nash currently averages almost 15 points a game, and 4.7 boards. He had a big game against NC St. scoring 23 points and grabbing 8 rebounds. He has a tendency of being a good passer but struggles shooting from the perimeter currently residing at 25%. 

      Marcus Smart.  Smart was the #10 player in the Rivals.com top 150 for 2012. Yet another talented player who hails from the Dallas suburb of Flower Mound, TX. Smart is a stout 6-4 225 and knows how to use his body to his advantage. Coach Few had a chance to coach him at the U-18 championships this past summer and got a chance to see firsthand his leadership abilities and skills. Marcus is a special player and has the skills necessary to succeed at the next level. His stats show his versatility, he currently averages 12.5 points, 6.4 rebounds, and 5.1 assists per game. Like Nash, he struggles from the perimeter shooting just 27.5% from three. 

Markel Brown.  Brown was the #137 player in the Rivals.com class of 2010. He has become a leader and exceeded many expectations. Hes a small guard who plays like a wing sitting at 6-3, 190 on a good day. He currently averages 14 Points, and 4.6 rebounds per game. He is fair from the perimeter shooting roughly 33.3% from three. 

Expectations:

 This is a very talented, albeit young, Oklahoma St. team led by a young up and coming coach in Travis Ford who has risen through the ranks at a meteoric pace. He recruits top notch talent to Stillwater and continues a long tradition of good basketball in the state of Oklahoma. This is his best team yet and has a chance to challenge for the Big 12 crown. Expect an athletic team who is superior to the Zags in speed, quickness, and overall physical ability. Expect a team that has the talent to dispatch the Zags in convincing fashion, but may struggle with the depth and experience of the Bulldogs. 

 I expect this game to be close down to the final seconds. Our frontcourt depth, if used correctly, could force the young Cowboys into foul trouble and create enough of a gap to allow the Zags to win by a few. Expect the Zags to look for Elias Harris and Kelly Olynyk early and often to establish a rugged style of play that should wear down the softer interior of the Cowboys. Final Score: Gonzaga 71 Oklahoma St. 67. As always, GO ZAGS!