Cowboys 'Gotta Get Better' After Losing Four Straight to Start Conference Play
Mike Boynton and Oklahoma State know what they have to do to get over this hump at the start of conference play.
"We gotta get better," Boynton said. " We gotta keep working in order to get better."
After suffering a 90-66 blowout loss to Kansas on Tuesday, the Cowboys fall to 8-9 on the season, including an 0-4 start to conference play this season.
One of the main issues to this slow start in conference play is the inconsistency in the paint. The Cowboys have given up 46 points in the paint per game through the four conference games this season.
"Really all four games in the conference play, the points in the paint have been an issue," Boynton said. "Not only are we giving them up, but we're also not on the other end putting that same type of pressure on them.
"We try to make a more conscious effort to get BG (Brandon Garrison) involved, particularly early. It's a tall task."
One thing is for certain, the road isn't going to get much easier for Oklahoma State.
OSU's schedule is the 11th-toughest remaining schedule in the country, with battles against TCU, Houston, Kansas State and Oklahoma still to come this season.
The rankings prove just how good the Big 12 conference is as eight teams from the conference are ranked in the AP top 25 this week.
Top two. Not two. pic.twitter.com/wLNsLUmPow
— Big 12 Conference (@Big12Conference) January 15, 2024
"It's real," Boynton said. "The competition is better than anywhere else."
Despite the 0-4 start, Boynton's attitude will not change, and he will come in with the same mindset that he has his since being named head coach of Oklahoma State.
"What I try to do is just focus on making sure that I show up tomorrow and give everything I have," Boynton said. "Then also demand from everybody else that is in the program to do the exact same thing. Show up tomorrow and everything you have and are supposed to give, you bring it."
Boynton and the Cowboys will for win No. 1 in conference play on Saturday when it takes on Kansas State at 6:00 p.m. in Manhattan. The game will be streamed on ESPN+.
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Nick is a sports media student at Oklahoma State University, where he also minors Sports Managment. He has covered OSU softball for 107.7 The Franchise and also covers Oklahoma high school football for Enid News & Eagle.