OSU Basketball: Cowboys Catching Kansas State at Right Time For Matchup
While Oklahoma State is in the middle of a very, very rough basketball season, they are soon to play in an opportunity that poses a big opportunity to pick up another Big 12 conference win.
Right now, the Cowboys are dead last in the conference with a 1-7 record in conference play. If they wanted to climb the standings, they would have to gain two games worth of ground on the teams ahead of them.
On Saturday, the Cowboys host Kansas State, who are on a three-game losing streak and their last game being a blowout game to the Oklahoma Sooners. In the game, the Sooners weren't incredibly impressive on the offensive side of the floor, but their defense was stout.
The last time these two teams played -- which each team has since played three games -- the Cowboys were in a prime position to steal an impressive win on the road. Evidently, Oklahoma State folded in the clutch, and the Wildcats ended up rallying late for the win.
Still, the Cowboys have shown this is a matchup they can compete in, and they now will have their road crowd behind them rather than playing in a tough environment in Manhattan.
While gaining any ground in the standings doesn't seem realistic this season, rallying together for some wins and building momentum as a program is what will be important over the next month. Oklahoma State head coach Mike Boynton could find himself in the hot seat if that doesn't happen.
So, while a win isn't make or break for a season that feels lost, Oklahoma State has a big, big opportunity to get back on the right side of the win column and continue to develop. For a team that's so young, finding development through the middle of the season is just as important as taking leaps year after year.
READ MORE: Bryce Thompson to Miss Significant Time with Torn Labrum
Want to join the discussion? Like All Pokes on Facebook and follow us on Twitter to stay up to date on all the latest Cowboys news. You can also meet the team behind the coverage.
Kade has been covering a wide variety of teams ranging from the NFL to the NBA and college athletics since joining Sports Illustrated's On SI in 2022