OSU Basketball: How Oklahoma State Can Play Spoiler to End the Regular Season
Oklahoma State might not make the big dance, but it still has plenty to play for.
The Cowboys, 12-17, have only two games left in their regular season slate. Like most of their Big 12 matchups, these games will come against tough competition.
Although these games do not necessarily mean much for OSU, the team can be a significant nuisance for its conference rivals. Despite what a 4-12 conference record might say, OSU has come a long way since its first matchup with Texas Tech.
The Cowboys will face the Red Raiders for senior night on Tuesday at Gallagher-Iba Arena. The Red Raiders cruised to a 17-point win in Lubbock in the first meeting.
In that game, OSU gave up 90 points, the most it has allowed this season. It was also the second game of a six-game losing streak to open conference play.
Although OSU is on a three-game losing streak, it has been playing some of its best basketball all season in recent games. That can make a trip to Stillwater scary for Texas Tech, which is fighting for seeding in the NCAA Tournament.
Raw wins and losses are important for the Red Raiders, but their outcome in Stillwater could heavily impact their Big 12 Tournament position. With a three-way tie from 4-6 in the standings, every game is paramount.
Considering the new bracket with 14 teams this season, getting the fourth seed is a major incentive, as the top four seeds do not have to play until the quarterfinals on the third day of the tournament. Texas Tech is in the three-way tie at 9-7 in conference with Kansas and BYU.
Although BYU has solidified itself more than Texas Tech, any losses in the final weeks could be crushing. When OSU heads to Provo for the teams’ second matchup on Saturday, BYU will look to overcome what troubled it in the first game in Stillwater.
The Cowboys upset the Cougars in mid-February in their only win against a ranked opponent. In that game, the Cowboys shot nearly 60% from the floor and 50% from beyond the arc in a 93-point performance.
Scoring at home can often be easier, but if OSU can replicate its shooting performance in the regular season finale, the team could get its only two-game series sweep.
In a disappointing season with no postseason hopes, OSU could easily have given in and stopped playing hard. Yet, with two games left in the regular season, OSU still has an opportunity to play a significant role in who wins the Big 12.
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Ivan is a sports media student at Oklahoma State University. He has covered OSU athletics since 2022 and also covers the OKC Thunder for Inside The Thunder and Thunderous Intentions.