SIU heads to Stillwater to take on the Cowboys looking to start the year 2-0.
The Cowboys are coached by Mike Boynton, in his 6th season taking over for Brad Underwood who left after 1 season. Boynton made the NCAA Tournament in 2020-21 with top prospect and the #1 pick in the NBA Draft Cade Cunningham and made the 2nd round. Last season the Cowboys went 15-15 and were ineligible for the Tournament.
Meet the Cowboys:
Oklahoma State is ranked #34 on KenPom. The Cowboys were picked 5th in the Big 12 by the media in the preseason tied with Texas Tech and behind Baylor, Kansas, Texas, and TCU. The Cowboys were a great defensive team last season finishing 4th in the nation in KenPom's adjusted defensive efficiency metric but they struggled a bunch on offense finishing 161st in the nation in offensive efficiency.
The Cowboys are led by 6'3 Senior Avery Anderson III. Anderson was a four-star recruit out of Justin, TX and chose Oklahoma State over Florida, LSU, SMU, TCU, Texas Tech, and Texas A&M. Last season, Anderson led the Cowboys in scoring with 12.1 points per game and led the team in steals with 1.8 steals per game. Anderson's 3.6% steal percentage was good for 83rd in the country last season. Before this season, Anderson was named to the All-Big 12 team. In their first game against UT Arlington, Anderson scored 7 points and led the team in rebounds with 7.
7'1 Junior Moussa Cisse was a 5-star recruit out of Memphis, TN and chose Memphis over offers from Florida State, UConn, and Alabama. Cisse was ranked as the 10th overall prospect in the 2020 recruiting class. Cisse spent one season at Memphis and averaged 6.6 points per game and 6.3 rebounds per game before transferring to Oklahoma State for his Sophomore season. Last season, Cisse was 20th in the country in block % (11.1%) and 17th in the country in offensive rebounding % (15.2%). Cisse battled injuries last season but ended the year averaging 10.1 points per game, 10.0 rebounds per game, and 2.6 blocks per game over his final seven games.
The other reason Oklahoma State was such a dominant defensive team last year in addition to Cisse was 6'9 Senior Kalib Boone. Boone was a three star recruit out of Tulsa, Oklahoma and chose Oklahoma State over offers from Oral Roberts and Tulsa. Boone fought injuries last year but ended up finishing 2nd in the Big 12 in blocks.
The Cowboys' big transfer addition this offseason was 6'1 Senior John-Michael Wright from High Point. Wright spent 3 years at High Point and was named to the All-Big South First Team 2 of those seasons. In 2020-21, Wright averaged 20.7 points per game and then followed it up averaging 18.4 points per game in 2021-22. In the Cowboys' first game this season against UT Arlington, Wright scored 14 points.
Links:
The SIU offense showed its depth during their home opener against Little Rock. I think there is a lot of uncertainty regarding lineups and rotations with as much depth as they have this year. SIU is going to have to continue to limit the turnovers and win the rebounds if they are going to want to beat Oklahoma State. I think most of us were a bit surprised by BM's starting lineup on Monday night and I'm curious how it may change Thursday night. SIU shot really well Monday night but they have to continue to limit the turnovers if they want to beat a bigger team. I must say I'm really happy with Ebube's and Rupert's performances on Monday night. While we're only one game in, it was refreshing to see the big guys making their free throws.
The report I heard on Muila is a back injury, and those tend to be lingering injuries. Ebube on play 8 minutes against Little Rock, but fouled out. We sure could use Muila’s size and strength in the middle, especially in this game. Speaking of rebounds, Ebube had 6 of them in that 8 minutes!
The advancement and diffusion of knowledge is the only guardian of true liberty.
James Madison
The report I heard on Muila is a back injury, and those tend to be lingering injuries. Ebube on play 8 minutes against Little Rock, but fouled out. We sure could use Muila’s size and strength in the middle, especially in this game. Speaking of rebounds, Ebube had 6 of them in that 8 minutes!
With Hornecker seemingly redshirting and Muila out, they’ve went from the 5 spot being really crowded to some potential depth issues there, especially with Ebube likely being pretty foul-prone in the early stages of his career. Not sure if they’ll be able to get away with much small ball against a big, athletic team like Oklahoma St.
@siudawgs This may be an unpopular opinion, but from what I saw from Ebube's first 8 minutes, I believe Ebube is going to be better than Muila. Looking back to last season, both Muila and Filewich were horrible free-throw shooters. Ebube was 3-4 from the line in his first game. Not to mention Ebube is the biggest guy up front. Muila is 6-8, 240 pounds while Ebube is 6-10, 265 pounds. Ebube will definitely have to watch his fouls, but at least he's shown some physicality in his first game. The game will likely come down to who can make those free throws they've been gifted and who turns over the ball the fewest. If this is the case, then I want Ebube starting over Muila anyway.
@siudawgs This may be an unpopular opinion, but from what I saw from Ebube's first 8 minutes, I believe Ebube is going to be better than Muila. Looking back to last season, both Muila and Filewich were horrible free-throw shooters. Ebube was 3-4 from the line in his first game. Not to mention Ebube is the biggest guy up front. Muila is 6-8, 240 pounds while Ebube is 6-10, 265 pounds. Ebube will definitely have to watch his fouls, but at least he's shown some physicality in his first game. The game will likely come down to who can make those free throws they've been gifted and who turns over the ball the fewest. If this is the case, then I want Ebube starting over Muila anyway.
1. Not an unpopular opinion. Ebube has major upside.
2. But don’t expect him to finish the season 75 percent from the line. He banked one of those bad boys in. 😀
I haven't seen any official word on Hornecker's status. I still expect him to play this season and if Muila is injured, maybe he will see some minutes in these next few games.
@siudawgs This may be an unpopular opinion, but from what I saw from Ebube's first 8 minutes, I believe Ebube is going to be better than Muila. Looking back to last season, both Muila and Filewich were horrible free-throw shooters. Ebube was 3-4 from the line in his first game. Not to mention Ebube is the biggest guy up front. Muila is 6-8, 240 pounds while Ebube is 6-10, 265 pounds. Ebube will definitely have to watch his fouls, but at least he's shown some physicality in his first game. The game will likely come down to who can make those free throws they've been gifted and who turns over the ball the fewest. If this is the case, then I want Ebube starting over Muila anyway.
1. Not an unpopular opinion. Ebube has major upside.
2. But don’t expect him to finish the season 75 percent from the line. He banked one of those bad boys in. 😀
Still would beat Muila in 21, easily! LOL
SE will be a better rebounder and a better scorer, and Rupert is better than both. Don't see Muila playing much.
KenPom has projected score of 64-73, having the Dawgs lose by less than double digits. I'm disappointed that UT Arlington gave them a scare because you just know they are going to be ready for this game. I think the Salukis will either win/lose by 6, or lose by 15. Not having JD for another body/fouls could hurt them against a bigger team. Limiting our turnovers will be key and we also have to make our FT's, especially from the G position.
KenPom has projected score of 64-73, having the Dawgs lose by less than double digits. I'm disappointed that UT Arlington gave them a scare because you just know they are going to be ready for this game. I think the Salukis will either win/lose by 6, or lose by 15. Not having JD for another body/fouls could hurt them against a bigger team. Limiting our turnovers will be key and we also have to make our FT's, especially from the G position.
Yeah I think a lot of people are writing off JD but this is a game where he would be really useful. If Ebube gets in foul trouble, SIU is looking really thin in the frontcourt. Rupert’s been in this spot before though guarding talented bigs.
As of TODAY, not projecting years down, I am more excited about Rupert, in part due to his versatility being able to play the 4 or 5.
I imagine Rupert has been a big intangibles / mental confidence boost to the team since he's not only played in March Madness, but has played deep and done well like SalukiWorld mentioned. I bet this team will make this a game; would be surprised if we lose by more than 5-10 points.
And if we walk out with a win, Barkeep may need to lease one or two more web servers to keep up with the traffic boost to this site.
I imagine Rupert has been a big intangibles / mental confidence boost to the team since he's not only played in March Madness, but has played deep and done well like SalukiWorld mentioned. I bet this team will make this a game; would be surprised if we lose by more than 5-10 points.
And if we walk out with a win, Barkeep may need to lease one or two more web servers to keep up with the traffic boost to this site.
ok deal 😊
