No. 1 Baylor Upset by Unranked Oklahoma State for 2nd Straight Loss in Big 12 Action
Jan 16, 2022
WACO, TX - JANUARY 15: Bryce Thompson #1 of the Oklahoma State Cowboys goes up for a break away slam dunk as LJ Cryer #4 of the Baylor Bears looks on in the first half at the Ferrell Center on January 15, 2022 in Waco, Texas. (Photo by Ron Jenkins/Getty Images)
For the second time in the past five days, the No. 1 Baylor Bears men's basketball team has lost.
Oklahoma State stunned the defending champions on Saturday 61-54 at the Ferrell Center in Waco, Texas, behind strong performances from Bryce Thompson (19 points) and Bryce Williams (nine points, six assists).
That spoiled big evenings from LJ Cryer (18 points) and Matthew Mayer (16 points, five rebounds). And it likely put an end to Baylor's spot atop the rankings, which it has held for the past five weeks after starting the season with 15 straight wins.
But No. 19 Texas Tech put an end to the streak with Tuesday's 65-62 win over the Bears. And then Oklahoma State shockingly handed Baylor its second straight loss at home and the first two-game losing streak for the school since the 2018-19 season.
It didn't come easy. Despite leading by as many as 18 points in the first half and by as many as 14 points in the second half, the Cowboys saw the Bears cut the deficit to just one with a minute and 20 seconds remaining.
But Baylor couldn't get any closer, with multiple turnovers down the stretch. Oklahoma State hit its free throws and left Waco with the win.
When it came to being upset, Baylor was at least in good company on Saturday:
It’s been a wild Saturday (and we’re still not done).
No. 1 Baylor loses at home to unranked Oklahoma State. No. 10 Michigan State loses at home to unranked Northwestern. No. 12 LSU loses at home to unranked Arkansas (minus Muss).
But Oklahoma State is quite the story in its own right.
The school is banned from postseason play this season following former associate head coach Lamont Evans pleading guilty in January 2019 to a charge of conspiring to commit bribery after accepting over $22,000 in bribes for steering players to financial and business advisors. Other penalties include a reduced number of scholarships, recruiting restrictions and a three-year probationary period.
That was part of a larger FBI investigation into corruption in college basketball.
Oklahoma State appealed the punishment and participated in postseason play last year while the appeal was pending, though it was ultimately denied and the punishments were upheld.
Those circumstances could have easily left these Cowboys feeling ambivalent about the 2021-22 season. But despite some struggles this season, they've continued to fight.
Baylor goes from 21 straight wins to back-to-back home losses. Frankly, it’s stunning.
Oklahoma State was 8-7 coming into today and playing its third game in six days.
It’s the first time Scott Drew’s program has taken consecutive Ls at home since February 2014.
Those Oklahoma State boys are still fighting for Mike Boynton, those fans and their school after everything that was taken from them. You gotta admire that.
On Saturday, they took that fight to the top team in the nation and left with arguably the biggest upset of the men's college basketball season.
NCAA Staff Received 'Threatening' Messages After Comments From Oklahoma State
Nov 11, 2021
HARTFORD, CT - MARCH 21: A general view of the NCAA logo during the first round of March Madness on March 21, 2019, at XL Center in Hartford, CT. (Photo by M. Anthony Nesmith/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
The NCAA announced Thursday its staff received "threatening and offensive messages after being identified by name" by Oklahoma State personnel after the organization handed the school a one-year postseason ban in the 2021-22 season for recruiting violations.
Oklahoma State's appeal against the ban was dismissed last week.
The NCAA's statement read, in part:
Oklahoma State personnel encouraged individuals to circumvent the NCAA member-created process that every school agrees to participate in as part of their responsibility to each other. Further, there is a troubling trend of misstating facts about the infractions process by schools that disagree with the infractions outcomes. Each member has the ability to seek change to the Division I infractions process, and there is a review group underway looking at how to improve the process.
Oklahoma State was given the postseason ban after former assistant coach Lamont Evans pleaded guilty to bribery conspiracy for accepting money and gifts in exchange for steering college basketball players toward a marketing agency being started by Christian Dawkins.
Evans was sentenced to three months in prison.
According to Matt Norlander of CBS Sports, Evans did not participate in the NCAA's investigation, which reportedly was "a factor" in the school's punishment.
He added: "Everything else the NCAA acted upon was based off of what was provided in federal court. Oklahoma State is being punished for lack of cooperation (strictly from Evans) and unethical conduct, plus the fact Evans accepted dirty money."
Alongside the postseason ban, Oklahoma State was hit with a three-year probationary period, the loss of three scholarships per year for an undisclosed period of time and other recruiting sanctions.
"We are profoundly disappointed for our student-athletes, none of whom were here at the time of this case," OSU athletic director Chad Weiberg said in a statement last week. "This is an unprecedented decision by the NCAA. There are other strikingly similar cases that did not include postseason bans and had only minor penalties. We had a rogue employee carrying out actions that benefited him alone and he went to great lengths to assure his actions were undetectable. He was terminated when we learned of his actions."
Men's head basketball coach Mike Boynton added that the punishment was "incredibly unjust and unfair" and called the postseason ban for his players "the greatest disappointment in my career as a head coach."
Oklahoma State MBB Reportedly Banned from 2022 March Madness After FBI Probe
Nov 3, 2021
DURHAM, NC - MARCH 26: A view of the NCAA logo prior to a game between the Oklahoma State Cowgirls and the Duke Blue Devils during the second round of the 2013 NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament at Cameron Indoor Stadium on March 26, 2013 in Durham, North Carolina. Duke defeated Oklahoma State 68-59. (Photo by Lance King/Getty Images)
The Oklahoma State men's basketball
team will reportedly be banned from postseason play during the
2021-22 season after the NCAA denied the program's appeal related to
infractions from the FBI's 2017 investigation into corruption within
college basketball.
CBS Sports' Matt Norlander reported the
news Wednesday, six days before the Cowboys are scheduled to open the
new campaign by hosting UT Arlington.
In September 2017, the FBI arrested 10
people, including former OSU assistant coach Lamont Evans, after
detailing what it called the "dark underbelly of college basketball" that included fraud and corruption, per CNN's Shachar Peled.
"The picture painted by the
charges brought today is not a pretty one," prosecutor Joon Kim
said at the time. "Coaches at some of the nation's top programs
soliciting and accepting cash bribes. Managers and financial advisers
circling blue chip prospects like coyotes. And employees of one of
the world's largest sportswear companies secretly funneling cash to
the families of high school recruits."
In June 2019, Evans was sentenced to
three months in jail, a $22,000 fine and 100 hours of community
service after he pleaded guilty to bribery conspiracy. Prosecutors
had sought a minimum of 18 months in prison.
"In hindsight and upon reflection,
I knew that it was wrong," Evans said at the sentencing.
The NCAA handed down the postseason
ban, along with a reduction in scholarships, in June 2020.
Oklahoma State appealed the ruling,
with athletic director Mike Holder saying it was an unfair punishment
since the NCAA's findings suggested Evans acted alone to cause the
infractions, per Frank Bonner II for the Tulsa World.
"I find it almost impossible to
reconcile the severe penalties imposed by the NCAA for the violations
that were detailed in today's report," Holder said. "The NCAA
agreed that Lamont Evans acted alone and for his own benefit. The
NCAA also agreed that OSU did not benefit in recruiting, commit a
recruiting violation, did not play an ineligible player and did not
display a lack of institutional control."
The Cowboys played the 2020-21 season
without restriction during the appeals process, posting a 21-9 record
and reaching the second round of the NCAA tournament, but they will now
sit out the 2022 men's edition of March Madness.
Oklahoma State ranked just outside the
Top 25 in both the Associated Press and USA Today Coaches
preseason polls. The Cowboys had a strong chance to earn another
tournament bid before the ban was upheld.
5-Star SG Shaedon Sharpe Narrows Top-5 List, Includes G League Ignite and Kentucky
Aug 8, 2021
Elite 2022 men's basketball prospect Shaedon Sharpe has narrowed his options to Arizona, Kansas, Kentucky, Oklahoma State and the G League Ignite, according to Jonathan Givony of ESPN.
The 5-star prospect is rated the No. 6 overall player in the class, per 247Sports.
Sharpe has official visits planned for Kansas, Arizona and Oklahoma State and could decide shortly after his final visit in September.
"I'm 100 percent open to all options right now," the guard said. "I want to see what all of them have to offer. I need to learn more about the G League in terms of what their offer is and which other players will be on the team to decide whether that's something I want to do."
Sharpe has already taken a visit to Kentucky, which is his predicted choice by 100 percent of 247Sports' crystal ball contributors, but he clarified the Wildcats aren't currently the leader.
"People have been penciling me in with Kentucky, and I'm honestly not sure where that's coming from," he said, per Givony. "Maybe it's because Shai Gilgeous-Alexander went there from Uplay and was one and done. ... No one really knows anything about my situation besides my family and [director of Uplay Canada, Dwayne Washington]."
Kentucky has produced its fair share of one-and-done talent under head coach John Calipari, although Oklahoma State has some impressive recent pedigree after Cade Cunningham was selected first overall in the 2021 NBA draft as a one-and-done.
The G League Ignite also developed top talent in its first year, including Jalen Green (No. 2 overall pick), Jonathan Kuminga (No. 7) and Isaiah Todd (No. 31).
The 6'4" Sharpe will likely make a move to the NBA before too long regardless of where he goes after high school. The guard has rocketed up rankings after an impressive performance at the Nike Elite Youth Basketball League, averaging 22.6 points across 12 games.
Former 5-Star C Prospect Moussa Cisse Transfers to Oklahoma State over Kentucky, More
Jul 15, 2021
CHICAGO, IL - JUNE 21: G League Prospect, Moussa Cisse dunks the ball during the 2021 NBA G League Elite Camp on June 21, 2021 at the Wintrust Arena in Chicago, Illinois. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2021 NBAE (Photo by Randy Belice/NBAE via Getty Images)
Three months after entering the transfer portal, Moussa Cisse will continue his college basketball career at Oklahoma State.
Cisse told ESPN's Jonathan Givony on Thursday he was impressed by what the Cowboys coaching staff did last season with Cade Cunningham:
I had to decide whether to go to the NBA or college. I watched a lot of film and saw the way they developed players. That was attractive to me. Coach Mike Boynton has been talking to me for a while now, trying hard. I can tell that he really likes me, and he can give me a chance to develop my game and take it to the next level.
Coming out of high school in 2020, Cisse was rated as a 5-star prospect and the No. 10 player in the nation by 247Sports' composite rankings.
Cisse told Givony he picked Oklahoma State over Florida State, Georgia and Kentucky.
Cisse committed to the University of Memphis in July 2020 after being impressed by head coach Anfernee Hardaway.
Cade Cunningham Officially Declares for 2021 NBA Draft; Possible No. 1 Pick
Apr 1, 2021
Oklahoma State guard Cade Cunningham (2) brings the ball up the court during the second half of the NCAA college basketball game against Iowa State in Stillwater, Okla., Tuesday, Feb. 16, 2021. (AP Photo/Mitch Alcala)
Oklahoma State star Cade Cunningham declared for the 2021 NBA draft at a press conference Thursday.
The move was widely expected since the 19-year-old has been pegged as one of the top talents eligible for this year's draft, and the hype began well before he suited up for the Cowboys.
The Arlington, Texas, native was the No. 1 player in the 2020 recruiting class, per 247Sports' composite rankings. He also spent his final two years of high school at Montverde Academy, which has become a prep powerhouse.
Cunningham averaged 20.1 points, 6.2 rebounds and 3.5 assists in 27 games for Oklahoma State. He shot 43.8 percent from the field and 40.0 percent from beyond the arc.
His standout performance came in a 94-90 overtime upset of No. 7 Oklahoma. He shot 12-of-21 for 40 points and added 11 rebounds for a double-double.
The 6'8" guard did nothing in his one year at Oklahoma State to dispel the notion he should be the first player off the board.
ESPN's Mike Schmitz compared Cunningham to Dallas Mavericks star Luka Doncic. While the players don't have similar resumes entering the NBA, Schmitz argued the concerns about Cunningham's athleticism and playmaking ability mirrored some of the discourse around the Slovenian.
Doncic has silenced his skeptics, making two All-Star Games and playing at an MVP level.
Cunningham said he has watched the Mavs guard to learn.
"Speed, athleticism is definitely a great quality to have, but Luka just knows how to play the game," he told Schmitz. "He knows how to get you leaning one way, give you a move and get to his spots. Somebody that's tougher to guard than someone that's super athletic."
Cunningham has scoring potential, and he has been an efficient shooter. His assist numbers would look better with a stronger supporting cast too.
His frame suits the modern game. He can present matchup problems at the point or operate off the ball on the wing to positive effect.
Going into the 2020 draft, much of the conversation revolved around the lack of elite talent at the top of the board. Winning the draft lottery didn't carry the same excitement as other years, and Georgia guard Anthony Edwards went first overall to the Minnesota Timberwolves.
This time around, fans of whichever team gets the No. 1 pick will be doing cartwheels with the expectation Cunningham is on his way.
Cade Cunningham, No. 4 Oklahoma State Hold off No. 13 Liberty in NCAA Tournament
Mar 19, 2021
Oklahoma State forward Matthew-Alexander Moncrieffe (12) blocks the shot of Liberty's Chris Parker during the first half of a first round NCAA college basketball game Friday, March 19, 2021, at the Indiana Farmers Coliseum in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)
The Oklahoma State Cowboys are winners in the Big Dance for the first time in 12 years.
No. 4 Oklahoma State defeated the No. 13 Liberty Flames 69-60 in Friday's first-round showdown of the 2021 NCAA men's tournament at Indiana Farmers Coliseum in Indianapolis. Avery Anderson III led the way in the Midwest Region for the victors, who won their first NCAA tournament game since the 2008-09 season.
Cade Cunningham struggled throughout at 3-of-14from the field and 2-of-8from deep, but Oklahoma State's team defense was too much for Liberty.
A solid showing from Elijah Cuffee was not enough for the Flames, who were unable to pull off the first-round upset like they did in 2019 against Mississippi State.
Avery Anderson III, Strong Defense Help OSU Survive Cunningham's Struggles
The national narrative around Oklahoma State starts with Cunningham, and for good reason.
The Big 12 Player and Freshman of the Yeartold reportershe wants to have a "Melo-type" run in the NCAA tournament, much like Carmelo Anthony did when he led Syracuse to the national title as a freshman in 2003.
His postseason journey started with what figured to be a favorable matchup against a defense that was 170th in KenPom'srankingsthis season, but that wasn't the case out of the gate. He missed all five of his shots from the field and turned it over three times as the Cowboys slogged their way through the first half.
Fortunately for the Big 12 representative, Anderson III came to the rescue by taking defenders off the dribble, extending his game to the outside, battling for boards and anchoring the perimeter defense to keep the team within striking distance during Cunningham's struggles.
While it seemed like a matter of time before Cunningham, who was far more effective in the second half, broke through, Oklahoma State also started to take control by dialing up the full-court pressure and picking up the tempo.
The Cowboys missed multiple opportunities to pull away as they misfired from deep (3-of-15, 20.0 percent), but their efforts on the defensive side, 13 offensive rebounds and overall advantage while putting more pressure on Liberty's ball-handlers made the difference.
Perhaps the best news for the Cowboys is the fact that they survived and advanced with Cunningham playing poorly by his standards and the three-point shots not falling. Both of those things figure to change, which could mean a deep run.
Turnovers Too Much for Liberty to Overcome
Liberty was not about to be intimidated by a big-conference school.
After all, it faced Purdue, Mississippi State, South Carolina, TCU and Missouri during the regular season, defeating the Bulldogs and Gamecocks. It looked up to the bracket-busting task against another notable program in the early going Friday and took a three-point lead into intermission.
Blake Preston established position down low and scored on the blocks, Darius McGhee found his stroke from outside, and the entire Flames defense swarmed Cunningham whenever he tried to create and prevented the star from taking over.
Despite that effort and Cuffee hitting from deep, the Flames lost their lead in the second half because of an inability to take care of the ball.
They struggled to handle the Cowboys' overall athleticism against the full-court press and finished with 18 turnovers. Liberty failed to string together consistent offensive possessions, and an inability to protect the ball in key moments helped create transition opportunities for Oklahoma State.
Cuffee did what he could to keep it close, and future Cowboys opponents will likely study the Flames' defensive strategy against Cunningham.
Still, the turnovers ended any upset chances.
What's Next?
The Cowboys will face the 12th-seeded Oregon State Beavers in Sunday's second-round clash after the Pac-12 representative upset the fifth-seeded Tennessee Volunteers.
Cade Cunningham Says He Models Game After LeBron James, Luka, Paul George
Mar 17, 2021
Oklahoma State guard Cade Cunningham (2)points during an NCAA college basketball game Monday, March. 1, 2021, in Stillwater, Okla. (AP Photo/Brody Schmidt)
Oklahoma State guard Cade Cunningham, one of the top prospects in the 2021 NBA draft class, said Wednesday he tries to learn from a multitude of different players.
Cunningham, who's 6'8'', told Sam Vecenie of The Athletic he likes to study taller players who are often tasked with running an offense.
"I watch plenty of LeBron [James], but I wouldn't say there's one particular guy that I really lock in on," he said. "I try to take a bunch of different things from a bunch of different guys. Khris Middleton, Paul George, LeBron, Luka [Doncic], all the big guards. Not even big guards, but big shot creators and playmakers who can get to a shot when they need to."
Cunningham has enjoyed a terrific freshman season with the Cowboys. He's averaged 20.2 points, 6.3 rebounds, 3.6 assists, 2.2 threes and 1.4 steals across 25 appearances. He's shooting 45.4 percent from the floor, including an impressive 41.2 percent from beyond the arc.
The 19-year-old Texas native was challenged down the stretch of the regular season and in the Big 12 conference tournament as OSU played eight straight games against ranked opponents. He played in seven of those contests, averaging 24.3 points and scoring 40 in an overtime win over rival Oklahoma.
He also shined in the Big Ten title game with 29 points in Oklahoma State's loss to Texas.
The Cowboys received a No. 4 seed in the NCAA tournament, and they'll open March Madness on Friday with a clash against 13th-seeded Liberty.
Cunningham's performance during the Big Dance likely won't have much impact on his NBA stock, though he could solidify himself as the presumptive No. 1 selection with a dominant showing in the coming weeks.
The 2020 McDonald's All-American, who arrived at OSU as a5-star prospectand the No. 1 overall recruit, told Vecenie he doesn't place himself in a specific positional category as he prepares for the next level.
"I think I'm just a basketball player who is good with the ball in his hands," Cunningham said. "I don't know what position you want to call it, but I think I'm at my best when I'm making plays. I think that's how I'll translate to the NBA."
Cunningham is well on his way to proving himself as the total package—a player who can score on the wing or run the offense from the point while being able to defend all five positions.
If his development continues at its current trajectory, he could be a few years away from counting himself alongside the likes of James and Doncic as the league's best all-around players.
Why You Were Meant to Root for Oklahoma State
Mar 14, 2021
Oklahoma State guard Avery Anderson III, center, celebrates after defeating West Virginia in an NCAA college basketball game Saturday, March 6, 2021, in Morgantown, W.Va. (AP Photo/Kathleen Batten)
If you want to see a future star shine, saddle up and hop on the Oklahoma State bandwagon.
Oklahoma State's Tourney History
To say the Cowboys are hungry for a championship is an understatement. Oklahoma State captured its only national titles in 1945 and 1946, back when the field consisted of just eight participants.
Now in the Big 12, OSU last made the Final Four in 2004. While the Cowboys have since made the tournament seven times, they last advanced past the opening stage in 2009. Despite receiving a one-year postseason ban last June for infractions by former assistant Lamont Evans, they're eligible while appealing the decision.
Buoyed by a burgeoning superstar, this squad is expected to make lots of noise.
This Year's Best Player
Cade Cunningham is the runaway favorite to become the No. 1 pick of this year's NBA draft. He recently joined Marcus Smart, Michael Beasley and Kevin Durant as the only freshmen to win Big 12 Player of the Year and Freshman of the Year in the same campaign.
NBA fans scouting incoming rookies will want Oklahoma State to survive as long as possible to get more looks at Cunningham. The 6'8", 220-pound guard has the physicality to defend multiple positions and the court vision to steer this uptempo offense.
He'll have help, particularly from backcourt-mate Isaac Likekele, but the Cowboys will go as far as Cunningham takes them.
Why They're Going to Win
Although its track record contains plenty of blemishes against Big 12 foes, Oklahoma State also collected a handful of impressive victories over steep competition. The Cowboys closed the regular season by defeating West Virginia on the road without Cunningham and Likekele.
They also have a flair for the dramatic, pulling out four overtime victories against ranked opponents. This is a fun, dangerous team capable of advancing deep into the March Madness bracket.
