Times are not too fun with the Oklahoma State basketball team right now.

Freshman Marcus Smart came to campus in August full of promise and set on changing the culture that has overtaken the program, and he's done a great job in just about every area except for one - Winning on the road.

Smart and his Cowboys are 0-3 away from home this year when you don't count their wins in the Puerto Rico Tip Off, two of those losses coming in the ever-important conference play.

Saturday, it was more of the same as they fell to the Oklahoma Sooners 77-68 in Norman.

Markel Brown showed up for tipoff, scoring 19 points and adding 6 rebounds, but he was about the only one as the rest of the team seemed out of sorts while Smart was limited to 10 points due to foul trouble. The team had some noticeable nervous energy at the game's beginning, and lacked the focus they've shown earlier this season.

That doomed them, as once they snapped out of their trance, it was too late for much of a comeback.

The Cowboys are 2-3 in their last five games, and that is likely credited to the struggles of Le'Bryan Nash's performance.

Before that Tennessee Tech game, Nash was leading the team with 15.9 points per game, but since the tip on December 22nd, Nash has exactly 9 per contest, most of that being boosted by his 13 points against TCU and 10 points against Oklahoma.

Smart, Nash and the Cowboys have to regain focus if they want to compete in the Big 12 and have a shot at both a conference championship and an NCAA tournament bid.

They finished the first half of their schedule at 11-4, and 7 of their last 15 games are on the road.

Football

Coach Mike Gundy announced a few changes in the last week.

The biggest news was defensive coordinator Bill Young and the team parting ways, and former co-defensive coordinator and linebackers coach Glenn Spencer was promoted to take his place.

Spencer will continue to coach the linebackers, and Gundy announced today that Joe Bob Clements has been brought in to take care of the defensive lineman, a job Young did last season.

"Joe Bob Clements has a reputation as disciplined and hard-nosed coach," Gundy said in a press release. "He has good people skills and is a strong coach on the field and has a great reputation as a recruiter."

Outside of that, the Cowboys also hosted top-ranked receiver LaQuon Treadwell this weekend for his official visit.

Treadwell posted on Twitter afterwards to share his happiness with the overall visit.

Via his twitter, "Great visit in Stilly, had so much fun with a lot of great people. Really enjoyed my time... GoPokes!"

The receiver is scheduled to make his commitment this Thursday, and has narrowed his final three schools down to Ole Miss, Oklahoma State, and Oklahoma.

Wrestling

The second-ranked Cowboys scored a humongous win the over fourth-ranked Iowa Hawkeyes 18-12 today in Gallagher-Iba Arena after falling behind 12-3.

Chris Chionuma swung momentum after the outlook seemed a bit bleak for the Pokes, who trailed 12-9 at the time with three matches, including Chionuma's, remaining.
But the senior, who's ranked fifteenth in his weight class, scored an upset over tenth-ranked Ethen Lofthouse to tie the match, then junior Blake Rosholt and third-ranked heavyweight senior Alan Gelogaev brought home the win by winning the last two bouts.

"I've never wrestled in front of a crowd like this where so many people are watching you," Chionuma said. "I came from an NAIA school where we had 200 people in the stands, but to have the stadium packed and everybody watching you, I was really excited. I was nervous, but it was awesome to have. You have to be in that moment to even figure out what's going on."

The Cowboys move to 8-0 on the season, and will host West Virginia in Gallagher-Iba Arena on Friday at 7 p.m.


...More... To continue reading this article you must be a member. Sign Up Now for a FREE Trial