Busting Brackets
Fansided

Big 12 Basketball: Kansas State, Texas Tech leads before conference tournament

By Jason Kinander

AMES, IA - MARCH 9: Texas Tech Red Raiders Tariq Owens #11, Davide Moretti #25, Deshawn Corprew #3, Kyler Edwards #0 run off the court after defeating the Iowa State Cyclones 80-73 in the second half of play at Hilton Coliseum on March 9, 2019 in Ames, Iowa. The Texas Tech Red Raiders won 80-73 over the Iowa State Cyclones. (Photo by David Purdy/Getty Images)
AMES, IA - MARCH 9: Texas Tech Red Raiders Tariq Owens #11, Davide Moretti #25, Deshawn Corprew #3, Kyler Edwards #0 run off the court after defeating the Iowa State Cyclones 80-73 in the second half of play at Hilton Coliseum on March 9, 2019 in Ames, Iowa. The Texas Tech Red Raiders won 80-73 over the Iowa State Cyclones. (Photo by David Purdy/Getty Images) /
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LUBBOCK, TX – FEBRUARY 27: Lindy Waters III #21 of the Oklahoma State Cowboys makes a three point basket over Tariq Owens #11 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders at the buzzer to send the game into overtime on February 27, 2019 at United Supermarkets Arena in Lubbock, Texas. Texas Tech defeated Oklahoma State 84-80 in overtime. (Photo by John Weast/Getty Images)
LUBBOCK, TX – FEBRUARY 27: Lindy Waters III #21 of the Oklahoma State Cowboys makes a three point basket over Tariq Owens #11 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders at the buzzer to send the game into overtime on February 27, 2019 at United Supermarkets Arena in Lubbock, Texas. Texas Tech defeated Oklahoma State 84-80 in overtime. (Photo by John Weast/Getty Images) /

9. Oklahoma State Cowboys (12-19, 5-13 Conference Play)

The Good

Unlike their fellow cellar-dwellers in West Virginia, the Oklahoma State Cowboys did not have lofty expectations heading into the 2018-19 season. Whatever expectations were there, they probably weren’t met.

But that’s ok. For an Oklahoma State team that was by far the weakest on paper out of all ten teams in the conference, the Cowboys did an excellent job of staying competitive.

The Cowboys’ program isn’t in amazing shape, but head coach Mike Boynton has done a great job of keeping the vibe around the program a positive one. The Cowboys’ competitive, spirited play despite being undermanned and short on talent was inspiring throughout the season, and despite their lowly record, Cowboys fans should be pleased with the program as a whole.

The Bad

While they did stay competitive, let’s be honest here. This Oklahoma State team was not a good basketball team.

That applies to both on and off the court. The Cowboys mustered just five conference wins, and had to dismiss three players, including promising sophomore guard Michael Weathers.

Again, this was not going to be an enjoyable season from the beginning. But Baylor was able to turn small expectations into a tournament team. Oklahoma State had no such luck this season.

The Bottom Line

Of all the final standings, this was the most predictable. Oklahoma State was given little to begin with, and amazingly exited the season with less than what they began with. Maintaining positivity will be a big key for Oklahoma State, as they begin to enter a rebuilding period.

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