Oklahoma State vs. Georgetown: 2019-20 college basketball game preview, TV schedule
Oklahoma State has been one of the most positive surprises of the 2019-20 season, a status Georgetown can only dream of achieving.
TV Schedule: Wednesday, December 4, 2019 at 8:00 PM ET, ESPN+
Location: Gallagher-Iba Arena, Stillwater, Oklahoma
In a 2019-20 season where no team near the top of the rankings is immune from a loss, the Oklahoma State Cowboys remain undefeated.
Prior to last week’s NIT Tournament, the Cowboys’ wins didn’t necessarily impress. The best teams they had defeated to that point were Yale and Western Michigan – not much to write home about. But then, the Cowboys went to Brooklyn and completely altered their perception.
They handled Syracuse by 14 points, which looked like small potatoes after they crushed Ole Miss by 41 points in the title game, limiting them to just 37 points over 40 minutes. Suddenly, Oklahoma State is a team to be feared (although still not in the eyes of AP voters). Mike Boynton’s squad is on the way up.
The most sustainable part of Oklahoma State’s attack is how well-rounded and spread out it is. Five players on the roster are averaging at least nine points a game, but none are averaging 14 points per game. They are led by Isaac Likekele, an emerging star averaging 13.7 points, 5.3 rebounds, 5.0 assists and 2.0 steals per game.
Oklahoma State playing well and playing at home are certainly advantages in this game. But before the week started, the contest with the Hoyas felt more even, at least on paper.
Georgetown had a solid week in New York recently, pulling off an upset over Texas before playing then-No. 1 Duke closer than expected in the Empire Classic. But a loss against the UNC Greensboro Spartans on Saturday kicked off the worst snowballing yet of Patrick Ewing’s coaching tenure.
First, it was announced on Wednesday that two players would be transferring out of the program immediately: Josh LeBlanc and James Akinjo, the latter being the program’s second-leading scorer this season.
What followed almost immediately were allegations of burglary, assault and sexual harassment levied against a bevy of Ewing’s players. According to court records, restraining orders have been issued against the now-departed LeBlanc and Galen Alexander. Meanwhile, freshman Myron Gardner has been accused of sexual harassment. The players’ statuses for Wednesday’s game against the Cowboys – the least of anybody’s concern – remain up in the air.
This will be the first game for the Hoyas since all of this has occurred. There’s still plenty of talent remaining on the roster. Omer Yurtseven is nearly averaging a double-double, sporting averages of 15.6 points and 9.7 rebounds per game. Additionally, Mac McClung may be ready to take another step; his scoring his down from his freshman season, but free throw and 3-point shooting percentages are both up.
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Still, this is the most adversity Ewing has faced during his short time with his alma mater. In this case, it seems like the perfect storm at the perfect time to prompt a loss on the road against a Oklahoma State team still trying to garner the respect they deserve.
Prediction: Oklahoma State 72, Georgetown 60