Busting Brackets
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Big 12 Basketball power rankings: Kansas, Baylor clear above others

By Tristan Freeman

MORGANTOWN, WV - FEBRUARY 10: Lindy Waters III #21 of the Oklahoma State Cowboys reacts after hitting a three pointer against the West Virginia Mountaineers at the WVU Coliseum on February 10, 2018 in Morgantown, West Virginia. (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images)
MORGANTOWN, WV - FEBRUARY 10: Lindy Waters III #21 of the Oklahoma State Cowboys reacts after hitting a three pointer against the West Virginia Mountaineers at the WVU Coliseum on February 10, 2018 in Morgantown, West Virginia. (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images) /
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LUBBOCK, TX – FEBRUARY 27: Head coach Mike Boynton of the Oklahoma State Cowboys shouts instructions to his team during the second half of the game against the Texas Tech Red Raiders 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: Head coach Mike Boynton of the Oklahoma State Cowboys shouts instructions to his team during the second half of the game against the Texas Tech Red Raiders 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) /

7-2. . Cowboys . 6. team. 465.

Oklahoma State started out this season as a really nice pleasant surprise, going 7-0 and winning the NIT Season Tip-Off. They dominated Syracuse before beating Ole Miss by a whopping 41 points, including holding them to just 37 total scored.

The Cowboys are led by sophomore point guard Isaac Likekele. He might not be putting up the same numbers that Haliburton is but the 6’4 playmaker has been having the same kind of impact. Likekele is averaging a team-leading 13.7 ppg and 5.0 apg, while also grabbing 5.3 rpg. He along with forward Yor Anei huge jumps in production has made Oklahoma State have a potent starting lineup, joining the senior trio of Lindy Waters, Cameron McGriff and Thomas Dziagwa.

When fully healthy, we’ve seen the potential of Oklahoma State. However, take just one piece out and this team becomes really vulnerable. Likekele missed the past couple of games (Georgetown and Wichita State) and the result was both losses. The lack of scoring depth from the bench came into the spotlight in each game, with just freshman Chris Harris the only scoring option that can be trusted.

Once conference play comes, the starting five outside of Anei may each have to play 30+ minutes against the better competition. But that non-conference tournament showed how capable Oklahoma State is – as long as everyone is healthy.

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