The West Virginia Mountaineers (9-9, 2-3 Big 12) make their first trip to Stillwater, Okla., on Saturday for a matchup against the talented Cowboys (12-5, 2-3). Here’s a primer for the game, which will be televised at 1 p.m. on ESPNU, with radio coverage beginning at noon on MSN affiliates:
Jim Cowsert-USA TODAY Sports
1. Getting Smart
Though he’s projected as a one-and-done college player, OSU freshman point guard Marcus Smart doesn’t speak like one.
“I definitely like the rule” preventing high school players from jumping straight to the NBA, Smart told MetroNews on Thursday. “You might not like it (in the NBA), and then you’ve given up those years of living and enjoying college. (The rule) gives you the opportunity, just in case, to get your education.”
Smart survived a difficult and dangerous adolescence in Lancaster, Texas, the details of which you can read in this lengthy profile by USA Today. Now, despite being one of the most sought-after recruits in the nation, he sounds like an 18-year-old who recognizes his blessings.
“I’m going to college for free,” Smart said. “We’ve got some kids out here that would love to be in my situation, but instead they’ve got to bust their tails and get a regular job just to pay for one semester of school.”
At 6-foot-4, Smart was billed as combo guard coming out of high school but he played the point last summer while leading Team USA to U18 world championship in Brazil. In particular, his defensive intensity caught the eyes of USA coaches Billy Donovan and Mark Few, but Smart can be a do-it-all player. Just check out his stat line from Oklahoma State’s 76-56 upset of then-No. 6 N.C. State in Puerto Rico: 20 points, seven rebounds, four assists and for steals.
He also scored 23 against Gonzaga on Dec. 31 but during the closing seconds missed the potential tying free throws in a 69-68 loss. Afterward, Few sought out Smart for a moment of reassurance: “He told me he loved me, and that he’d take me or (Gonzaga guard) Kevin Pangos on the line in that situation anytime,” Smart said.
A 76-percent foul shooter, he gets to the line more than anyone on the team, and at 40 percent from the floor, Smart displays good mechanics. He’s averaging 13.2 points, 5.7 rebounds and 4.5 assists per game.
The 10-second scouting report from WVU’s Bob Huggins: “He’s Quinn Buckner who can shoot.”
Added TCU coach Trent Johnson: “The good ones, like Marcus, they make everything look easy. He probably won’t be around after this year, and that’s a good thing for most of us (opponents), including me.”
2. Gallagher-Iba Arena not-so-rowdy these days
Struggling to lure fans, Oklahoma State’s homecourt advantage has dissipated during recent seasons. In hindsight, the 2001 expansion from 6,381 to 13,611 seats was a mistake.
Or as Cowboys athletics director Mike Holder admitted to Daily Oklahoman columnist Berry Tramel for Thursday’s piece: “I think that was a little ambitious perhaps.”
Averaging 8,970 fans through 10 home dates this season, only once has OSU drawn more than 10,000 — the Gonzaga sellout. The two Big 12 home games against league bottom-feeders TCU and Texas Tech drew an average of 8,397. Though larger crowds figure to show for games against Kansas and Oklahoma, the Cowboys have lost ticketbuyers to the NBA’s Thunder in nearby Oklahoma City and, more locally, they’ve been upstaged by OSU’s improving football program.
As Tramel alleged in his column: “The energy and aura of OSU basketball games is but a ghost from the Eddie Sutton salad days. Truth is, OSU would have been better off if it never had expanded Gallagher-Iba. Financially. Competitively. Mentally.”
3. Curious matchups
There’s a chance WVU reserve Keaton Miles could wind up guarding his former high school teammate, OSU forward Le’Bryan Nash. The two were all-state players for the Dallas-Lincoln team that reached the Texas Class 4A quarterfinals in 2011. Miles averaged 18 points and 13 boards as a senior while Nash, a McDonald’s All-American, put up 22 points and 8.7 rebounds.
Also, be mindful of West Virginia’s Matt Humphrey driving the lane against OSU 6-foot-11 center Philip Jurick, players that have a combined six colleges between them. Jurick initially signed with Tennessee, then transferred to Chattanooga (Tenn.) State Community College before joining the Cowboys. Humphrey, of course, journeyed from Oregon to Boston College before spending his senior season at WVU.
4. Big ups for Brown
Whereas Smart is Oklahoma State’s best player, guard Markel Brown is the team’s best athlete. In fact, Huggins calls him the most athletically gifted player WVU will face all season.
The 6-foot-3 junior is an explosive leaper who averages a team-high 14.4 points per game. But he’s coming off a dreadful two-point, 1-of-10 shooting performance in the MLK Day 64-54 loss at Baylor, only the second time in 18 games Brown failed to reached double figures.
5. The mercurial Nash
The talented 6-7 Nash was presumably NBA-bound after this season, but that’s no longer a given based on his inconsistent shooting performances (when he’s shooting at all) and his inability to create for other players. NBA Draft Express, still has Nash mocked up as a late first-round pick in the 2013 draft, even though it rates him as the No. 9 sophomore on the board.
Gold and Blue Now Friday, May 24 
Gold and Blue Now Thursday, May 23 
Sportsline: Randy Mazey and Kyle Wiggs 
Sportsline: Dana Holgerson 
Randy Mazey 5-20-2013 
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Comments
Larry
From this article it appears that Oklahoma State has a definite talent advantage. Add to that Home court advantage regardless of how many shows up. Add to that the shooting woes of the Mountaineers...
And then theres that nagging issue of "Jetlag"...
They all spell victory for Oklahoma state.
January 25, 2013 at 1:08 pm | Report comment
tony
this is an opportunity to climb up another notch..there is no reason we cant run and grind (both) out a win here. and a win here would certainly shed a positive light on a squad who are not as far away from winning in this league as one might think. it is pretty clear that one blessing is this new conference. we can beat most of the teams in this league on a good night where we give effort. i wouldnt be saying that if we were in the big east again. i think we can get another road win here. got a feeling the effort meter is gonna start going up.. who will still be with us next year? we will know a lot more after monday night. lets go mountainneers!
January 25, 2013 at 2:20 pm | Report comment
WILLIAM
5 Keys for win 1. IF HUGGINS WOULD WEAR A SUIT AND NOT HIS BLACK AND WHITE SWEATSUIT! 2. HUGGINS WOULD LOOK LIKE A MOUNTAINEER AND WEAR BLUE AND GOLD. 3. CALL JOHN BEILEIN FOR ADVISE. 4. IF HUGGINS WOULD STAY HOME AND LET SOMEONE ELSE COACH 5. Sneak Da'sean Butler in the game
January 25, 2013 at 4:23 pm | Report comment
DWM
So William,
You are upset that we have a hall of fame coach, that is from here, and that has taken us to the final four in his short tenure home.
My suggestion would be to keep your mouth closed so as to not give proof to those that might think you aren't all that bright.
January 25, 2013 at 8:15 pm | Report comment
Chalkdust
So William:
I don't think words of wisdom would make a dent in a head of stone. the fact we have one of the finest coaches in the land. Go take a nap.
January 28, 2013 at 6:01 am | Report comment
cutty77
One thing WVU does is Guard People.Even when they played Michigan they played them Tough.The Defense will show up,thats for sure.Anything else we can get will be Gravy.WVU is due for a Upset,maybe tomorrow.
January 25, 2013 at 4:37 pm | Report comment
Charles
I get confused sometimes over the line that seems to form at the 'hate on Bob Huggins' window in these forums. As a general confession for the sake of being transparent, I do think Bob Huggins is a great coach. But, lets say for arguments sake that I were to join with William in his fight againt Huggs.
I still would not understand the crys for John Beilein to return. Maybe Huggs isn't as good as Coach K, Bob Knight, or whomever you want to name, but he isn't better than John Beilein? I will admit Beilein is a classy coach and a great coach, but what has he ever done that even comes close to what Huggs has?
He has a great team this year sure, but he might have the best backcourt in the country, and we still have to see what they do in the tourney. How many Final Fours does he have? Conference Titles?
Does Huggs system have deficiencies at times? Yes. But so did Beileins. His teams are outrebounded every game. The don't put other teams in foul trouble, and they are overly reliant on the 3 point shot.
His inablility to make adjustments in the second half of an Elite 8 game, when WVU stopped making 3's is the reason that WVU doesn't have a third Final Four appearance.
And don't tell me Huggs only won with Beilein's players. Huggs went to the Final Four in his THIRD year. These were his players. Da'Sean Butler was the major contributer on the team that actually played on a Beilein team, a team by the may that MISSED the tournament. Ask Da'Sean, who went from a skinny, 21 minute a game, jumpshooter, to a First Team All-American, who got the most out of his talent.
January 25, 2013 at 8:44 pm | Report comment