Oklahoma State Cowboys Stats at Insiders Betting Digest

Cowboys

Oklahoma State Cowboys

NCAAB – BIG 12

Arena: Gallagher-Iba Arena
Coach: Mike Boynton

Oklahoma State Cowboys

Team Leaders

Oklahoma State Cowboys Team Summary

The two-time national champions have had a lot of success since the program began playing in 1908. The Cowboys entered the 2021-22 season with the 37th-most wins and a record of 1,701-1,198 (58.7%). A bulk of that success came under two coaches – Henry Iba and Eddie Sutton – who coached for a combined 52 years.

While Big 12 success hasn’t come, the Cowboys have made 13 NCAA Tournament appearances since the turn of the century. That sustained success has lasted through five coaches in that time frame.

Mike Boynton’s team in his fifth season is struggling, albeit against a tough nonconference slate. The Cowboys made the NCAA Tournament last year with star Cade Cunningham, who became the program’s first No. 1 overall NBA Draft pick.

Oklahoma State Cowboys Standings

Oklahoma State Cowboys Betting Trends

Oklahoma State Cowboys Team History

Oklahoma State’s program is bound by success but has had its fair share of issues. The Cowboys were struck by a tragic plane crash in the early 2000s. They also faced a recent NCAA investigation.

In fact, the program also started out as the Oklahoma A&M Aggies prior to a school name and mascot change that took place in the 1950s.

The success has been most impressive, producing NBA talent, a two-time gold medalist who made college basketball history, having a No. 1 overall pick selected, and a pair of Hall of Fame coaches. The Pokes have produced eight All-Americans, most recently Cunningham and as far back as Jesse Renick in 1940.

The six Final Four appearances are tied for the 10th most all-time in men’s basketball history. Aside from the NCAA Tournament berths, the Pokes have also been to nine National Invitation Tournaments with three third-place game appearances, finishing 2-1.

Key Stats

Oklahoma State had lost six straight against the spread before earning a marquee win as underdogs at home against Texas on Jan. 8. It moved the Cowboys to 8-5 and earned a significant win in what figures to be a tough conference, particularly this season.

Oklahoma State is fairly pedestrian on both sides of the ball but is holding opponents to 39.5% shooting, the 48th-best mark in the country. The Cowboys are also 98th in rebounding, pulling in 34.5 per game.

Just two Cowboys average double figures in scoring. Avery Anderson III (11.6) and Bryce Williams (11.5) have carried the load so far for the Pokes. They also each average over two steals per contest. Guard Isaac Likekele has been key in the rebounding department, pulling in a team-best 6.0 per game.

This year, Oklahoma State is 5-8-0 against the spread and 6-7 on over/unders. It’s tough to find national championship odds for the Pokes.

Championships Won by the Team

The Pokes had a star who transcended the game en route to back-to-back national championship wins in 1945 and 1946. At 7-feet tall, Bob Kurland was a three-time consensus first-team All-American, the tallest player in college basketball history at the time and reportedly the first to dunk in a game. He accounted for 36.3% of the Cowboys’ scoring in the 1945 run, including 22 points in the 49-45 win over New York University in the 1945 clincher.

He elevated it to 51.8% of Cowboys’ points, including 23 in a 43-40 win over North Carolina for the 1946 title. The program has won 19 conference championships from the Oklahoma A&M days through the name change. Iba’s teams accounted for 15 of those with 14 in the Missouri Valley Conference.

Important Team Events

Following a loss to Colorado a plane, which was one of three, crashed and killed all 10 on board. Those who died included players Nate Fleming and Dan Lawson, staffers Will Hancock, Pat Noyes, Brian Luinstra, and Jared Weiberg, media Bill Teegins and Kendall Durfey. Pilot Denver Mills and co-pilot Bjorn Falistrom also died. A 5K and 10K race has been run since 2007 to remember the victims of the crash.

A bribery scheme made public in 2017 implicated associate head coach Lamont Evans, who also conducted the scheme at South Carolina. Evans was sentenced to three months in prison and the Cowboys were given a postseason ban for 2021, which was later repealed. The Cowboys were allowed to compete in their 29th NCAA Tournament and advanced to the Round of 32.

Top Players

Oklahoma State has produced 29 NBA players. Defensive wizard Tony Allen had a 14-year career with six all-defensive selections. John Starks and Desmond Mason played 13 and 10 seasons, respectively, and each averaged over 12 points per game. John Lucas had a nine-year career as a rotational point guard and 7-footer Bryant Reeves played seven seasons.

Currently, Cade Cunningham is +400 to win Rookie of the Year as of Bovada’s Jan. 4 odds. Though he’s played better of late and is averaging 15.7 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 5.4 assists per game. He was the first No. 1 overall pick in program history.

Also, Marcus Smart is in his seventh season with the Boston Celtics. The combo guard is a two-time all-defensive selection. All-American selections include Bob Kurland (three-time first-teamer), James Anderson (2010, second team), Cunningham (2021, first team), Byron Houston (1992, second team), Bob Mattick (1954, second team), Gale McArthur (1952, second team), Jesse Renick (1940, second team) and Smart (2013, second team). But none has managed to win a March Madness.

Top Coaches

Henry Iba and Eddie Sutton are the two most successful coaches in Cowboys history by wins and winning percentage, respectively. Iba’s tenure spanned over four decades in which his teams were 654-317 with 15 conference championships, eight NCAA Tournament bids, four Final Fours, and two national championships.

Sutton’s teams won a remarkable 70.9% of their games from 1990-2006. He was 368-151 with two regular-season conference championships and three conference tournament titles, 13 NCAA Tournament berths, and two Final Fours.

Beyond the legendary coaches, Oklahoma State has had solid leadership on its bench. In eight seasons, Travis Ford led the Pokes to five NCAA Tournaments and was 155-111. Paul Hansen, Mike Boynton (active coach), and Brad Underwood had the other three NCAA Tournament bids in program history. While Leonard Hamilton didn’t have success at Oklahoma State (56-63), he’s regarded as one of the top coaches in men’s basketball now leading Florida State.