In his second year navigating the grind of Big 12 basketball, Oklahoma State head coach Steve Lutz is learning firsthand how quickly the highs and lows can swing.
Last Wednesday, the Cowboys pulled off a statement win, knocking off then-No. 16 BYU in a 99-92 shootout.
But any momentum they hoped to carry was quickly halted three days later when they ran into a buzzsaw in Tucson. Top-ranked Arizona overwhelmed Oklahoma State from the jump, handing the Cowboys a humbling 84-47 loss that exposed some glaring issues on both ends of the floor.
Now, Oklahoma State stays in the desert for one more test, heading to Tempe on Tuesday to face Arizona State. And while the Sun Devils don’t carry the same national clout as their in-state rivals, this is no breather. The Cowboys are sitting on the NCAA Tournament bubble with time slipping away, and every game from here on out matters.
Saturday’s blowout loss to Arizona won’t define their season, but it certainly didn’t help their case. The numbers paint the picture: Oklahoma State shot just 24.6% from the field (15-of-61) while allowing Arizona to connect on 51.6% of its shots (33-of-64).
The Wildcats also dominated the glass, posting a 56-35 rebounding advantage. That kind of disparity is tough to overcome against any team-let alone the No. 1 squad in the country.
Lutz didn’t sugarcoat it.
“We did not play our best, and Arizona had a lot to do with that,” he said. “That’s on us. But you know what, we gotta go across the state here in 2 1/2 days and we better be hooked up and ready to go, because I’m sure that Arizona State’s not gonna take it easy on us.”
And he’s got a point. Arizona State may be sitting at .500 overall (12-12) and just 3-8 in conference play, but they’ve shown flashes-especially in their two battles with Arizona.
The Sun Devils nearly stunned the Wildcats in Tucson back on January 14, falling just short in an 89-82 thriller. The rematch in Tempe was more decisive, with Arizona winning 87-74, but ASU still showed fight.
That’s been the story of Bobby Hurley’s squad all season: scrappy, but inconsistent. Arizona State has dropped three of its last four, including a 78-70 loss at Colorado on Saturday.
And once again, it was the rebounding-or lack thereof-that told the story. The Buffaloes pounded ASU on the boards, 40-26, and Hurley didn’t hold back afterward.
“We got seven games left, so if we can’t rebound by now, then chances are we’re not gonna be able to rebound,” he said bluntly.
It’s been an ongoing issue for the Sun Devils, who rank last in the Big 12 in rebounding at just 32.8 per game, with a minus-3.2 margin. That’s a matchup Oklahoma State could look to exploit. Despite their struggles against Arizona, the Cowboys are fifth in the Big 12 in rebounding, averaging 38 per game.
Offensively, Oklahoma State leans heavily on Anthony Roy, who’s putting up 17.8 points per game and exploded for 30 in the BYU win. But against Arizona, he ran into a wall-held to just 10 points on 3-of-11 shooting, including 3-of-10 from deep. If the Cowboys want to stay in the tournament conversation, they’ll need Roy to bounce back in a big way against ASU.
Arizona State counters with Maurice Odum, their engine on both ends. The guard is averaging 17.2 points and 6.2 assists per game, and he was one of the few bright spots in the Colorado loss, finishing with 23 points and five assists.
Tuesday’s matchup might not have the national spotlight, but make no mistake-this one matters. For Oklahoma State, it’s a chance to stabilize after a tough loss and keep their postseason hopes alive. For Arizona State, it’s an opportunity to play spoiler and prove they’re more than just a tough out.
In the Big 12, there are no nights off. Just ask Steve Lutz.