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BIG MONDAY BEDLAM GAMETHREAD: Winner takes control of runner up status in the Big 12

Somebody needs to finish 2nd, right?

By Robert Whetsell
Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports

Cowboy fans rushed the court last season after an emotional OT win in Stillwater.

OU pulled off the upset in Norman.

OSU hasn't won at Lloyd Noble since the 2003-04 season.

GAME TIME & CHANNEL: 9pm Eastern, ESPN
BROADCAST TEAM: Brent Musberger & Fran Fraschilla

I spoke about this at the end of the recap for the women's loss to Baylor, but thought I would include it again here. These are the current standings, records, future opponents thru 2/8, projected record for those games, and the projected conference record after that stretch.

TEAM CONF OVERALL Games thru Feb 8 Thru 2/8 Post 2/8
Kansas 6-0 15-4 Iowa State, @Texas, @Baylor 3-0 9-0
OU 5-2 16-4 OSU, @Iowa State, @WV, Baylor 3-1 8-3
Texas 5-2 16-4 KU, @TCU, @Kstate 1-2 6-4
OSU 4-2 16-3 @OU, Baylor, Iowa St, @TxTech 3-1 7-3
KSU 4-3 14-6 TxTech, @WV, Texas 3-0 7-3
Iowa St 3-3 15-3 @KU, OU, @OSU, TCU 2-2 5-5
WVU 3-4 11-9 @Baylor, KState, OU, @KU 0-4 3-8
Tx Tech 2-5 10-10 @Kstate, TCU, OSU 1-2 3-7
Baylor 1-5 13-6 WV, @OSU, KU, @OU 1-3 2-8
TCU 0-7 9-10 @TxTech, Texas, @Iowa St 0-3 0-10

This is a huge game for both teams. The winner gets to cling to the outside chance that Kansas might experience a hiccup or two closing out the Big 12 schedule, and the loser is relegated to just trying to improve their post-season bracket position. Despite that, I don't think anyone would argue that OSU has way more to lose given the expectations going into the season.

After tonight, which I'm sure will be a battle, both teams need to pay attention as 2 of the next 3 games are no gimmies. The winner could quickly stumble and the loser could quickly rebound.

And, while the rest of the Big 12 cannabalizes each other, the Jayhawks go trotting along to another Big 12 regular season title.

Here are the season stats for the main players in tonight's drama:

Player GP MIN PPG RPG APG SPG BPG TPG FG% FT% 3P%
Oklahoma State
Marcus Smart 19 30.3 17.1 5.7 4.4 2.5 0.6 2.6 43.8% 73.3% 30.9%
Markel Brown 19 32.3 16.5 5.4 2.8 0.7 1.2 1.2 48.6% 77.7% 36.0%
Le'Bryan Nash 19 27.7 14.1 6.1 1.4 0.6 0.9 1.9 53.6% 68.5% 0.0%
Phil Forte, III 19 22.4 12.6 1.6 1.1 0.8 0 0.4 44.8% 91.8% 47.0%
Brian Williams 19 25.3 8.2 3.9 0.9 1.2 0.5 0.9 55.3% 76.0% 27.3%
Kamari Murphy 18 23.2 5.9 5.4 0.8 0.6 1.5 0.8 57.1% 48.6% 0.0%
Stevie Clark 14 16.7 5.9 1.5 3 1.1 0.1 1.6 40.4% 64.3% 43.9%
Leyton Hammonds 16 7.3 1.1 1.3 0.3 0.4 0.1 0.3 23.1% 50.0% 15.4%
Oklahoma GP MIN PPG RPG APG SPG BPG TPG FG% FT% 3P%
Cameron Clark 20 28.5 17 5.8 1.3 1.4 0.5 1.6 45.9% 81.8% 44.2%
Buddy Hield 20 31.5 16.7 4.4 2 1.3 0.2 1.8 45.1% 72.9% 38.1%
Ryan Spangler 20 29.4 11.1 9.8 1.2 0.8 1.1 1.3 63.8% 66.3% 33.3%
Jordan Woodard 20 29 11 2.2 4.7 1.2 0.1 2.3 34.3% 77.4% 38.1%
Isaiah Cousins 20 28.9 10.4 4.2 2 1.1 0.4 2.1 45.8% 79.3% 40.8%
Tyler Neal 19 14.7 5.9 3.3 0.6 0.4 0.2 0.7 48.8% 70.8% 42.9%
Frank Booker 19 15 5.1 1.8 0.6 0.3 0.2 0.5 33.3% 75.0% 32.9%
Je'lon Hornbeak 16 18.2 4.3 1.5 2.4 0.8 0.1 1.3 33.8% 75.0% 21.2%
D.J. Bennett 19 8.9 3.3 2.1 0.1 0.2 0.9 0.5 63.2% 66.7% 0.0%

Squinky has been hanging around, so wouldn't be surprised if he made an appearance this evening. His clock malfunction that cost the Cowgirls against Baylor gives me the heebie jeebies. He's definitely stepped up his game.

I've said all along, and I'll stick with it now, that I think OU gets the win tonight. Lon Kruger has them coached up really well, and Travis Ford has yet to come up with a viable solution to the absence of Michael Cobbins. The one caveat in all this...Marcus Smart and his tantrum last Saturday. If he comes out composed and focused, he has the potential to light Lloyd Noble on fire all by his lonesome.

Enjoy the game folks, see you on Twitter and in the comments.

GO POKES!!!

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