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Oklahoma State is currently in the midst of an impressive turnaround, the likes of which I've never seen. After an 0-6 start to Big 12 play, they've won five straight games including four in a row in league play.
People are taking notice of the turnaround, especially on the defensive end of the court.
Toughest thing to do is fix your team mid season. @OSUCoachBrad @OSUMBB defensive adjustment after 0-6 start. That is coaching.
— Seth Greenberg (@SethOnHoops) February 5, 2017
This got me wondering whether or not OSU has it in them, to get back above .500 in conference play. Despite the full 180, OSU is still only 4-6 in the Big 12. That means to finish with a winning record, the Cowboys need to go 6-2 in their final eight games, and 5-3 to finish conference play at .500.
Let’s break down the rest of the schedule and see if that’s even in the realm of possibility:
Home Games: 5 | Road Games: 3
Ranked Opponents: 2 | Unranked Opponents: 6
Winning Records: 6 | Losing Records: 2
OSU gets their two toughest tests at home beginning with Baylor on Wednesday and then ending the regular season with Kansas on March 4th.
In between, OSU gets Texas (9-14), Oklahoma (8-14), and Texas Tech (16-7) at home.
Oklahoma State has already beaten both Oklahoma and Texas Tech on the road, but lost to Texas in Austin during the losing streak. Tech looks like the most dangerous team of the three, but is only 4-6 in conference play as well.
The Cowboys also go on the road to face TCU (16-7), Kansas State (16-7), and Iowa State (14-8). The team lost to two of those at home, KSU and ISU, and beat TCU at home.
Not to be presumptuous, but I see five wins there for the taking. It’s the last one I’m not sure about. Snagging a victory from Kansas, Baylor, or Iowa State isn’t out of the realm of possibility, but it won’t be easy.
I realize the idea of OSU getting back above .500 in the Big 12 may be crazy, but it’s a lot less crazy than it was a couple of weeks ago. With the way they are playing, and the way the schedule stacks up, it’s not impossible.
Can Oklahoma State finish with a winning record in Big 12 play or will they come up short? Vote in the poll and share your thoughts in the comments section.