Where Oklahoma State’s Non-Con Opponents Were Picked to Finish Preseason

The Big 12 announced it’s preseason coaches poll on Friday, with Oklahoma State coming in dead last for the second straight season. While preseason predictions are simply that, educated guesses, they can help set up expectations for the season.

They can also help fans determine just how difficult their team’s schedule might be. With that in mind, let’s take a look at where all of the Cowboys’ non-conference opponents were picked to finish in their conference.

Nov. 10th - @ Charlotte

OSU’s opening opponent, the 49ers of Charlotte, were picked to finish 13th — second to last in Conference USA — in the Preseason Coaches’ Poll. The 49ers did get one player, senior point guard Jon Davis, on the preseason team. Davis was the team’s MVP last season after leading the 49ers in scoring and assists.

Nov. 14th - UTSA

OSU will take on a second straight C-USA squad to open the season. This one though was picked to finish 5th in the Preseason Coaches’ Poll. They too have one player on the preseason team; sophomore guard Jhivvan Jackson. He was the C-USA freshman of the year last season after setting the UTSA freshman single-season scoring record with 534 points.

Nov. 18th - College of Charletson

The Cowboys’ will face their first test of the season against the C-of-C Cougars, who were picked to finish second in the Colonial Athletic’s Preseason Poll. The defending CAA regular season and tournament champions also picked up five first-place votes. The Cougars return three starters from last season, including junior guard Grant Riller and senior forward Jarrell Brantley, who were both named to the All-Conference Preseason First Team.

Nov. 22nd - vs. Memphis

OSU heads to Orlando for the Advocare Invitational, and will start the eight-team tournament against the Memphis Tigers, who were picked to finish fourth in the American Athletic Conference’s preseason Coaches Poll. The Tigers are one of four (!!) teams to get first place votes — they got one. Senior guard Guard Jeremiah Martin, who led the Tigers in Led the team in points, field goals, 3-point field goals, assists, and steals last season, was named to the AAC Preseason First Team.

Nov. 30th - vs. Minnesota

While the Big 10 doesn’t have a coaches’ poll, they do have an official-unofficial Preseason Media Poll. In it, The Golden Gophers were picked to finish ninth. That said, senior forward Jordan Murphy, who set a new single-season school record and led the nation with 24 double-doubles last season, was selected to the Preseason All-Conference team.

Dec. 5th - @ Tulsa

The second of three AAC opponents on Oklahoma State’s schedule, the Golden Hurricane were picked to finish 9th in a loaded American this season. Senior guard Sterling Taplin was named to the All-Conference Preseason Second Team.

Dec. 8th - Houston

The Cougars, Oklahoma State’s third and final AAC opponent, were picked to finish 3rd this season. They also picked up two first-place votes. Freshman guard Nate Hinton was named the preseason freshman of the year while junior guard Corey Davis, one of the best three-point shooters in the conference, made the preseason second team.

Dec. 16th - vs. Nebraska

OSU’s second Big 10 opponent, the Cornhuskers, were picked to finish fourth in that official-unofficial Big 10 Media Preseason poll. Senior forward James Palmer Jr., who the coaches named an All-Big Ten first teamer last season, was picked as a member of the preseason All Big-10 Team for this season.

Dec. 21st - Central Arkansas

The Central Arkansas Bears were picked to finish 8th in the Southland Preseason Poll. The Cowboys and Bears last faced off in 2016 where OSU won 102-90.

Dec. 29th - TA&M-CC

OSU’s second straight Southland opponent, Texas A&M Corpus-Christi, were picked to finish 9th this season. The Cowboys and Islanders last met in 2016, a game OSU won 92-70.

Jan. 26th - South Carolina

Oklahoma State wraps up non-conference play in the Big 12/SEC Challenge against head coach Mike Boynton’s alma mater. The Gamecocks were picked to finish 11th in the Preseason Media Poll. They did have one player named to the All-SEC Preseason First Team; senior forward Chris Silva, who was named SEC Co-Defensive Player of the Year, All-SEC First Team, and SEC All-Defensive Team last season.