If last night’s game was any indication of what is still to come, the March Madness of 2014 has already gotten off to a fantastic start. Especially, for Marcus Smart and the Oklahoma State Cowboys, who came out victorious in what could be called a must-win game against the Kansas Jayhawks.
After starting the season high in the Top 25 rankings, the Cowboys hit some hard times. Even before Smart was suspended following an altercation with an ignorant fan at a Texas Tech Red Raiders game, Oklahoma State had forgotten how to win games. After ending a seven game losing streak, the Cowboys bounced back and knocked off the No. 5 team in the country in Stillwater.
The best thing for the Cowboys is not that they won, but rather, how they won.
The old Oklahoma State team looked like it was back as the second half progressed against Kansas. In the past, had the Cowboys found themselves trailing by 10 points, they would have likely gone on to lose by 20 points. They got stymied, and became increasingly frustrated, causing them to turn the ball over and commit far too many unforced errors. The players – led by Smart – let the frustration get to them, and their immaturity came to light.
But, not last night. Smart played rather poorly in the first half. He could not score. He could not get his teammates going. He could not help the Cowboys take out the Jayhawks in a game that they know they needed to win.
In the second half, it was all different. Smart was different. The Cowboys were different. The atmosphere was different. Smart got it going, scoring points in bunches for Oklahoma State, who rallied for a 72-65 win at home. Smart did not let a poor first half get and keep him down. He bounced back. Oklahoma State bounced back. In a single night, Smart and the Cowboys grew up and matured in front of our very eyes. The team demonstrated the resilience that had gone missing over the past couple of months.
Now, the question will be whether or not they can keep this momentum going during the final week of the regular season and into the Big 12 Conference Tournament next week. Smart proclaimed that the Cowboys were back.
Now, we will wait to see just for how long.
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