Concern in Colorado...

OSU dropped a second consecutive road game in conference yesterday, this time to Colorado at the Coors Center in Boulder 75-71.  The loss isn't that shocking, considering Colorado was coming off defeats of ranked teams in Missouri and Kansas State, but the way the Cowboys lost was frustrating.  They had a 12-point lead with just over 15 minutes remaining and gave it all up before trying to mount a furious comeback in the final 2 minutes. 

J-P Olukemi had another solid outing for the Pokes with 21 points, and Keiton Page added 19, but the Cowboys have to watch this film and be kicking themselves for letting it get away.  They had a great opportunity to beat a team that was full of confidence and swagger, and came ever so close to doing so.  Coach Ford will have to get them re-focused quickly, as an Iowa State team that just blasted Baylor by 15 on Saturday comes to GIA this Wednesday night.

Yes you read that correctly, Iowa State beat Baylor (who started the season ranked inside the top 15) and beat them badly.  Anyone that doubted the Big 12's collective strength as a basketball conference has to quickly be changing that opinion, even if it's only been a week.  Perennial power #2 Kansas (as of Monday 1/17) is still the cream of the crop, but it took every second for them to beat Nebraska at home on Saturday.  #10 Texas A&M still looks good, and beat a good Missouri team (now ranked #14) in overtime in College Station.  Colorado has looked good coming out of the gate 3-0, and #11 Texas is the only other undefeated team in the league but hasn't played anyone of note yet (that changes with a game in Austin Wednesday night against A&M).  The conference now has 5 teams ranked in the Top 25, and all but two teams (Oklahoma, Texas Tech) have fewer than 6 losses.  Even the "almighty" Big East conference has 6 teams with 6 or more losses already this season, and the ACC (admittedly in a down year) has 5 teams already with 6 or more losses.

OSU has a crucial 3-game stretch coming up and it needs to find a way to go 2-1 to right the ship.  A home game against Iowa State (best chance for a win), followed by a road game at a talented-but-underperforming Baylor team, and back home for a big Wednesday game against Texas will tell Cowboy fans and the rest of the conference just how good this Poke team can be.  If I had to guess, I'd say the Cowboys go 1-2, but they HAVE to find a way to win in Baylor if they want to have the confidence to beat a good Texas team 4 days later.  A best-case scenario would be 3-0, as I think Iowa State can't win in GIA, and if Baylor starts the game shooting poorly, it may get the feeling of "here we go again..".  Finally, if the Cowboys can get those wins, and then home to face Texas (which I think is a good team, but they are not the 11th best team in the country), the opportunity will be better than good to get another quality win and push the Orange and White to 4-2 in league play. 

The key to getting some good wins?  It has to be Marshall Moses inside and J-P Olukemi driving.  If Marshall can get going inside, teams will collapse on him, allowing the kickout to Page.  If Olukemi can be effective going to the bucket, it will open up Marshall, Pilgrim, and D. Williams for easy dunks.  It's simply a matter of execution.  Hopefully the guys realize that and can get some good wins!

GO POKES!!