#14 Oklahoma State Cowboys at West Virginia Mountaineers
Saturday, February 23, 2013, 2:00 pm Eastern, TV: ESPN2
WVU Coliseum – Morgantown, West Virginia
Opening Line: Oklahoma State -4 1/2
Current Line: Oklahoma State -4
Opening Total: 131 1/2
Current Total: 133
Opening Money Line: OSU -175 / West Virginia +155
Current Money Line: OSU -190 / West Virginia +160
The 19-6 Oklahoma State Cowboys had won 7 straight games going into their Wednesday home game against the Kansas Jayhawks. Both teams came into the game a half game behind Kansas St for the Big 12 lead with 9-3 records. Kansas St had beaten West Virginia 71-61 earlier in the week in Manhattan. Kansas escaped with a 68-67 double overtime win Wednesday in Stillwater, to avenge an 85-80 loss to Oklahoma St in Lawrence earlier this month. It was part of the Cowboys’ 7 game winning streak.
Now the Cowboys find themselves a game behind Kansas and Kansas St in the conference standings. Oklahoma St travels to Morgantown for the first time ever Saturday as they take on the 13-13 West Virginia Mountaineers. WVU is 6-7 in the Big 12, and are currently in 7th in the conference.
This is only the third ever meeting between the schools who are conference rivals for the first time. OSU started off their 7 game winning streak with an 80-66 win in Stillwater January 26. Before that they hadn’t played since 1958.
Oklahoma St is coached by Travis Ford. The Cowboys have losses at Virginia Tech, Kansas St, Oklahoma and Baylor and at home to Gonzaga. OSU has wins over Akron, Tennessee, and North Carolina St in a tournament in Puerto Rico along with home wins over South Florida, Missouri St, TCU, West Virginia, Iowa St, Baylor and Oklahoma. The Cowboys have road wins at Kansas, Texas and Texas Tech. The Cowboys are 12-11-1 ATS and the total is 8-10 this season.
Oklahoma St is outscoring teams 73-62 this season. OSU is shooting 43.5% from the field and 32.7% from 3 point range. The Cowboys are #37 in free throw shooting making 73.8% from the line. Oklahoma St averages 37.3 rebounds per game, and gives up 31.4 per game. Cowboy opponents are shooting 39.3% from the field and 32.7% from 3 point range. OSU is #41 in opponent’s field goal percentage. The Cowboys average 12 assists, 8 steals, 5 blocks, and 12 turnovers a game.
Guard Markel Brown averages 15.9 points, 4.5 rebounds, 2.4 assists, and 1.1 steals per game. Guard Marcus Smart averages 15 points, 5.9 rebounds, 4.4 assists, and 2.9 steals per game. He is probable with an ankle injury. Guard-forward Le’Bryan Nash averages 13.1 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 1.9 assists. Guard Phil Forte averages 11.3 points, 1.5 rebounds, and 1.4 steals. Michael Cobbins averages 6.9 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 1.5 blocks per game. Kamari Murphy, Philip Jurick, and Kirby Gardner make up the rest of the rotation. Guard Jean-Paul Olukemi (knee) is out for the season.
West Virginia has losses at Gonzaga, Davidson and Oklahoma in tournament in Orlando, at Duquesne, to Michigan in Brooklyn, at home against Oklahoma, Kansas St, and Kansas, and road losses at Iowa St, Purdue, Oklahoma St and Baylor. The Mountaineers have wins over Marist in Orlando, Marshall in Charleston, Virginia Tech, Oakland, at Texas twice, TCU twice, and Texas Tech twice. The Mountaineers’ six Big 12 wins have come against the 3 worst teams in the Big 12. Texas, Texas Tech, and TCU are all under .500. WVU is 9-13-2 ATS and the total is 11-13 this season.
West Virginia is outscoring teams 66.1-65.8 this season. The Mountaineers are shooting 41% from the field and 31.6% from 3 point range. WVU makes 69.1% of their free throws. The Mountaineers allow 35.7 rebounds per game and give up 30.7. West Virginia opponents are shooting 43.5% from the field and 35.4% from 3 point range. The Mountaineers average 12 assists, 8 steals, 4 blocks, and 13 turnovers.
Center Aaric Murray averages 9.1 points, 6.5 rebounds, and 1.5 blocks per game. Forward Deniz Kilicli averages 8.9 points and 4.3 rebounds. Guard Eron Harris averages 8.8 points and 2 rebounds. Guard Juwan Staten averages 8.6 points, 2.9 rebounds, 3.3 assists, and 1.3 steals per game. Jabarie Hinds averages 7.9 points, 2 rebounds, and 1.7 assists. Terry Henderson averages 7.7 points, 2.6 rebounds, and an assist. Gary Browne averages 6.5 points, 3.1 rebounds, 1.7 assists, and a steal per game. Matt Humphrey, Keaton Miles, Dominique Rutledge, and Kevin Noreen also get significant minutes.
Oklahoma St is 4-1 ATS in Saturday games and after failing to cover. West Virginia is 5-2 ATS after a straight up loss, 7-18-1 against teams with winning records, 2-6-1 in Saturday games, 2-7-1 at home, 1-6-2 after a cover, and 1-6 at home against teams with winning road records.
West Virginia is much better at home, with an 8-3 record. However, the Mountaineers are in a rebuilding year, and Oklahoma St is a top 15 team. Although the Cowboys will drop slightly with the loss to Kansas. I like OSU to win on the road, but it won’t be easy by any stretch.
