Cowboys want to add conference tourney title

DALLAS -- Oklahoma State is small but quick, athletic but not deep. Cowboys coach Eddie Sutton has another word to describe his club: mature.

Their ability to grow up fast has enabled a group featuring three transfers to blossom into the Big 12 regular-season champions and the favorites going into the conference tournament.

"We've had teams that were more talented, but I think they're more mature in their approach to the game," Sutton said Wednesday. "There's no doubt the chemistry of the ballclub is as good as any I've had since I've been here."

The Big 12 tournament begins today with three first-round games: Iowa State-Kansas State, Oklahoma-Nebraska and Missouri-Texas A&M.

Seventh-ranked Oklahoma State, No. 11 Texas, No. 18 Kansas, Colorado and Texas Tech all have byes into the second round Friday.

Only the top four seeds usually get to skip the first round, but Baylor's self-imposed postseason ban for violations under deposed coach Dave Bliss made way for one more. It ended up being Bob Knight's Red Raiders.

"I've never spent any time worrying about what could've been or might've been," Knight said. "There it is. Let's take it and go from there."

Sutton had a similar attitude when the season began.

While he liked their potential, he wondered how his trio of newcomers -- point guard John Lucas III of Baylor, power forward Joey Graham of Central Florida and shooting guard Daniel Bobik of BYU -- would blend with holdover stars Tony Allen and Ivan McFarlin.

The Cowboys' soft inside play in a loss at BYU in the fifth game became the turning point. Sutton brought football gear to the next practice, helping develop a toughness that's become their hallmark, even though their tallest player is 6-foot-9.

"They got a big shock when we went into Salt Lake City and BYU beat us," Sutton said. "They came back and became very dedicated. They listened to the coaches and they continued to get better. That's a sign of maturity."

The Cowboys lost only twice more, going 24-3 and 14-2 in conference play. Having won their first outright conference title since 1965, they're after their first conference tournament championship since 1995.

Oklahoma State hopes to become the first regular-season champ to win the postseason tournament since Iowa State in 2000.

Even if it happens, the Cowboys are a long shot to get a No. 1 seed in the NCAA tournament. They're practically a lock for a No. 2.

Other rewards for this surprising season already have arrived. Sutton was named coach of the year by The Associated Press, while Lucas and Tony Allen were both honored as players of the year -- Lucas by the AP, Allen by league coaches.

"We wouldn't be where we are today without both of them," Sutton said.

The guard-led Cowboys average 79 points per game and allow just 63. They lead the conference in shooting percentage (51.4 percent), mostly because of their relentless drives to the basket. They're also the league's second-most accurate 3-point shooters at 38.7 percent.

The only Big 12 team that scores more is second-seeded Texas, but the Longhorns (21-6) have lost two straight for the first time this season. Another loss Friday could hurt their NCAA seeding because they might be considered a team that's skidding into the tournament.

Texas' problems began at Oklahoma State in a game that determined the top seed in this tournament. The stumbling continued with a 58-48 loss in a relatively meaningless game at Kansas State. It was by far the Longhorns' fewest points this season.

"If we rebound like we have the last couple games, we probably won't win any more games," Texas coach Rick Barnes said. "We also need to get to the free throw line more."

Oklahoma has won the last three Big 12 tournaments, but it would be a huge upset if the Sooners do it again.

Seventh-seeded OU (18-9) has just eight scholarship players following the suspension of Jabahri Brown, who is facing misdemeanor drug possession charges. Two freshmen and a sophomore start, and two more freshmen are top reserves.

The Sooners probably need a win or two to keep alive their streak of nine straight NCAA appearances. Coach Kelvin Sampson's personal streak is at 10, counting one at Washington State.

"I told them to just have fun," Sampson said. "If we win, we're in. If we don't, we'll go home and have more practices and hope we get in."