How Oklahoma State went from taking good shots to great shots entering Big 12 play
Jacob UnruhOklahoman
STILLWATER — Two large pieces of paper are taped to a wall of Oklahoma State’s practice gym, each featuring the words and details of several shooting drills.
One is a chart with every current Cowboy listed and some numbers written in black marker posting results under each drill.
The other is the key to each drill, details of what must be accomplished.
“CADE SHOOTING.”
“DZIAGWA SHOOTING.”
“EDDIE SUTTON SHOOTING.”
“RUTHERFORD SHOOTING.”
Each drill — eight in total — recognizes a great in Cowboy history and provides an opportunity to improve.
“It gives you something visual,” OSU coach Mike Boynton said. “And obviously the guys on our team know the guys on the wall and maybe want to have their name on a drill one day.”
In a season that has emphasized improved shooting to set the path back to the NCAA Tournament, the Cowboys have turned to the past in search of success.
Though the drills were primarily used in summer workouts, the Cowboys have a new-found confidence in their shooting ability at just the right time. They face No. 4-ranked Kansas at 1 p.m. Saturday in Allen Fieldhouse to open Big 12 play.
“It’s been pretty good,” OSU senior guard Avery Anderson III said. “We just have to stay with our method and just shoot the ball and don’t get our confidence low. Just keep shooting it and see the ball going in.
“Competing with each other and trying to see who got the best score helped us a lot.”
A year ago, the Cowboys were one of the worst 3-point shooting teams in America. They’re nowhere close to one of the best now, but there has been a noticeable improvement.
OSU is shooting 32.5% from 3-point range, well above last season’s total of 29.5%.
The emphasis — more so than in the past — has been on taking great shots more than just good shots.
“I’m still growing as a coach, so it’s fair to say it’s been more than it has been,” Boynton said. “Part of me had to look up and realize the shots we were taking weren’t good enough to win in big games.
“It’s turnovers specifically, but also sometimes an ill-advised shot at a bad time from the wrong person is not much different from a turnover and a lot of times leads to the same result — a transition basket for the other team when we’re a really half-court defensive team.”
A more disciplined approach was formed. The Cowboys have slowed down offensively, though that’s been tough for a team that’s able to play faster than most in the country.
Against Big 12 teams — especially Kansas on Saturday — it’s important to get the great shots.
“It’s a lot of emphasis on it but at the end of the day, we’ve got to play our style of basketball,” OSU senior forward Kalib Boone said.
That’s why the shooting drills were formed for the summer workouts.
They were primarily designed by assistant David Cason and director of player development Keiton Page, who has a drill in his name.
And the benefit has shown, especially the past month.
Caleb Asberry has the top score in the drill named after Cade Cunningham — 15 transition 3s off the dribble starting from halfcourt, making three shots at five different spots. The goal is to make 10 of 15. Asberry made 12.
Anderson leads the way in the Page drill, scoring 124 out of 150. A player must shoot 3s from all seven spots on the floor, remaining in one spot until missing two straight.
And while the players have rarely attempted the drills since the summer, the impact of the work has shown.
“I just try to get five in a row makes up,” said Anderson, who said he spent the Christmas break shooting daily in the gym.
Now, as Big 12 competition begins, here is a look back at nonconference play:
Top two players through non-conference play
Moussa Cisse: The Cowboys’ 7-foot-1 center has taken a step forward this season, improving offensively while remaining one of the best shot blockers in the country. He easily leads the Big 12 in blocks (35) and rebounds (130). He’s also second in offensive rebounds (36). Cisse has five double-doubles, which is second in the Big 12, just one behind Kansas’ Jalen Wilson. And to measure Cisse’s impact, consider his foul troubles at undefeated UConn. He went to the bench less than 3 minutes into the game, missing the rest of the half. OSU fell behind by 20 but recovered in the second half as he played, falling by 10 — at the time the closest margin of defeat against the Huskies.Kalib Boone: OSU’s senior changed positions — going from center to power forward — and became the Cowboys’ best offensive options, even with some inconsistency. Boone is averaging a career-best 9.5 points while shooting 52%. He’s already scored in double figures five times this season after just six times a year ago. Boone has also stretched the floor and provided strong defense. But his footwork in the low post should also be commended. It’s pure art.
Player on the rise
Bryce Thompson: A McDonald’s All-American and the team’s second-leading scorer on the rise? Absolutely. Thompson’s poor start shooting deep this season — along with others — put the Cowboys in an early bind. But he’s caught fire from deep, making four or more 3-pointers in three of the past four games. Since returning from the Bahamas trip in late November, Thompson has made 18 of 40 from 3. He made just 2 of 16 in OSU’s first five games.Cisse blocks by the numbers
35: Total this season, which puts him well on pace to surpass last season’s total of 54, which led the Big 12 by 19.19: Blocks at home this season, which is still more than the total of Texas Tech’s Daniel Batcho, who is second in the Big 12 with 16 blocked shots.
9: Blocks in the month of December, an average of 1.8 per game. Cisse averages 2.9 blocks per game on the season.
Stat to know
335: The Cowboys rank 335th nationally on KenPom.com in defensive free-throw percentage. It’s an odd stat but one that indicates the Cowboys are running into some bad luck against opponents, who are making 76% of their free shots against the Cowboys. As Boynton joked earlier this season, perhaps they are fouling the wrong guys. OSU was ranked even lower in the stat just a few weeks into the season.Anderson, Boone to play 100th game
Saturday’s game will be the century mark for games played for both Anderson and Boone, which ties them at 45th in program history for all-time games played.“It’s crazy because I feel like just yesterday I was a freshman walking on campus,” Anderson said. “It’s amazing to see how far I’ve come with my brother Kalib.”
Their freshman class included six players.
They are two of three — joined by Chris Harris Jr. — who remains.
Health update
Thompson tweaked his ankle Friday and missed the final portion of practice. Boynton said he anticipates Thompson to play Saturday against his former team.Asberry — who missed the last two games with a seasonal illness — was also a full participant in practice.
