The Cowboys are 14-4 (2-2) with losses to Rhode Island in Connecticut and at Oklahoma and Baylor. The Cowboys return 3 starters from a squad that posted a 23-12 overall record, including a 9-7 mark in conference play in 2008-09. The Cowboys are projected to finish 6th in the Big XII.
The Cowboys are lead by G's James Anderson, Obi Muonelo and Keiton Page and F Marshall Moses. Anderson is averaging 22 points/game (leads the team), 6 rebounds/game and 2 assists/game. Anderson entered his name into the NBA Draft last season but pulled out which was a surprise to everyone. The OSU star ripped Texas for 35 points in Austin on Feb. 10. He also torched Oklahoma for 37 points in the regular-season finale March 7 in Norman.
Muonelo is averaging 12 points/game, 5 rebounds/game and 2 assists/game. Only six players averaged more rebounds last season than Muonelo. The shortest among them was 6'7". Their average height was 6'9". Four were at least 6'10". Two were taken in the NBA draft. He is difficult to guard from the outside because of his size and conditioning.
Page is averaging 10 points/game, 2 rebounds/game and 2 assists/game. Page had three 20-point games in his first season and reached double figures 14 times. The Cowboys went 11-3 in those games. He was one of three OSU players to rank in the top 10 in the Big 12 in three-point percentage, and he ended up with 63 three-pointers.
Moses is averaging 12 points/game, 10 rebounds/game (leads the team) and 1 assist/game. Once Big XII play started last season Moses went from averaging 2 points and 2 rebounds/game to averaging 9 points and 9 rebounds/game.
G Ray Penn leads the team in assists with 3 assists/game. Penn averaged 22 points/game, 2 rebounds/game, 4 assists/game and 2 steals/game at Travis HS/Richmond, Texas and is looked upon to replace Byron Eaton. He's a blur with the ball, and, although he only averages 8 points/game, he's a scorer first.
The Cowboys have concerns with their depth and their strength is their backcourt. I expect the Cats to exploit their advantages on the boards and behind the arch (they won't go 1-12 again) to pull away in this game.