Oklahoma State Cowboys: 20-12 (9-9 in the Big 12)
Head coach: Brad Underwood (1st season)
Players to watch: Jawun Evans (19.0 PPG, 6.2 APG); Jeffrey Carroll (17.4 PPG, 6.6 RPG, 43.4 3PT%); Phil Forte III (13.3 PPG, 42.0 3PT%)
Season recap: Oklahoma State snagged one of the hottest names on the coaching carousel last summer, hiring Brad Underwood from Stephen F. Austin after previous head coach Travis Ford was let go. Underwood’s team had a strong nonconference performance, only losing at Maryland and against then-No. 4 North Carolina. But the Cowboys had a brutal start to Big 12 play, losing six straight games, before recovering to win nine out of their next 10 league games, including a big road victory at then-No. 7 West Virginia to build serious momentum going into postseason play.
Oklahoma State is fueled by its high-powered offense, which racks up an average of 85.5 points per game led by a dynamic backcourt trio. The catalyst for the Cowboy offense, first-team All-Big 12 point guard Jawun Evans is one of the top players in the nation and can single-handedly take over games with his shot-making and passing. Evans primarily dishes to a pair of sharpshooters in Jeffrey Carroll and Phil Forte III, who also have the green light to fire away from deep at any given moment.
As impressive as Oklahoma State is on the perimeter, the Cowboys struggle mightily in the paint—one of the main reasons the team enters the Big Dance coming off three straight losses, two to Iowa State and one to Kansas.
How they make a run: Evans ditches the label as of one of the most underrated players in the country by gaining national notoriety with a memorable tournament run. The dynamic guard powers the Cowboys to eye-popping offensive numbers and a few early upsets.
How they falter: Oklahoma State's lackluster defense—the worst in the Big 12—and the team's inconsistent play inside leads to a first-round upset despite Evans' heroics.
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