Texas Basketball: 3 takeaways from huge Big 12 opening win over OK State

3) Takeaways from Texas basketball’s win over OK State

Oklahoma State can’t catch a break

This is going to be a tough season for the Pokes on the hardwood. If they don’t manage to win their NCAA appeal, or delay it long enough, to get their postseason ban lifted, then all will be for naught by landing Cunningham in their illustrious 2020 recruiting class. It would be a shame to see Oklahoma State ineligible for the postseason if they build up the resume to earn a bid for the NCAA Tournament.

Yet, the Longhorns were able to put a dent in Oklahoma State’s resume over the weekend. While it’s not the worst thing for the Pokes to get a close road loss to a top 12 ranked team like Texas, they were close to pulling off the upset. Oklahoma State also started out their Big 12 slate earlier in the week with a home loss at Gallagher-Iba Arena to the TCU Horned Frogs.

And the Pokes lost the Texas and TCU games to begin their Big 12 slate by a combined margin of four points. They found some level of consistency too, allowing 77 points in each game to Texas and TCU.

Oklahoma State didn’t get much production in this game beyond Cunningham, who had a game-high 25 points. But the Longhorns also forced a whopping six turnovers out of Cunningham. There were only two other Pokes that scored in double figures.

Boynton’s squad can’t continue to put all of the pressure of their team onto Cunningham when the motivation of making a postseason appearance might not even be on the table for them. They need to find more answers from the likes of freshman point guard Rondel Walker, junior guard Isaac Likekele, the Boone twins, etc.