Oklahoma State Basketball

There's something about Marcus.

A former McDonald's All-American, Marcus Smart led his high school team to back-to-back Texas Class 5A state championships. He then finished his pre-college career with a gold medal at the Under-18 F.I.B.A. World Championships.

Call it a coincidence, or a direct correlation.

If you've never seen Smart play, you could probably recognize his presence watching highlights on an iPhone. He stands out visually.

When I was his age, I looked like Screech from Saved by the Bell. Smart looks like he's been working out since he was four years old and can build a house with his bare hands. You just don't see this type of on-court maturity, both physically and mentally, from college freshmen.

In just his fourth collegiate game, Smart went head-to-head with North Carolina State junior Lorenzo Brown, widely believed to be the best pure point guard prospect out there. That belief is now in question.

The 6'4'', 225-pound Smart gave the 6'5'', 185-pound Brown a metaphorical "wedgie" before stealing his lunch money and shoving him in a locker. It was brutal.

Smart went for 20 points, seven rebounds, seven assists, four blocks and four steals, shutting Brown down to six points, one assist and seven excruciating turnovers.

He overwhelmed Brown the way James Harden devours his man with aggression on both sides of the ball.

They're both extremely high-basketball-IQ guys, seemingly always involved in the plays that result in two- or three-point baskets. Sometimes it's the pass before the assist that really deserves the credit; whether it be a skip or dribble-hand-off, every move Smart and Harden make appears to have purpose.

Defense to Offense

As two-way guards, neither rest on defense. Both are active, relentless defenders looking to make plays on the ball.

Here's Marcus Smart making a steal on one end and going coast-to-coast for the James Harden-esque euro-step finish on the other.

He's also an exceptional athlete, capable of finishing at the rim using his physical gifts and coordination.

Again, he makes a play on the defensive side of the ball and gets down the floor to finish acrobatically in transition.

Shot-Creating/Scoring

Below is Smart recognizing the mismatch and using his size and offensive skills to create his own shot.

Shooting

Smart has Harden's three-point range, and while he's used to playing on the ball, here's an example of his shooting touch as an off-ball spot-up threat:

Passing

It might be his best overall skill. Marcus Smart is a quick, decisive passer, who, like Harden, can finish with 20 points and 10 assists on any given night.

In the way James Harden is a complete combo guard as a scorer and facilitator, Marcus Smart can wear the same label.

Though Jeremy Lin is listed as the Rockets' starting point guard, James Harden has the ball in his hands for a good portion of the game. That's likely to be the case with Smart, as you just can't afford to go without giving him a touch during a possession.

At this point in their careers, Harden has evolved into more of a scorer, while Smart is more of a point guard. But the Oklahoma State freshman looks like he'll eventually have the option.

James Harden is a comparable and fitting player for Marcus Smart to model his on-court future after. With similar capabilities and a draft filled with question marks, Smart could be a top-five sleeper based on his upside and glowing reputation.

It's been 15 months to the day of my last post on Bleacher/Report, so I figured it was a good enough time as any to announce my intentions on coming back to annoy you with more rants about how everyone is wrong and I'm right (because we all know that I am).

So, for all of those who have been eagerly anticipating just that (I'm guessing none of you), here is my re-debut into the world of online writing:

By now I'm sure most of you sports fans have seen the video of Oklahoma State's Markel Brown jumping out of Gallagher-Iba Arena during the Cowboys' upset win over No. 2 Missouri on Wednesday night. If not, you must watch it below.

One of the reasons that this dunk has been getting so much attention (besides the obvious), is that Brown was ejected from the game after staring down the Tigers' Matt Pressey who was kindly introduced to the sophomore's junk via some major hops.

One of the referees called a technical foul for the celebration, which was Brown's second violation of the game, resulting in the Cowboys' fourth leading scorer and second leading rebounder to spend the rest of the big matchup from the locker room.

I'm usually pretty liberal when it comes to guys showboating, especially when they do something that makes my jaw drop, but Brown should've known better. There are many officials out there that wouldn't have called the fouls, but Brown already had a first-hand encounter with the refs just 88 seconds into the game when he was given his first technical after a block on Missouri's Ricardo Ratliffe.

Due to the importance of the game for Oklahoma State as well as Brown's significance to his team, he should've learned from his mistake and never been ejected. The Cowboys trailed by three after his slam and there were still seven minutes remaining in the contest.

Then again, how could someone tame their emotion when these kind of stare-downs are routine at every level and nearly every sport?

These celebrations aren't necessarily praised by the media, but when Chandler Parsons can find himself all over ESPN for giving a menacing look to Blake Griffin after this, then why wouldn't highlight-reel makers like Brown feel the need to do the same just for a little publicity?

Granted, he is no rookie when it comes to being shown on SportsCenter, but who doesn't like seeing themselves doing incredible things (although I can't say that I know the feeling)? The problem lies in the self-control that someone must have when they A) know the magnitude of the event that they are a part of, and B) understand that the officials are going to be stingy.

Maybe all athletes need to take a short three week course taught by Buckingham Palace guards or 13-year old Australian Open ball boys on how to contain such emotion.

To be fair though, it is pretty fun to watch.

Oklahoma State University women's basketball coach Kurt Budke and assistant coach Miranda Serna were killed in a plane crash in Arkansas that took the lives of all four people aboard, according to NewsOk.com.

The devastating and shocking loss has sent shock waves throughout the sports world and the NCAA community in particular.

Many have taken to Twitter to share their grief and condolences.

Update: Friday, November 18th at 12:13 p.m. ET

Unbelievably, this isn't the first plane crash an Oklahoma State basketball team has had to endure. The Oklahoman's Berry Tramel posted an article on the tragic plane crash that the men's team sustained a decade ago.

The article features this picture of the memorial.

Update: Friday, November 18th at 12:05 p.m. ET

The Oklahoman's Joe Hight tweeted out the link to the Kurt Budke and Miranda Serna guest books, where people are encouraged to sign and share their condolences.

Update: Friday, November 18th at 11:54 a.m. ET

Oklahoma State's most recognizable alumni, Barry Sanders, shared his thoughts and prayers with the families of those affected by the tragedy.

Update: Friday, November 18th at 11:48 a.m. ET

This tragedy not only affects the sports world, but also the Oklahoma community. Oklahoma governor Mary Fallin weighs in.

ESPN's Jalen Rose tweeting about the tragedy is a testament to just how strong the NCAA community is. Rose is now an analyst far removed from his collegiate playing days, and though he has no allegiances to the women's side of basketball or Oklahoma State whatsoever, he is still affected by the tragedy.

Basketball announcer Brenda VanLengen tweeted out an article containing a picture of Budke with his family. It's bad enough that tragedy stuck a talented coach. The fact that it took away a husband and father makes it that much worse.

Fox16 News anchor Kevin Kelly tweeted out the official press release from the university.

More tweets are pouring in as the sports world weighs in on this horrific tragedy, and we will be updating accordingly.

According to reports from NewsOK.com and other news outlets in Oklahoma, a plane crash in Arkansas has resulted in the deaths of Oklahoma State's women's basketball coach Kurt Budke and assistant coach Miranda Serna.

The reports say two more people, including the pilot, who were not associated with Oklahoma State University, died in the crash. There were no survivors.

Budke and Serna were reportedly on a recruiting trip to Arkansas when the plane crashed near Perryville, about 45 miles west of Little Rock.

In a press release from the university, OSU president Burns Hargis said, "the Oklahoma State family is devastated by this tragedy."

“Kurt was an exemplary leader and a man of character who had a profound impact on his student-athletes,” Hargis said. “He was an outstanding coach and a wonderful person. We send our deepest sympathies to his wife, Shelley, and their children, Sara, Alex and Brett."

"Miranda was an up-and-coming coach and an outstanding role model for our young ladies."

Under the guidance of Budke, the Cowgirls made the postseason in each of the past five seasons and have become a force in the Big 12, as well as on a national scale. Budke was in his seventh season at OSU with a record of 112-83.

Oklahoma State has announced that associate head coach Jim Littell will take over as interim head coach. The Cowgirls will not play games originally scheduled for Saturday and Sunday.

Serna was in her seventh season as an assistant at Oklahoma Sate and also worked under Budke as an assistant at Louisiana Tech. Serna was also the recruiting coordinator for the Cowgirls.

Once again, Oklahoma State will be forced to deal with a tragic loss. The OSU family is still feeling the pain of the loss of 10 men in a 2001 plane crash in Colorado, which involved the men's basketball team.

Tragedy has struck the college sports world once again today, as Oklahoma State women's basketball coach Kurt Budke and assistant coach Miranda Serna died in a plane crash. 

As reported by Tulsa World, the two were on a recruiting trip and the small plane went down in Arkansas. 

Oklahoma State spokesman Gary Shutt stated that the pilot and one other passenger, both not associated with the university, also passed away.

In a statement released by the school, university president Burns Hargis said, "The Oklahoma State family is devastated by this tragedy. Our hearts and prayers go out to the families of Kurt Budke, Miranda Serna and the other victims."

Oklahoma State athletic director Mike Holder spoke of how hard-working both Budke and Serna were.

'We are shocked by this terrible loss,' Holder said. 'Kurt Budke was an incredibly positive influence on his players and was a tremendous coach. He quickly turned our program around and put Cowgirl basketball on the map. Miranda was a tireless worker and great recruiter.'

Budke had been coaching the women's basketball team, also known as the Cowgirls, since 2005. He had been coaching basketball since 1991 and accumulated a record of 423-104. He was 50 years old and is survived by his wife Shelley, daughter Sara, who is a student at Oklahoma State, and sons Alex and Brett.

Serna had been an assistant for Budke for seven years, as they both worked together at Louisiana Tech before joining Oklahoma State. She also played for Budke on his 1996 national championship team at Trinity Valley Community College. 

This horrible accident comes 10 months after Oklahoma State commemorated the 10th anniversary of a crash that killed 10 men associated the Oklahoma State men's basketball team. 

Our thoughts and prayers go out to everyone affected by this heartbreaking news. 

As the final seconds on the game clock ticked down down, Oklahoma State head coach Travis Ford and Cowboy fans around the country began asking the same question. 

How will the Cowboys replace junior James Anderson, who declared for the NBA Draft. 

That question will haunt Ford until August. Anderson declared Monday, March 22 at 1 pm. 

But is he really ready? Anderson, the Big 12 Player of the Year, averaged a career high in points this season (22.6) and was the nation's third leading scorer. 

His overall skill set has improved drastically since his freshman and sophomore seasons, transforming from a glorified gunner into a deadly slasher. 

But over the last three games of the season, Anderson struggled against double and triple teams. And in the NCAA Tournament, Georgia Tech just took Anderson completely out of the game. 

His return to normality from his usual superhero form caused the Cowboys to be knocked out in the first round. 

Anderson, selected as a first team All-American, has all the talents to make a solid pro, if not the best to come out of Oklahoma State. 

So as Anderson departs for his childhood dream, his teammates and head coach now must find a way to rebuild an offense that circled around and through him. 

Luckily for Ford, he still has sophomore gunner Keiton Page and the return of freshman point guard Ray Penn whose season ended with a shin injury. 

Next season is far off and there is still some great basketball to be played, but in Stillwater there is work to be done, and it needs to start right away. 

Oklahoma State vs. Georgia Tech – Friday, March 19th, Milwaukee, Wis. – Midwest Region – 4:15 pm

Betting Odds: The seventh-seed Cowboys are the favorites at -1.5 (-110), Georgia Tech +1.5 (-110)
Over/Under: 136
MoneyLine: Currently OFF

This game is in the Mid-West regional bracket and will be played in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Click here to view Our Expert Picks For This Matchup

The Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets are a fascinating case study. By all accounts, they played sorta lousy this season, and coach Paul Hewitt was on the cusp of losing his job. However, the Jackets had an outstanding ACC tournament – making it to the final and even then only coming up short against Duke by four points.

If Georgia Tech can ride that momentum, they could be a potent foe in March.

For its part, Oklahoma State will lean on its do-everything guard, junior James Anderson.

The versatile guard/swingman averaged 22.6 points, 5.8 rebounds and 2.4 assists per game in the regular season. Unfortunately, Oklahoma State has been going the opposite way to the Jackets lately – three of the Cowboys’ last five games resulted in losses.

The Cowboys had a stretch earlier in the season where they won 11 of 12; they need to replicate that magic to make sure they dispose of the pesky Yellow Jackets.

Georgia Tech has no bona fide studs, but do showcase several solid players. Forwards Gani Lawal and Derrick Favors get it done up front, both putting up double-digit points and eight boards per.

Two late-season wins at North Carolina and versus Clemson catapulted Georgia Tech into its surprising success in the conference tourney.

If big men Lawal and freshman Favors can get their opponents into foul trouble, the Jackets certainly have a shot.

Regardless, Tech has been plagued by inconsistency this season, and they will need to shake that reputation if they’re to make a dent in the tourney.

Betting Trends:

Cowboys are 8-2-2 ATS in their last 12 non-conference games
Cowboys are 15-5-1 ATS in their last 21 neutral site games as a favorite
Cowboys are 9-3-1 ATS in their last 13 neutral site games
Cowboys are 37-15-2 ATS in their last 54 games as a favorite of 0.5-6.5
Yellow Jackets are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 neutral site games as an underdog
Yellow Jackets are 6-1 ATS in their last 7 non-conference games
Yellow Jackets are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 neutral site games
Yellow Jackets are 11-4 ATS in their last 15 games following a ATS win

Yellow Jackets vs. Cowboys Free Tournament Pick:Georgia Tech presents some match-up trouble for the Cowboys, but a combination of G. Tech’s unpredictable 2009-10 efforts and the toughness of Oklahoma State probably translate into the Cowboys edging out a win and moving forward.

Score Prediction: Oklahoma State 58, Georgia Tech 55

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Selection Sunday is the most anticipated day of the year for almost all college basketball athletes. Coaches, players, and fans nationwide tune in to CBS to find out if their team was chosen as one of the 65 best in the country.

Oklahoma State head coach Travis Ford had his team well suited to make the tournament—the only question was who and where it played. 

The Cowboys were placed as the seventh seed in what could be the toughest region in the bracket—highlighted by No. 1 overall seed Kansas and Big Ten champs Ohio State. 

The Cowboys will face 10th seed Georgia Tech—which should bring up old memories for Cowboy Nation. The last time these teams faced each other, Tech knocked out the Cowboys in the Final Four in 2004. 

The Midwest Region bracket is highlighted with some of the nation's most talented players. Kansas' Sheron Collins and Ohio State's Evan Turner are two of the most decorated. 

However, the Cowboys may have the region's best player that few have ever seen play. Junior James Anderson is third nationally in scoring and leads a talented backcourt into the tournament. 

Anderson is paired with one of the best overall players in Cowboy history in lone senior Obi Muonelo and explosive sophomore Keiton Page.

Also, juniors Marshall Moses and Matt Pilgrim highlight an undersized yet energetic frontcourt. 

What the Cowboys lack in size, they don't lack in offense. Ford's club really knows how to score, averaging close to 75 points a game. 

But Anderson and Co. will have their work cut out for them, as Georgia Tech has two of the most talented young big men in the country. 

Freshman Derrick Favors stands 6'10" and is one of the best rebounders in the country, and junior Gani Lawal is a constant double-double threat at 6'9". 

Although the Cowboys have beaten teams with similar size (Kansas, Baylor, and Kansas State), they've all been games in Stillwater. They historically have struggled against teams with legitimate size inside. 

However, the attitude of this Cowboy team shows how fearless it is against taller teams. The Cowboys force turnovers and attack the rim consistently—and they show no fear when they attempt to get to the free throw line. 

The Cowboys, should they get hot at the right moment, could become a real competitor to advance to the Sweet Sixteen. 

Round One: No. 7 Oklahoma State v. No. 10 Georgia Tech. Let the madness begin. 

Editor's note: This article was written before the women's Big 12 tournament.

The doctors told Megan Byford she would never play another serious game of basketball again.

She had damaged her knees enough to derail any dreams of a career in the game she loves, they said.

There was little reason for anyone to believe she should be playing basketball after four surgeries in seven years. Her right knee needed operation in 2003, followed by her left one in 2005. Both needed a tune up in 2008. The 2004 surgery to her wrist seems trivial in comparison.

Now a senior, Byford is playing her last few games as a Cowgirl, and with braces wrapped tightly around the bend in each leg and ice packs never far away, Byford is hoping to help lead Oklahoma State to a deep run in the Big 12 and NCAA Tournaments.

“I’m sure doctors have all said if it had been anyone else, there is no way they could play through it with the kind of knees that I have,” Byford said.

Byford is a graduate student working on a master’s degree in teaching, learning, and leadership studies. She graduated with a degree in public relations in May 2009 after transferring from Northern Oklahoma College in Enid after her sophomore year. She’s been a part of OSU women’s basketball in the three years since.

A rigorous daily strengthening and conditioning regimen helps Byford stay on the court. It’s uncommon for an athlete to wear braces on both knees, but Erin Gerlich, an athletic trainer for the women’s basketball team, said they were able to help Byford comfortably adjust and keep her mobility.

“She does a lot of stuff in the weight room to help with her leg strength and quad strength,” Gerlich said. First she comes in and gets her ankles taped, because a lot of her instabilities start with her feet and ankles, and travel up her body. She comes in after practice, and gets in the cold tub for 10 or 15 minutes after practice, and we ice her after the game. At this point, it’s just a lot of maintenance work.”

Byford said she’s been fortunate that her knees haven’t required much attention lately, but last year she did rehab exercises three or four times a week to keep her muscles strong.

“I was in there quite a bit. I could do my own rehab,” Byford said. “They used to crack up and go, ‘All right, get upstairs and go do it,’ because I was in there all the time. I’ve been through it with them.”

The effects of Byford’s injuries aren’t limited to her actions on the court or in the training facility.

Although she’s able to function despite her injuries, her knees have a way of conveniently reminding her they require extra attention.

“They get kind of stiff in the morning,” she said. “I have to stretch them out for a little bit, but after that, I’m fine. They normally don’t bother me. Every now and then, if it gets really cold all of a sudden, sometimes they’ll ache a little bit.

Byford said she is limited in her extracurricular activities.

“I sound like an old person, but fortunately, it’s not something where I can’t walk. Walking from day-to-day,” Byford said. “When my friends go to the lake, I can’t do skiing, and knee boarding, and stuff that involves putting pressure on my knees, but it’s the price you pay for playing a sport like this. Car rides aren’t fun. Having to be folded up in a car seat for a long time, they get stiff.”

Gerlich said Byford’s knees aren’t giving her much trouble now and she’s been responsible about taking care of herself. Unfortunately, Byford hasn’t seen her last needle. She’ll need a set of prosthetic replacements by her 40s.

“Honestly, I’m probably going to have new knees by then. It’s just something I know to expect.

“I’m going to put it off as long as possible. I have a really high pain threshold, so I can handle a lot. It’s just the card that I was dealt, so you just got to learn to deal with it and move on.”

Byford’s family has been her biggest supporters even though it gets tough seeing her in pain after operations and after games, and in everyday activities.

“My mom used to load up ice bags in the car so as soon as games were over in high school or in the AAU, I was in the car icing my knees down and getting ready for the next game,” Byford said. “They took all kinds of precautions to take care of me as best as we possible could.”

Her refusal to quit the game paid off when she caught the attention of Oklahoma State coach Kurt Budke, who noticed Byford’s toughness and recruited her while she was at NOC-Enid.

Budke said he and his staff were expecting about 10 minutes a game off the bench from Byford, but she willed herself into becoming good enough to become an effective starter in the Big 12.

“We weren’t sure when we brought her here that she’d be a starter in the Big 12 because of her knees,” Budke said.

“She’s turned herself into a starter, she outworks everybody every day, she gives everything she has. She might not look like she’s outworking everybody because of the speed and quickness, but for what she can give with those knees, I promise she’s outworking everybody every single day on this floor.”

Byford plans to take her game to the next level for a year after her college eligibility is up. She hopes to join a professional team in a European league and after her year overseas, she wants to come back to OSU and join Budke’s staff.

“I think there are a lot of good basketball teams over there, a lot of good leagues,” Byford said.

“Basically, you’re getting paid to go play the sport you love and get to see Europe at the same time, so I’m all for it.”

Byford said the pain she has suffered is a small price to pay for her experience at OSU.

“I love basketball,” Byford said. “I’m stubborn and I’ve always wanted to prove people wrong. When the doctors told me I wouldn’t be able to play basketball because my knees weren’t good and I’d be in too much pain, I was just like, ‘Oh watch me, I’m going to do it anyway.’

“I’ve had all these injury problems, but I’m still here at a Division 1 getting to play my dream and getting to play all these good teams every night, so it’s still a blessing.'

“I know God has blessed me with the ability to ignore the pain, so he’s been really good to me.”

Four years ago, an unexpected end to an era was approaching, but Edmond Santa Fe senior Obi Muonelo signed his letter of intent anyway.