If Oklahoma State is going to reach its goals, coach Steve Lutz wants the Cowboys to tighten up on the defensive end.
That assignment starts Saturday against Nicholls in Stillwater, Okla.
In a 103-95 home win over South Florida on Wednesday, the Cowboys gave up too many easy baskets, according to Lutz. He said once Big 12 play begins, Oklahoma State won’t be able to have nearly as many possessions as it did against the Bulls.
Games will get tighter and attention to detail when it comes to blocking out, getting hands into the passing lanes and closing out on shooters will be important. The Cowboys chart deflections on the defensive end, and Lutz wants that number to increase.
“We’ve got to get better defensively,” Lutz said. “We can’t continue to allow people to shoot open threes when we know they are great 3-points shooters. We can’t continue to allow people to beat us off the bounce and get into the paint and cause problems for us.”
USF shot 46.9% from the field (30 of 64), including 15 of 39 (38.5%) from 3-point range.
Vyctorius Miller led the Cowboys with 24 points and drilled all four of his 3-point attempts against the Bulls. Kanye Clary had a double-double with 12 points and 11 assists, while Anthony Roy and Christian Coleman each added 15 points off the bench.
Even with their defensive shortcomings, Lutz sees a bright future for the undefeated Cowboys.
“We are 5-0,” Lutz said. “We’ve got a heck of a ball team that I think we can do big things this year if we continue to grow on the defensive end of the basketball (court).”
Nicholls enters in search of its first win after four defeats, all away from home, including the season opener at then-No. 9 Kentucky, a 77-51 setback. The Colonels lost their last contest 99-79 at Murray State on Nov. 15. Five Colonels scored in double digits led by Jalik Dunkley (18 points) and Trae English (17).
Nicholls coach Tevon Saddler praised the athleticism of the 6-foot-7, 200-pound Dunkley, a sophomore transfer from NAIA Arizona Christian. Saddler said the numerous transfers into the Colonels’ program are starting to gel.
“We have 10 transfers and they’ve all done a good job of understanding this is bigger than them as individuals,” Saddler said. “They’re doing a great job of playing with purpose and passion.”
English, a redshirt senior guard, leads the team in scoring average (14.0 points per game) and assists (2.5). Sincere Malone, a senior forward, and Dunkley each average 4.8 rebounds per game.
