Cowgirls putting post-season in peril
Oklahoma State’s women’s basketball team seemed to be riding high after a Sweet 16 appearance last season and star point guard Andrea Riley returning.
But this season has not gone well, and the Cowgirls are putting their 2009 post-season in peril.
OSU lost 91-74 at home to Texas on Thursday night, dropping the Cowgirls to 3-4 in the Big 12 and 14-6 overall.
OSU is not in danger of missing the NCAA Tournament. The Cowgirls figure to be included in the field of 64, no matter what.
But State’s performance so far — and the rugged schedule — ahead means a likely mid-level seed in the NCAAs. And almost certain first-round defeat, since the Cowgirls will play without Riley.
Riley must serve a one-game NCAA Tournament suspension for fighting. She took a swing at LSU’s Erica White, striking her in the back of the head during the Sweet 16 game last March.
OSU’s plan was to have a successful season, get a high national seed (3-4 range) and weather the first round without Riley.
Now, no way do the Cowgirls get a seed that high. Here are OSU’s next four games: host OU, host Baylor, at Kansas State, at Texas. The Cowgirls already have lost at home to Texas A&M and Texas, so they will be decided underdogs against OU and Baylor.
It’s quite possible, maybe even likely, that the Cowgirls have just begun a five-game losing streak. And later come back-to-back road games at OU and A&M.
OSU is staring at a 6-10 conference finish, 7-9 if it can find an upset, but even an 8-8 finish isn’t likely to put the Cowgirls into the NCAA seed they need.
A seed in the 7-8-9 range will mean a game against a virtual equal. But Riley won’t play, and the Cowgirls are doomed without her.
It’s hard to envision a team that ever has relied on one player so much. Riley has taken 30.3 percent of OSU’s shots and scored 31.7 percent of OSU’s points. She has the ball in her hands probably 75 percent of OSU’s time of possession. The Cowgirls would have to play a far inferior team not to get waxed without Riley.
The good news is, the tough schedule gives OSU an opportunity to improve that seed and give itself a fighting chance in the NCAA. But nothing the Cowgirls have done so far this season offers hope that OSU can withstand the gauntlet it’s about to face.
-------------Berry Tramel can be heard Monday through Friday from 4:40-5:20 p.m. on The Sports Animal radio network, including AM-640 and FM-98.1. You can e-mail him here and follow him on Twitter @BerryTramel. Visit Berry's website here.
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