Michigan Basketball will have its hands full with Oklahoma State

Some believe Michigan basketball deserved better than a No. 7 seed, and now the Wolverines have a tough matchup with No. 10 Oklahoma State.

They’re happy out in Stillwater, Oklahoma, and they should be.

Oklahoma State, which is probably better known for its wrestling and baseball programs, was ousted in the first round of the Big 12 tournament by Iowa State, but the Cowboys made it to the “big dance” anyway on Sunday with a No. 10 seed in the Midwest regional.

The Cowboys—could there be a more fitting mascot for a team from Oklahoma?—ended the regular season with a 20-12 record, and like Michigan basketball, they got off to a slow start in league play. And then, like the Wolverines, they seemed to turn their season around and are peaking at just the right time.

This is not a team to take lightly, and coach John Beilein seems to realize that. The Cowboys may be a No. 10 seed, but they’ve got some advantages.

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While Michigan has been working hard, for example, playing four games in five days, Oklahoma State has been resting and waiting for its chance. Michigan will need to rest and then get mentally prepared for a tough first-round opponent.

Oklahoma State has a very efficient offense, and the team ranks No. 8 nationally in scoring with an average of 85.5 points per game. This is a team that likes to run.

But they do more than score. They’re also one of the best rebounding teams in the country. Just about everyone gets into the act, with rebounds going in just about equal numbers to Phil Forte, Davon Dillard, and Mitchell Solomon. And pulling down rebounds consistently has a way of getting the fast break started.

And then there’s the defense. The Cowboys seem to switch with ease between man-to-man and zone, and they also seem to keep their opponents guessing about the defensive look they’re going to see.

Beyond all of that, the Cowboys are a confident team, and based on statements Sunday night from the coach and players they don’t seem to be in awe of the Wolverines.

Las Vegas has Michigan up by 1.5 points right now, but the talking heads seem to be giving Oklahoma State the nod. CBS’ Matt Norlander tweeted on Sunday: “Give me Oklahoma State over Michigan. I love that matchup for the Cowboys.”

But don’t count out the Wolverines. They’re playing their best basketball of the season, and after winning the Big Ten championship for the first time in 20 years, their confidence is sky-high too, and for good reason.

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