This conference has not been good to the Cowboys and Iba and even Kurland has been surpassed by another 7 footer who is even more talented than big Bob is.  There is some huge movement in Stillwater however and we are not talking about the Almost Famous road trip as alumnus T. Boone Pickens has thrown vast sums of money he earned as a corporate raider into his alma mater.  Does this matter?  Well, rumor has it the Cowboys have brought in their best recruiting class they have ever had and that includes Kurland’s national title group.  Iba has decided to take a chance on embattled former Arkansas Head Coach Eddie Sutton who is also an alumnus and former player for the legendary coach.  Sutton will be the  JV coach and has taken over the primary recruiting responsibilities and he has a plan to get his beloved Cowboys back on top.  Sutton’s plan is to surround Kurland with some talent ready to win and that includes a vast amount of JC transfers as he and Iba want his big man to have one more shot at glory before he goes to work in the Oil Fields!  Sutton of course has an ulterior motive as Mr. Iba has already announced he will joining his long time rival Phog Allen of Kansas and leaving after this year for the greener pastures of retirement.  Or at least International ball!  Sutton will then take over the reins of these Cowboys.  Of course until we see who actually Sutton has brought to Stillwater and if indeed these kids can play and play the style that Mr. Iba preaches ‘The Cowboy Way’ will be thought of as the team that ‘used’ to be great behind the Giant of a man who changed the game!  What is the Cowboy way?  Well, it starts with what Iba had called a ‘delay offense’ which more than takes it time moving the ball around looking for the best shot possible.  That was cool as heck when you could just throw the ball above the crowd to the big man and before the shot clock.  Times have changed and these kids do not want to play that style so it has been harder to recruit.  Of course Sutton will change that supposedly but these Cowboys will still be the best defensive team in the Big 8 and that does not just mean the big man in the middle.  This team will press all day and these new kids better be able to guard somebody or in fact they will not play.  Will this style of play be enough to challenge the stranglehold the boys from Kansas and their Big Dipper have had on this league?  Well if it does it will most definitely be earned on the defensive end of the court!

Iba has brought together a group of almost famous (or in some cases infamous) players who do not get the recognition they deserve.  Leading the way for the Cowboys is the aforementioned seven footer (well some say he is only 6’10 and ½) Bob Kurland.  Kurland is a natural force inside on both ends.   Kurland can score and is an offensive threat but is most important with his ability to guard other big men and blocking opposing players shots.  He still gets carried away and grabs the ball when it is coming down or just swats one in the cylinder even after they changed the goaltending rules.  He had more goaltending calls then anyone in the country but Iba doesn’t mind as it definitely intimidates the other team.  When your re in a league with a Chamberlain and an Adams you must be able to play defense and this is what he does.  His 17 blocks last year against the Sooners two years ago are still a league record some say will never be broken but he still averaged over 4 blocks a game last year and maybe the best rim protector in the country.  And that is saying something.  Sadly since the Cowboys great run behind the big man they have dropped off even to a point of not making the Big Dance.  Some claim the game has passed this svelt big man (he does only go about 220 compared to Wilt’s 275) and his ability to just reach over smaller guys has been neutralized with bigger, more athletic kids coming onto the scene.  This has not affected his defense as much as his offense.  Kurland does have all kinds of moves around the hoop but his favorite is the dunk.  He will throw it down on anyone at any time and does it with the glee of a six year old.  Still, his scoring has reduced in each of the last three years and Kurland who was as legendary as anyone in short shorts is not getting the love he used to.  Especially from the media as the fans, at least in Stillwater, still love their gentle giant. His showdowns with Chamberlain and George Mikan  are already part of the basketball folklore.  Kurland is the face of this program and has almost singlehandedly brought it into the National spotlight.  Kurland is not a household name anymore but he should be.  He is one of the best basketball players in the world and wherever he chooses to play at the next level (there are rumors he may sit out a year and play AAU so he can join Iba on the Olympic team) he will continue to dominate his competition.    . 

Iba uses many players in a variance of roles throughout the season trying to get the most out of his roster.  In the past all of have been a supporting role for the big man underneath to enable him to shine.  That of course has changed since the rest of the world has caught up.   Some of these role players either need to step up and become more dynamic or risk losing their roles to younger, more athletic players.  For instance the three guys that have started the last three years in the backcourt and are still in line to do the same thing this year are in serious trouble of losing not just minutes but their starting jobs this year.  Seniors Cab Renick, Gale McArthur and Cecil Hankins have been worthy contributors to the success of this program.  All three were hugely influential in the team’s run to the national title.  As a matter of fact the trio all started next to each other, McArthur at point and Renick and Hankins on the wings and finished  3rd , 4th   and 5th in scoring to Kurland (of course there was quite gap between them and him).  In the last few years however these gamers have had a hard time keeping up with the bigger, fast studs coming into the league.  I mean trying to guard Ernie Barrett at 6’3 is one thing but Ro Blackman is a whole different beast at 6’6 with the same kind of skills to match and way more athletic.  As for McArthur, who is in reality a swing guard, keeping up with a Larry Drew or Chuck Williams is not what the dentist ordered.  Mr. Iba is loyal and these guys can play but after the last two year slow regression in Stillwater if these guys don’t come up with some new hits then he will have no choice but to go with the kids Sutton has brought to town.  Sure they might be auto tuned robots but if they can sell some records or make this team better then they will play!

This trio has been holding off all comers for a while but a group of back court players have made in roads over the last few years.  Junior Ronnie Daniel plus seniors Don Johnson, Larry Hawk and Jerry Adair have received an increase of playing time with mixed results.  Johnson’s time has came and went as this kid with movie star looks was a huge part of the team’s past success as the first wing off the bench.  Those days seem as long ago as videos on MTV or a Davy Crockett cap but even if Johnson does not get on the court this year the faithful from Stillwater will always look back at this stud who was the ‘tanned man from Minco’ for a minute.  Hawk, on the other hand, has only got better in his four years here.  He is a terrific shooter with range but like his peers is undersized to be playing the wing (6’1) though he is quick enough to guard point guards.  Hawk has increased his playing time more than others and even started some of last year at the point.  He has a real shot of starting this year if his incredible quickness transfers over to the defensive end and at about 170 soaking wet he can match the physicality of the guards in this league.  Adair is a gamer who fits in the Renick mode but is a two guard and at six one might not even get on the court this year.  No worry as Adair’s best sport is baseball anyway!  Daniel has the best chance of this group of getting serious minutes as he a true point guard and this team needs someone to get the ball to the bigs and run the show.  Daniel is not spectacular but is solid and will get his shot at starting.  Odom is a scorer who had some big games last year but also can disappear.  His defense is questionable and on a Iba team that is a mortal sin.  Sophomore Matt Clark came from nowhere, well actually Oklahoma City, and showed he could play with the big boys rather quickly.  After starting on the JV he moved up quickly and this swiss army knife was willing to do anything and play anywhere to get on the court.  At six three he was guarding forwards and showed he could hang with the wings but he also has point guard skills and that is probably where his future will be if is able to come back this year.  Clark, who is more of a character actor than a leading man, had a pretty serious injury but this tough kid has worked his butt off in the past season and Sutton believes he could be ready by the start of the year.  When he got hurt he had taken over as the starting point guard and though it only lasted two games he showed he can run the team and though he is not cat quick he gets the job done on both ends of the court.  This group is not exactly the Eagles (or Kansas or even the Jayhawks for that matter) but we are in Stillwater so they will have to do unless Sutton’s JC and transfer portal guys can play as cohesively and within the system of the great maestro from the get go.  That is asking a lot but the Cowboys most definitely need an increase in talent on the perimeter. 

The front court players supporting Kurland in the trenches might be a little harder to knock off their blocks.  Senior Bob Mattick might not get the publicity of Kurland but this big man can play.  The 6’11 Mattick gave the Cowboys the original Twin Towers though they sure don’t refer to them as that in OKC. On a lesser team he could score 15 a game but Mattick has accepted his role as the 2nd option to Big Bob. This Bob can score and board and might even be better defensively (ok even) than Kurland so if you want to come near the key on these Cowboys bring some power or you are not getting to the rim.  Moreso having Mattick on the floor when Kurland rests and vice versa does not give the opposing teams any relief or any holes to this vaunted defense at least on the interior.  Fellow seniors Arlen Clark, James King, Gene Johnson and Bob Harris has been rotating coming in off the bench for the last three years and have given Iba some toughness and flexibility.  Clark, as a matter of fact was the number two option on the championship team and was almost as effective as the seven footer.  He is only 6’8 however and the four spot suits him just fine.  He may not be the most physical player underneath but he gives Iba another guy who can score and with his jawline he has a future in 80’s style music videos.  Think Big Country meets A-ha!  Speaking of Big Country we will get to that in a second.  King and Harris are more of the bruisers.  They can bang and board but are only 6’7 and around 200 bills so guarding the likes of Tisdale at the four is more difficult than when these guys ruled the world.  King might be the best athlete on the team and is a tremendous defender (he guards both forward positions equally well) but his offense is limited as is Harris’ and with Sutton trying to drag these Cowboys in the new century they are definitely in for a challenge.  King is the favorite as of now to start at the three as Iba loves what he brings to the table and Harris is projected to be the first man off the bench with his rugged style down low and great board work.  Will they keep their jobs or more importantly is there something better coming down the trail for this Cowboy team on a mission to get back to the top of the class. 

All of the talent is not just Sutton’s recruits as there are some athletes already in place up front and in the running for minutes.  Juniors Kevin Fitzgerald, Olus Holder and Andy Hopson as well as sophomores Joe Atkinson and LeRoy Combs are in this group.  Fitzgerald has a shot at some minutes as he can shoot and at 6’6 has enough height to get his shot off even if he is not the most athletic kid on the roster.  This brillow headed kid is way too thin to play the three as he goes about 175 and more importantly his defense is questionable and we know how Iba feels about that.  Hopson is an old school player who can flat board all day but is not all that mobile and just brings more of the same of what this team already has.  This 6’8 rebounder from Chicago is an ordained minister and holds his sermons in the paint but if he plays much this year it will be because the new kids did not pan out. Holder is a 6’6 kid also from Chicago who plays more freely but is still an inside player.  He has a bit more of a chance of playing than his Windy City brother as he can play some three which is an open position the Cowboys are looking to upgrade.  Combs is the best of the bunch and is a combo forward who dominated on JV and will get a chance to get some minutes at either the two or the three.  He is a good athlete who can score and board and if he was just a bit better shooter might be the guy to start at the three on this potentially superb front line.  Atknson is a terrific athlete but he is not a wing at all as he relies on his incredible jumping ability to grab boards, dunk and block more shots than he should at only 6’7.  He played next to Combs and might not get many minutes this year behind those seniors on the block but he is the kind athlete this team needs to keep competitive in this league.  One of these is Sophomore Richard Dumas who came on and became the athletic wing this team lacks.  A leaper who can defend, Dumas can also fill it up from outside and will finish with a bang.  He was very effective guarding more athletic wings for this team.  But the kid does fit his name and was suspended midway through the year for incidences that were deemed detrimental to the team and Iba never let him back on the team.  Will Sutton talk his mentor into bringing this kid back next year as this team could really use his athleticism?  That is the 64.000 dollar question!  There is one other big question for the Cowboys and that is if Oklahoma High School legend Amos Thomas will be eligible.  The 6’7 scoring machine showed he could play when he got here but has been suspended due to playing in a fundraising game and had to transfer to a JC to get playing time.  If he is eligible to come back he could help especially on the offensive end as he led the freshman team in scoring with over 20 a game before his ridiculous suspension.  It’s a wonder someone in the portal has not picked up this kid but he was raised in Oklahoma and is loyal and no way is he playing for the Sooners.  He might get that from Iba who will not even stay in Norman when they have to visit for their yearly game.  The hatred there is real and this year it will be no less as these two teams fight for status and national recognition behind the almost hated as much Jayhawks. With a front line like the Cowboys had perimeter shooting and defense from the backcourt was essential and these guys came through.  If not then Sutton better have some rabbits up his sleeve from this freshman class or the Cowboys are in trouble on the wings. After all the days of Don ‘Crockett’ Johnson and AL ‘Tubbs’ Bennett manning the two and three are long gone in Stillwater as they have become more vice than vanity.  And Stillwater is not Miami Beach!   

Now for those incoming studs that Sutton has been raving about.  The biggest of this group and we do mean this literally is freshmen Bryant Reeves.  This small town kid (Gans, Oklahoma population 346) is as green as they come and as the slew of recruiters found out he has never been far out of the woods but he has the biggest prerequisite there is to being a basketball player.  Size.  This true seven footer with the butch haircut is all of 270 pounds and is way more mobile than you think for a kid from the sticks.  He might not play much this year behind Kurland and Mattack but there aint no way banging against those two for an entire year can’t help this kid improve by leaps and bounds.  After all the center position in Stillwater is his for the taking NEXT year!  A couple of guys who will play right away are forwards Byron Houston and Desmond Mason.  Houston may only be six five but he is an inside/out beast.  He uses every bit of his 250 pounds to get whatever position he can inside and then throttles you with his massive chest.  He might not start right away but this kid will play.  Mason has the best chance of starting right away as he is a 6’7 wing who does everything well.  A phenomenal athlete who can flat sky to the moon Mason so far has been more dunker than basketball player but that will change under Iba and Sutton.  The kid has a bright future but like all kids coming up it does not matter how high you jump anymore but how good you are from behind the arc.  The biggest recruit was a little late to the party but James Anderson might be just what Mr. Iba ordered when he brought in Sutton.  Anderson is a 6’6 slasher who can get to the hoop but also has a developing if inconsistent long-range game. Anderson led his Junction City team to the Arkansas state title and scored 43 in the championship game and was a Mickey D’s AA.  He has a good chance of playing some regular minutes on the wing but there is stiff competition as Sutton has brought in a slew of JC kids plus is taking full advantage of the new portal rules to bring some fresh talent to Stillwater.  Nobody ever said Eddie couldn’t recruit.  They only wondered how he got all of those wonderful kids to come his way! No matter the method as the Cowboys need a rejuvenation of talent for Iba’s final curtain at the Madison Square Garden of the Plains. 

Hank Iba knows what he is doing. He has got the Cowboys from Oklahoma State to the pinnacle of basketball.   Mr. Iba has shown he can take a star and surround him with OK talent and win.  And win big!  Of course that was a few years ago now and this program has slid backwards quite a bit.  Since joining the Big 8 the Cowboys have been average at best, far from their national championship days coming from the Missouri Valley Conference.   He still has a superstar big man (though you might not know his name) and a group of supporting seniors ready to make one more run down the road/trail to glory. These players may not be the Greek Gods of folklore but they are legends in Stillwater.  And always will be.  But for this team to get back on top or anywhere near that Iba’s former player Eddie Sutton better have brought the horses for these Cowboys to ride.  If this huge crop of studs coming into Stillwater are half as good as they are saying they are this team might just challenge those hated Jayhawks for Big 8 supremacy once again.  And who knows maybe Hank and big Bob Kurland gain regain those bragging rights they have had over the Phog and the Stilt this program had so many years ago.  But remember even in those days the Cowboys were winning from the Missouri Valley and not the Big 8 as Allen and company do not take kind to outsiders trying to break up their monopoly of this power five conference!