Oklahoma State started last season 15-1, but a 6-10 Big 12 record was not good enough to get them in the NCAA Tournament field. Can the Cowboys get back to the dance this season? Our 2007 Oklahoma State Cowboys betting preview tells all.

Oklahoma State clearly should have been dancing a year ago. Their 15-1 start featured solid wins over Syracuse, Pitt, and Missouri State, but a case of the injury bug greatly slowed the Cowboys as they went through league play.

Head coach Sean Sutton looks to get his boys back in the Tourney by using their depth and athleticism to press full-court almost the entire game. He wants to dictate the tempo, placing the pressure on their opponents to deal with it. I like this direction and I feel like it will be the thing that gets the Cowboys program back to its tradition of winning.

Defensive stopper Marcus Dove, point guard Byron Eaton, offguard Obi Muonelo, and freshman swingman James Anderson will be featured on this year’s team.

The frontcourt is this team’s biggest area of concern, but that weakness will disappear if Sutton gets his boys running and gunning. His big men are athletic enough to finish in transition and to beat opposing bigs down the floor. I don’t see them being as successful in the half court game. Guys like Marcus Dove and Kenny Cooper are not polished post players, but I think they can thrive in Sutton’s new system.

Even with Jameson Curry departing to the NBA, the Cowboys still have solid depth in the backcourt. Eaton has battled weight problems and it only makes sense with his name being "eat-on." All joking aside, jf he can trim down a few pounds, he could be one of the top points in the Big 12. James Anderson should make a major impact on the wing right away. He can flat out score. The 6'6'' guard/forward averaged 38.4 points per game as a senior in high school leading his team to a state title. He is projected to start right away for Sutton’s squad. Many think that Anderson could be one of the top recruits ever signed by the Cowboys.

Injuries did take a major toll on this team last year. A healthy squad who buys into Sutton’s 94 feet of hell, pressure defensive scheme will get back to the NCAA Tourney in my estimation to start another run of Tourney appearances. Expect the Cowboys to finish in the upper third of the Big 12.

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