Mike Boynton’s Biggest Week at O State So Far

It was a great week for Mike Boynton’s O State Cowboys as they defeated two ranked Big 12 opponents with wins over Texas Tech and OU.

The road gets even tougher this week with three games in the next six days for Cade Cunningham and Co.

Tonight it’s Bedlam in what will clearly be the biggest game played in Stillwater hoops in quite some time with a national audience on ESPN’s Big Monday Game. What a great opportunity for Mike Boynton to close the deal on a couple of recruits to fill some of the void after Cade’s departure to the NBA this summer.

It’s rumored O State by way of Canadian MA Moncrief has O State in a very strong position to sign one of the top college recruits in Canada to come to Stillwater next season.

What a week for Mike Boynton to showcase his program, but it will require pretty much what we witnessed this past Saturday in Bedlam.

Namely, Cade Cunningham not showing any hesitancy in being the best player on the floor and leader of this O State team. From this point in all the deference Cade showed up until this past Saturday needs to continue melting away with him being the unabashed star and yet making the guys around him more confident in their games.

Like Danny Manning did in ’88 with his miracle Jayhawks of Larry Brown.

Cade only took 21 shots from the field to score 40 points in Bedlam…that’s Kevin Durant-like efficency scoring the basketball. I see no reason for Mike Boynton not to take his star aside in private and simply say, “Go.”

Again…I bleed Crimson and losing any game hurts, but I love the notion that we could possibly be witnessing something generational in Cade Cunningham if he takes the next step in every game in however far O State’s season goes.

Just as a fan of the game—I want to see more of this from Cade this week in these three closing games of the Big 12 regular season for Mike Boynton’s team. I actually think both Rondel Walker and MA Moncrief should play better at home tonight than they did in Norman on Saturday. Same with Avery Anderson and the Boone twins as well. Plus, someone like Bryce Williams or Flavors might provide some clutch perimeter scoring.

Since Mike Gundy’s team in reality didn’t play any relevant football games of any consequence in Stillwater this past season–I would think even with Covid protocol in place…AD Mike Holder will allow enough fans inside Gallagher-Iba to create a fairly loud home court setting.

As we all saw and I called on Friday—Kansas rather easily handled Baylor on Saturday night in Lawrence. The conference tournament will literally be up for grabs next week in Kansas City. Baylor is in a funk following their Covid hiatus from playing games.

For Lon Kruger’s team tonight–I hate to be this cold, but either Brady Manek steps up his game or there’s no reason for him to be on the floor as a senior. Brady Manek, step up.

In 1988—Danny Manning and the Miracles were a No. 6 regional seed.

I was there. I saw it with my own eyes the year my son was born.

Turn it loose, Cade Cunningham…. the basketball world is watching.

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