Must-Win Opener?

Originally Published: Jan 9, 2010 10:8 AM CDT

Talk about your must-win situations.  Travis Ford’s OSU Cowboys could fall right into that scenario tonight as Texas Tech comes to Gallagher-Iba Arena for the Big 12 opener.  The conference is top-heavy, yet deep, and when you add it up that means there should be quite a battle for 4^th, 5^th and 6^th in the league.  That also means no real margin for error for those teams.  The Cowboys and Red Raiders are both in that department.

Marshall Moses should play tonight after sitting out the win over Coppin State because of his arrest.  Say what you want about that, but when I bumped into him after the game Tuesday and spoke with him, I saw a young man visibly humbled.

As for the matchup, OSU must slow Tech guard John Roberson, not let him dictate things on either end of the court.  James Anderson must stay out of foul trouble, and the Cowboys need to keep Mike Singletary from attacking the basket.

A big crowd would help.

Why the must-win other than the above?  It’s a quick turnaround for OSU with Bedlam waiting in Norman on Monday.  An 0-2 start at this point appears to be very difficult to rebound from and keep NCAA Tournament hopes alive.