Freshmen coaches have teams streaking into Big 12 play

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) _ Anybody who thought the upheaval of half of the Big 12 Conference's basketball coaches would result in mediocrity had better think again. <br/><br/>Sean Sutton and 12th-ranked

Friday, January 5th 2007, 6:19 am

By: News On 6

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) _ Anybody who thought the upheaval of half of the Big 12 Conference's basketball coaches would result in mediocrity had better think again.

Sean Sutton and 12th-ranked Oklahoma State have roared to a 14-and-1 start, the Cowboys playing as well as anybody in the country. Missouri, Kansas State and Nebraska also have 10 or more wins as league play begins this weekend.

The only loss for Sutton's Cowboys came last month to Tennessee on a tip-in with 1-point-9 seconds to go. OSU bounced back to beat Pittsburgh three days later, and has wins over Auburn and against Syracuse at Madison Square Garden.

Kansas coach Bill Self says the Cowboys looked great in the win over Pitt and that Sutton is doing a great job.

Sutton may have the least amount of head-coaching experience among the league's six fresh faces, but he also spent 13 seasons parked next to father Eddie on the OSU bench.

The Cowboys also have several experienced players, including leading scorers Mario Boggan and JamesOn Curry.