KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Mike Boynton is an early riser. He must be running a major college program while developing choice # 1 projected in the next NBA Draft.
That’s why an image from last fall still stood out for the Oklahoma State coach after a 72-69 victory over No. 10 West Virginia in the quarterfinals of the Big 12 Tournament, Thursday. The moment came after Cade Cunningham – who designed choice # 1 and the 12th player of the year – beat him in the training gym last November, after a season-opening win at Texas-Arlington.
“I came to the gym around 6 am,” said Boynton. “I heard a ball bouncing. I was sure it was one of our returnees or visitors. It was Cade in the gym alone shooting and hitting on his own. It was quite unique to see.”
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Unique, because Cunningham didn’t need to be there. The 1.80 meter freshman who would become the candidate for national player of the year had just debuted with 21 points and 10 rebounds against the Mavericks.
“It’s not like he played badly,” added Boynton. “It was your commitment to the process … I think it brought you credibility with your teammates.”
Off-court credibility was all Cunningham needed. He’s already proved all the loyalty that anyone could ever need by coming to Stillwater, Oklahoma, in the first place. It may have been a closed package – his brother is on the Oklahoma State Technical Commission – but the Cowboys were hit with a one-year ban after a former assistant’s season in the FBI scam scandal. The state of Oklahoma appealed, postponing any penalties. That meant the difference in the best player capable of raising the Cowboys to their first spot in the NCAA Tournament in four years.
“I don’t think anyone expected us to get to this point, especially when sanctions fell and we shouldn’t be getting into the postseason,” said Cunningham. “They thought everyone was probably going to leave. Seeing everyone stay on course … I’m excited to see how far we can go with this.”
The No. 12 Cowboys won their 19th game by advancing to the 12 big semifinals on Friday against Baylor. Boynton’s training and Cunningham’s game made them attend an appointment. On February 27, the freshman was 40 and 10 in Oklahoma in a game that showed his next-level brilliance.
But Cunningham was not the best player on Thursday. The fact that he was on the floor was new. Cunningham missed the regular season final on Saturday in West Virginia with an ankle pain. The Cowboys still won 85-80. Teammate Avery Anderson responded with 31 points, the best of his career.
“This was probably the biggest game of the year and the most fun game of the year,” said Cunningham. “I don’t think anyone other than our locker room believed us at the time.”
On Thursday, Mountaineers coach Bob Huggins made a point of forming a Cunningham team whenever possible. The hostile defense made the star make 15 shots to add his 17 points. Cunningham’s six spins were a fault for his career record.
Just before the break, he was picked clean by Miles McBride of West Virginia and the break ended with McBride diving into Cunningham.
“The best player in the country simply takes the ball from his hands to a tray,” lamented Boynton.
We now have a wider and brighter image of the Pokes after a 42-33 rally in the second half. After Cunningham, there are no other 50 players in the Oklahoma state ranking. They won this game despite the suppression of the star. Cunningham scored his last basket with 6:18 left. In the final stretch were Anderson (17 points) and gun mate Isaac “Ice” Likekele.
It was 6-5 Likekele that made guard Sean McNeil 6-3 of the Mountaineers manage to hit a 3-point ball that tied the game when the time was up. Those five centimeters may have been the difference. McNeil’s 3 hand fell for a second after the clock reached zero.
“I saw a boy in Likekele who would do whatever was necessary for his team to win,” said Boynton. “This is who I am. This is who I was as a player. This is the only chance I had the chance to help a team at the SEC [playing point guard at South Carolina]. I thought I saw all those things on ‘Ice’. ”
The Cowboys made the suspension of NCAA execution an enjoyable story. Oklahoma State is a three-headed force with Cunningham, Anderson (48 points from their last two games) and Likekele, who hasn’t played since February 22 with a persistent foot injury.
Boynton knew he had a player who would fit days in the pre-season camp. He sent Cunningham and Likekele to practice with the greats.
“We never talked about it in recruiting,” said Boynton. “You kind of wonder if you do something you haven’t talked to the boy about, he’ll look at you like, ‘That’s not what we discussed.’
“When I first sent him to work with our grown-ups, he was as excited as anyone.”
Cunningham ended up on guard. This is the type of team you want to go to the tournament. Cooperative. Motivated.
“They had to arrive at 6 am to do [drug] tests, “said Boynton.” We don’t have a morning team. They were not happy about it. ”
The Cowboys must be even more motivated, having lost to Baylor twice for a total of 26 points.
They may one day mention Cunningham in Stillwater in the same way as Garth Brooks – an emerging local talent who passed by OSU on his way to greatness. For now, it is okay to mention Cunningham’s name in the same sentence Luka Doncic. Both are incredibly young – Cunningham is 19; Doncic is 22 years old – and is incredibly refined as a sniper, passer and defender.
This race is not over yet. Before the game, Boynton went to the central court to pose with Cunningham, who became only the fourth player of the big 12 to be elected freshman and player of the year.
“This is nothing against his parents, but I feel like I helped raise him,” said Boynton. “I have been on this journey with him for so long … We had to discuss a lot of difficult things. All the things he wanted to do as a college player are coming up now … It was a very good marriage.” Unfortunately, we are going to have a separation friendly here soon. I hope it won’t be in a few weeks. ”