Oklahoma State's Nash Breaks Through
If you have not seen the highlights or read about the upset, Oklahoma State's stunning upset over newly-anointed No.2 Missouri was quite impressive. Coming off a huge conference victory over Baylor in Waco, Texas on Saturday, the Tigers could not capitalize and were letdown against Oklahoma State in Stillwater.
A shocking statistic is how well the Cowboys shot- Oklahoma State's offense had yet to shoot better than 50 percent from the floor all season long until their game against Missouri. They shot 59 percent from the field to spark the upset, including connecting on five of six shots to end the game on a 17-4 run.
This surge was led by freshman and former high school all-american, LeBryan Nash. Nash began the season as a potential late-lottery/mid-first round pick based on his explosive athleticism, size and versatility, but unfortunately, shooting woes (under 40 percent from the field entering the game, including 25 percent from 3-point range) has him currently in the second-round pick range. But this breakout could be a sign of things to come; he now has three 20+ point games in his last five, but those two other games, he has ten points combined on 3-of-16 shooting. Nash's big game came just days after a dismal four-point effort at home against Kansas State. To get going, Nash scored in a variety of different ways- sprinting out in transition, slashing through the lane in the halfcourt and connecting from deep on 3-of-4 attempts, just the second time this season he had made multiple attempts from 3-point range.
With games like this, it's too early to start writing Nash off entirely since the potential and talent is there, we just need to see more of it to move him up our Big Board.
By President Corey Ruff - 1 - 26 - 12
