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Oklahoma State Basketball: Despite the loss this season has been remarkable

By Andrew Miller

Mar 4, 2017; Stillwater, OK, USA; Kansas Jayhawks guard Devonte' Graham (4) looks to pass the ball while defended by Oklahoma State Cowboys forward Leyton Hammonds (23) during the second half at Gallagher-Iba Arena. Kansas won 90-85. Mandatory Credit: Rob Ferguson-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 4, 2017; Stillwater, OK, USA; Kansas Jayhawks guard Devonte' Graham (4) looks to pass the ball while defended by Oklahoma State Cowboys forward Leyton Hammonds (23) during the second half at Gallagher-Iba Arena. Kansas won 90-85. Mandatory Credit: Rob Ferguson-USA TODAY Sports /
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Head coach Brad Underwood turned around the Oklahoma State basketball program to a respectable Big 12 contender once again.

The Oklahoma State basketball team finished the 2016-17 campaign on a two-game losing streak after last night’s heartbreaking 90-85 loss at the hands of the no. 1 ranked Kansas Jayhawks. OK State finished the regular season with a 20-11 (9-9 Big 12) record, just one season after only winning three games in conference play in former head coach Travis Ford’s final year in Stillwater.

Head coach Brad Underwood has done a remarkable job turning around this basketball program is such a short span of time. Even the last two losses of the regular season could have gone either way. The road loss on Tuesday to the no. 24 ranked Iowa State Cyclones and last night’s loss to KU came by a combined eight points. That’s a tough but promising way to finish up the season.

OK State enters the Big 12 Tournament with hopes of defeating the Clones in the first round in order to exact revenge on a team that clean swept them during Big 12 regular season competition. That gives them the chance to also defeat KU in the semi-finals of the Tournament.

However, looking back at what was a tremendously fun season to be a part of as an Cowboy basketball fan is what makes this season so great. Gallagher-Iba Arena became a rowdy place to watch basketball games once again. Excitement surrounded home basketball games and fans were also excited to sit down and watch OK State compete on the road.

Maybe best of all, the football season does not seem so far away anymore. The 2015-16 college basketball season was one to completely forget and really move on to the next football season for Pokes fans. That’s something that obviously did not happen this season.

Even though the Pokes’ home winning streak against head coach Bill Self and the Jayhawks ended yesterday, you have to appreciate the return of OK State basketball to a competitive state once again.

The turnaround of players like junior forward Jeffrey Carroll, the progression of point guard Jawun Evans, and the late season arrival of senior forward Leyton Hammonds, all showed how good of a coach Underwood is. Even though Hammonds leaves after this season due to graduation and Evans might declare early for the 2017 NBA Draft, seeing them play multiple seasons at GIA was very special.

Next: Initial halftime reactions against Kansas

The end of the 2016-17 regular season for the Cowboys hopefully does not mark the end of a special run. The Big 12 Tournament and NCAA Tournament breeds Cinderella stories each season, and seeing the Cowboys continue their’s would make this college basketball season even more memorable.

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