STILLWATER — Atwood Newton Sr. at all times believed this season was going to be completely different for his son.
“This is going to be his year,” Newton usually instructed his spouse, Linda.
Woody Newton was unaware of the unwavering perception from his father.
Atwood died on Nov. 10. It was as much as Linda to move alongside the message.
Woody considered the religion his father had all day Wednesday. He wished to speak to him, share some good news.
He knew Atwood can be proud.
Woody made his first-career begin in Wednesday’s 72-56 Bedlam win and performed the perfect sport of his profession. And the 6-foot-9 junior did it for his father.
More:How Bedlam win exhibits Oklahoma State’s Avery Anderson III is ‘getting again in his groove’
“I just took that to heart,” Woody stated about his dad’s perception. “He was saying that, so I gotta make that come true.”
Newton discovered he can be beginning through the Cowboys’ shootaround Wednesday. He was inserted into the beginning 5 for the Cowboys’ play designed to open the sport.
His feelings have been excessive.
He delivered with a career-high 12 factors, making the opening 3 of the second half after which delivering the dagger trey late in the sport.
“That’s another dream, just put them away,” Newton stated. “That’s one of the biggest shots of my career.”
Newton, who transferred from Syracuse earlier than final season, has been constructing to this second.
It’s simply taken a bit longer than he anticipated.
Last season, his position was restricted as he adjusted to the Cowboys. This season, he’s extra snug in his skillset. He provides the Cowboys an enormous stretch choice after they host No. 12 Iowa State at 1 p.m. Saturday.
More:Oklahoma State males’s basketball roars previous OU in second half to win Round 1 of Bedlam
“Our staff has done a really good job sticking with him,” OSU coach Mike Boynton stated. “There’s been some frustrating times because we know he has more in him. Obviously, he’s been through a lot personally.
“I think at this point now he’s trying to enjoy the process a little bit more and not worried what’s going to happen a year from now, five years from now.”
Losing a father can have that impression.
Atwood was the rationale Woody started taking part in basketball as a younger little one in Washington D.C.
Atwood and Woody’s older nephew usually took him to NFL and NBA video games.
Woody fell in love with sports activities. Then he grew right into a basketball star at Mt. Zion (Maryland) Prep.
“Without my father and my nephew, I wouldn’t play sports,” Woody stated.
He wouldn’t be in the beginning lineup for the Cowboys.
Making the leap to a much bigger position couldn’t come at a greater time for each OSU and Newton. His presence in the beginning 5 stretched the ground for an offense that has been slowed down.
And Newton took a step ahead that his father knew was coming.
“My time is finally here,” Newton stated.
Here is a glance again on the week:
More:Eric Dailey Jr. joins Oklahoma State basketball 2023 recruiting class. Meet the others.
Top two gamers this season
Moussa Cisse: The Cowboys’ most dynamic participant performed simply 2 minutes and obtained a standing ovation this week, his first motion in greater than two weeks after struggling an ankle harm. The 7-foot-1 junior nonetheless leads the Big 12 in blocks and rebounds per sport. He additionally made an instantaneous impression Wednesday, forcing OU’s Jalen Hill right into a touring violation close to the rim on his first defensive journey. There stays no participant extra important to the Cowboys’ success than Cisse.
Kalib Boone: Boone was very restricted in the loss at Baylor, failing to attain till 3 minutes remained in the sport. Then, he scored eight factors. Foul hassle was an enormous challenge on high of the lopsided outcome. But the Tulsa Memorial graduate rebounded in opposition to the Sooners, scoring 15 factors and grabbing seven rebounds in probably his closing dwelling Bedlam matchup. Boone has averaged 12.3 factors and 6.0 rebounds in six Big 12 video games.
More:Kalib Boone is discovering consistency for Oklahoma State basketball, however he is ‘gotta be extra’
Top participant this week
Avery Anderson III: The Cowboys’ senior guard had back-to-back video games scoring in double figures for the primary time since early December. He additionally had eight assists and he performed dynamic protection, notably in the Bedlam win. But maybe his largest stat is the dearth of turnovers. Anderson had only one in two video games. He’s had simply 4 in the previous 4 video games.
More:Oklahoma State basketball goes ‘again to the drafting board’ after blowout loss at Baylor
Player on the rise
Newton: Armed with the flexibility to stretch the ground extra like a guard, Newton’s minutes have persistently elevated all through Big 12 play. He even made his first-career begin in Bedlam and had a profession evening. But he’s performed improved protection and has been a robust rebounder, with 11 in the previous two video games.
Updated bracketology
The Cowboys are actually on the skin of NCAA Tournament projections.
Entering Friday, they have been the ultimate staff in the “Next Four Out” class of ESPN’s Bracketology, a slight enchancment from simply being a staff into consideration.
The easy approach to change that’s to win. With No. 12-ranked Iowa State and No. 7 Texas developing subsequent, the Cowboys could make a severe transfer.
They nonetheless challenge properly in the metrics, rating No. 45 in the NCAA N.E.T. Rankings, an 11-spot soar following the Bedlam win. OSU can also be No. 34 in KenPom.com rankings.
More:How Bernard Kouma ‘takes pleasure in’ dealing with Cowboys’ soiled work
The curious case of the damaged treadmill
Each apply, the Cowboys have treadmills close to the courtroom. One in specific is hell.
That machine is operating at 15 mph, awaiting an OSU participant who commits a turnover. The participant then runs at that velocity for 1 full minute.
“It’s just humming the whole practice,” Newton stated whereas shaking his head. “It’s ridiculous.”
The treadmill is extensively hated a lot that it’s out of the blue damaged. Boynton suspects foul play, however received’t identify a suspect.
“We’ll just bring another one in here,” Boynton stated. “Eventually, we’ll tell them that they can’t break enough treadmills that we can’t find somebody to pay for a new one for us, so they should probably stop turning the ball over.”
Possible sabotage apart, the Cowboys have lower down their turnovers in the previous week.
They had 10 at Baylor, a optimistic in a dud of a sport. But solely seven in the Bedlam win, which is tied for the bottom whole in a sport since March 9, 2019, at West Virginia.
OSU nonetheless averages 14.4 turnovers per sport, however maybe the treadmill is making an impression.
“I think just by hearing that every day it transitions to the game,” Newton stated. “That also contributes to more offense, more open shots for people. We’re not getting ourselves chances to make shots when we turn the ball over.”
As for who precisely broke the treadmill, no person is speaking.
But not one of the gamers are complaining.
“If somebody broke it, God bless them,” Newton stated. “God bless them.”
Jacob Unruh covers faculty sports activities for The Oklahoman. You can ship your story concepts to him at junruh@oklahoman.com or on Twitter at @jacobunruh. Support his work and that of different Oklahoman journalists bypurchasing a digital subscription today.
OSU vs. Iowa State
TIPOFF: 1 p.m. Saturday at Gallager-Iba Arena in Stillwater (ESPN+)
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