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Oklahoma State Cowboys (2001: 20-10)

The following team preview is provided by Blue Ribbon. For the nation's most comprehensive look at this and all Division I teams, be sure to order the 2001-02 Blue Ribbon College Basketball Yearbook, on sale now at 1-800-775-2518.

Gallagher-Iba Arena was renovated before last season. The roof was literally raised and the best little bandbox of a basketball arena was expanded from 6,381 cozy seats to 13,611 seats.

There was speculation that the expansion would rob Oklahoma State of its home-court edge.

That didn't happen.

The Cowboys won 11 of their 12 games in Stillwater last season.

But it was hardly a year to celebrate, as everything changed on Jan. 27.

After a game at Colorado, 81-71, the Cowboys' traveling party was flying out of Boulder, Colo., on three planes -- two private jets and one Beechcraft Super King Air 200 propeller plane. The Beechcraft crashed after 15 minutes of flight. All 10 aboard --including players Nate Fleming and Dan Lawson -- died.

Also killed was Will Hancock, the team's young and talented sports information director, and student manager Jared Weiberg, nephew of Big 12 Conference commissioner Kevin Weiberg.

Oklahoma State coach Eddie Sutton won his 673rd victory nine days after the crash. None of the previous 672 has meant so much. As he walked off the floor after a post-game television interview, his head was bowed and his eyes were moist.

"I don't think I've ever wanted to win a game any more than tonight,'' Sutton said. "It would have been devastating not to win. It continues the healing process we're all going through. The past few days have been brutal for the players and the coaching staff. We've got a long ways to go, but we took one step closer to being well.''

The victory over Missouri lifted Oklahoma State's record to 14-4. Over their next 11 games, the Cowboys went 6-5. They managed to squeeze an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament, where they lost to Southern Cal in the first round.

Winning 20 games and getting into the NCAAs would have been an accomplishment no matter what. The 1999-2000 Cowboys won 27 games with four senior starters. Last season was designated as a rebuilding year, with only one starter returning and no seniors. Add in the lasting emotional scars of a mid-season plane crash and Oklahoma State's performance on the court was truly remarkable.

Sutton, who turned 65 on March 12, looked at least 10 years older during the season's final six weeks. From Jan. 27 on, he tried to be a rock for his players, coaches and program. Lost in the sadness was the fact that he was again a rock-solid coach. He was able to mold a team that overachieved in the face of adversity. "It was a tough, tough year for us. One we'll never forget,'' said Sutton, whose team returns all five starters. "After last year, I think we're all excited about this season and what it could hold. After all we went through last year, I wouldn't have wanted to go into this season without some good players. That would have made it difficult. But we should be pretty good.''

Projected Starters

PG - Victor Williams (5-10, 185 lbs., JR, #5, 33.5 mpg, 11.5 ppg, 2.8 rpg, .365 FG, .280 3PT, .745 FT, 110 assists, 102 turnovers, Illinois State/Kansas City, Kansas)

After sitting out two seasons ago after his transfer from Illinois State, Williams quickly immersed himself back into Division I basketball.

He was second on the team in assists with 110, but he turned it over too much (102 times). He needs to improve on his outside shooting, connecting on just 28 percent of his 125 3-point attempts.

With attention focused on backcourt teammate Maurice Baker, Williams will get more open shots this season. If he can make a higher percentage of them, it will take some heat off his Baker.

SG - Maurice Baker (6-1, 175 lbs., SR, #1, 19.8 ppg, 6.7 rpg, 4.2 apg, 37.4 mpg, .525 FG, .408 3PT, .806 FT, Dixie Community College, Utah/Granite City, Ill.)

There were plenty of points to replace from the previous season's team and Baker was more than happy to help pick up the slack.

Baker, a transfer from Dixie Community College in Utah, was one of the biggest surprises in the Big 12. He wound up as a first-team all-conference pick and was selected the Big 12 Newcomer of the Year after finishing second in the conference in scoring, fourth in steals, eighth in three-point percentage and three-pointers per game (2.13), ninth in assists and an impressive 16th in rebounding.

On Jan. 3 against UT-San Antonio, Baker had the second triple-double in school history when he had 19 points, 14 rebounds and 10 assists.

Baker is an atypical guard in Sutton's system. For his game to flourish, he needs the ball. Baker led the Cowboys in minutes played, shots attempted and turnovers. He had just two more assists than turnovers, a ratio Sutton would certainly want improved this season. However, if Baker had not taken control of the offense, it's doubtful Oklahoma State would have won 20 games.

As evidenced by Baker's Big 12 newcomer award, the league's coaches, who watch more tape than anyone and have a better appreciation for who makes plays, were impressed.

SF - Melvin Sanders (6-5, 215 lbs., SO, #34, 8.0 ppg, 4.4 rpg, 29.1 mpg, .425 FG, .333 3PT, .590 FT Seward Community College, Kansas/Liberal, Kansas.)

For a player who still is adjusting to big-time basketball, Sanders had a solid sophomore season. He started all 30 games and was the Cowboys' defensive stopper.

His offensive numbers were solid. Sanders was third on the team in three-pointers made, but he attempted just 39 free throws.

Clearly, he needs to be more aggressive attacking the basket. That's because Sanders has some serious athletic ability. At Liberal High School in Kansas, he had a high jump of 7-2, a 25-foot long jump and a 52-foot triple jump. Sutton has a history of harnessing athletic ability and turning it into basketball skill. Don't be surprised if Sanders has a breakout season.

PF - Andre Williams (6-7, 210 lbs., JR, #40, 29 mpg, 6.8 ppg, 7.7 rpg, 2.2 blocks per game, .503 FG, .442 FT, Maine Central Institute, Kansas City, Kansas)

Two years ago, Williams' freshman season was truncated when he was involved in the Myron Piggie saga that also cost the Rush brothers time in NCAA purgatory. However, by the end of the season that saw Oklahoma State lose to Florida State in the East Regional final, Williams was proving to be a dynamic off-the-bench rebounder.

At 6-7 and 210 pounds, Williams isn't a prototypical power forward. However, his long arms and leaping ability makes him a terrific rebounder and shot blocker. Last season, Williams was seventh in the Big 12 in rebounding and third in blocked shots. He was voted to the Big 12's all-defensive and all-bench teams.

Williams' biggest shortcoming is on the offensive end. He's not much of a low-post threat; most of his points come from offensive rebounds. And his free-throw shooting was atrocious (.442). If Williams can start to assert himself on offense by developing a consistent move or two, he'll become a star.

C - Fredrik Johnzen (6-10, 230 lbs., SR, #12, 15.0 ppg, 6.5 rpg, .520 FG, .639 FT Katedralskolan/Uppsala, Sweden)

Smooth. That's the best description of this stoic Swede. After spending most of his freshman and sophomore seasons as a role player, Johnzen was perhaps Oklahoma State's most consistent player down the stretch as the Cowboys reached the East Regional final.

Johnzen earned All East Regional honors for his efforts. That solid play continued last season as Johnzen was chosen second-team All-Big 12 by the league's coaches and third-team by The Associated Press. Johnzen, who has range out to the free-throw line, shot 52 percent and was the Cowboys' third-leading rebounder. For his career, he enters this season making 51.4 percent of his shots. That's among the best field-goal percentage marks in school history.

Look for Johnzen to continue strong play, if his summer exploits were any indication. Playing for Sweden in the World University Games, Johnzen had some strong performances. He scored 21 points and grabbed 12 boards against South Korea, had 21 and six against Russia and 13 and 11 against Germany.

Bottom line

Baker is the kind of dynamic player who can dominate games by ripping off points in bunches. Jonzen provides a nice complementary scoring threat on the front line.

If Oklahoma State can shore up its depth in the backcourt, it should challenge for the top of the Big 12 Conference race.

The tragedy of last season aged Sutton. This might be his last good-to-great team and there's this gut feeling that he soon might decide to hang 'em up.

If this year's team can play up to its potential and make a deep run in the NCAA Tournament, don't be surprised if Sutton steps down and hands the keys to the program to his son Sean, the team's associate head coach.