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Texas Tech basketball: Scouting the Oklahoma State Cowboys

By Matthew Conner

LUBBOCK, TX - FEBRUARY 27: Head coach Mike Boynton of the Oklahoma State Cowboys shouts instructions to his team during the second half of the game against the Texas Tech Red Raiders on February 27, 2019 at United Supermarkets Arena in Lubbock, Texas. Texas Tech defeated Oklahoma State 84-80 in overtime. (Photo by John Weast/Getty Images)
LUBBOCK, TX - FEBRUARY 27: Head coach Mike Boynton of the Oklahoma State Cowboys shouts instructions to his team during the second half of the game against the Texas Tech Red Raiders on February 27, 2019 at United Supermarkets Arena in Lubbock, Texas. Texas Tech defeated Oklahoma State 84-80 in overtime. (Photo by John Weast/Getty Images) /
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Mitch Lightfoot #44 of the Kansas Jayhawks rebounds against Yor Anei #14 and Cameron McGriff #12 of the Oklahoma State Cowboys(Photo by Ed Zurga/Getty Images)
Mitch Lightfoot #44 of the Kansas Jayhawks rebounds against Yor Anei #14 and Cameron McGriff #12 of the Oklahoma State Cowboys(Photo by Ed Zurga/Getty Images) /

Forward Yor Anei may remind Tech fans of Tariq Owens

In the middle of the OSU defense is forward Yor Anei, who is a Tariq Owens starter kit.  The 6-foot-10 sophomore from Overland Park, Kansas is averaging 11.1 points per game but it is on the defensive end of the floor where he’s most impactful.

Like Owens, Anei is a quick leaper with an incredible wingspan.  With 29 blocks this season, he’s third in the Big 12.  Last year, he set an OSU freshman record with 85, which would be second in Tech history behind Owens’ 92 last season.

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That’s going to be important to keep in mind because so much of Tech’s offense comes at the rim.  The Red Raiders have to be cognizant of that and go right at the Cowboys rim protector to try to put him in foul trouble.

Offensively, he is not quite the same player as Owens because unlike Tech’s star forward from last year, he can’t shoot from outside.  In fact, he’s never made a 3-pointer in college.

Still, he is an explosive finisher who gets plenty of points in the paint and is a danger to finish off the lob.  Against Houston, he had 18 points including 8-9 from the free-throw line.

He also had 19 points against Syracuse.  In that game, he was 7-8 at the stripe.  Overall, he’s been a 75% free-throw shooter and is averaging 5.7 trips to the line per game.

At 5.7 assists per game, he’s second on the roster to Cam McGriff, who scores 9.7 points per game in addition to pulling down 6.6 boards.  The 6-foot-9 senior is a tough matchup inside as well and that duo will be a tough task for the undersized the Red Raiders.

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Keep an eye on T.J. Holyfield because this is a game in which he has to not only stay out of foul trouble but he must be a factor.  That’s because Anei and McGriff are going to be one of the better forward tandems the Red Raiders have seen thus far.

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