STILLWATER, Okla. —
When Bedlam men’s basketball renews Saturday in Norman, many of the athletes will be getting their first taste of the rivalry between Oklahoma State and Oklahoma.
Markel Brown is the only Cowboy to have played in more than two Bedlam battles heading into the 2 p.m. tipoff on ESPN2 (Suddenlink channel 32). And while he’ll admit the rivalry is big, the junior guard is trying to downplay the significance to his younger teammates.
“We’ve been preparing for it like any other game,” Brown said. “It’s a big fight between these two schools — us going out there fighting for the pride of our school. But we’re just going to treat it like any other game in the Big 12. Coach really didn’t want me to say anything about it to them ... but I’ll eventually tell them how important it is and how much we want to win it.”
Freshman point guard Marcus Smart may be playing in his first Bedlam game for OSU, but the Flower Mound, Texas, native knows what to expect with this rivalry.
“I definitely knew how crazy it gets coming into it,” Smart said. “... I’d seen a couple of the games on TV, never got to come to one. But I could feel the atmosphere from sitting on my couch watching it.
“You could just feel how crazy and how loud it gets. It looked fun to play in. So I’m very excited and can’t wait to play in it.”
The Cowboys will get the first crack to buck the latest trend in the Bedlam series. The past three regular season series have been split, with the home team winning each contest — with OSU having not won in Norman since 2004.
“This game is never an easy game for us,” Brown said. “So, we’re going to have to be prepared no matter what.”
While Oklahoma State doesn’t have any Oklahoma natives in its regular rotation — the only Oklahoman on the roster is Alex Budke — Brown said that doesn’t change the significance of the rivalry with the Sooners.
“It’s still a rivalry game and we’re going to treat it like that,” said Brown, a native of Alexandria, La. “Even if we’re not from Oklahoma, we’re playing for this university and we’ve got to represent and get a win.”
OSU Sports
January 11, 2013
Young Cowboys face Sooners in Bedlam
- OSU Sports
-
-
Cowboys fall short in regular season finale
Oklahoma State earned the second seed in next week's Big 12 Championship
-
Cowboys golf advances to NCAA championship with fourth-place finish
The Cowboys advance to their 66th championship in 67 years.
-
Nurdin and Cowboys blank Mountaineers
Nurdin pitched a complete game four-hit shutout
-
Cowboys fall to fourth on second day of regionals
OSU shot a 304.
-
Oklahoma State's offense overpowers West Virginia
The Cowboys used a combination of small ball and the long ball to beat the Mountaineers to open the final series of Big 12 play.
-
Oklahoma State golfers in third after first day of regionals
Freshman Jordan Niebrugge shot a 5-under 67 to lead the Pokes.
- Oklahoma State's Sanchez named NCEA Coach of the Year
-
Cowboys roll past Shockers
OSU scored four runs in the seventh inning.
-
Cowboys ready for NCAA regionals
The men's golf team is looking to advance to their 66th NCAA Championship
-
McConaughy gets chance to shine for Cowboys in final Bedlam game
The little-used shortstop provides plenty of sparks for Oklahoma State off the bench.
- More OSU Sports Headlines
-
