Two Okie State Post-Game Thoughts

Busy week. So I couldn't get to this straightaway.

1. Lordy. So, to be perfectly honest with you I don't think I had seen this team really play with a chip on its shoulder prior to this game. Don't get me wrong. This team plays with plenty of emotion. But I mean to say something different. I had not seen this team really "take it out" on an opponent for some perceived slight, some, dare I say, disrespect. This Missouri team, if nothing else, mostly plays with a cool efficiency, a business-like demeanor. Despite playing with emotion it's never personal with Mizzou. The run they put on Baylor never felt personal. No woofing. No preening. No pounding of breasts. Missouri is just a dreadful matchup for the Bears, and both teams know it. It was a matter of 'if both teams are taking the same shots Mizzou wins every time.' The Okie State game was different. The Tigers beat the Cowboys like they stole something; like they were angry at the Pokes for refusing to play their appointed role in Stillwater. You know the role. It's the one where the plucky underdog puts on a good show for the home faithful, falls behind, then makes a valiant comeback that falls just short? It was like Mizzou was annoyed that they lost on poor execution and a series of hero shots in Stillwater. So they intended to not just beat OSU but to disembowel a very good defense, leveraging it into giving up good shot after good shot after good shot after good shot. It was as vicious a beating as I've seen the Tigers put on a team since the Oregon game a few years back.

2. Jeremy Lin! Um. Yeah. That's--uh--that's all I got.