It’s do or die for the Oklahoma State basketball team during the next week or so. If the Pokes have any chance of getting into the NCAA tournament, they have to start winning games. And they have to start to win very quickly.

     The Cowboys have yet to win a road game since Sean Sutton has been the coach. That’s not going to get you in postseason play. They have been close in conference road games against Baylor and Iowa State, but that isn’t going to improve your postseason resume.

     The Cowboys now have two home games before heading to Norman next Monday. They have to find a way to beat both Texas and Texas A&M in the friendly confines of Gallagher-Iba Arena.

     There are already rumors that if Sutton doesn’t get Oklahoma State into the NCAA tournament that he will be looking for a new job at the end of this campaign. I don’t think that’s fair at all. You have to give a guy more than two seasons.

     The games against the Longhorns and Aggies are contests the Cowboys can win. Yes, Texas is very good. But it has already lost a conference road game at Missouri.

     Texas A&M is one of the most overrated teams in the country. The Aggies were kicked twice last week on the road by Texas Tech and Kansas State. They looked like they weren’t playing with much confidence.

     Oklahoma gets a few days off before going to Baylor. The Sooners got a win over Texas Tech at home. That was a game that Jeff Capel’s team had to have. You can’t start the conference season with a 0-3 record, with two of those defeats at home. Still, without Blake Griffin in the lineup, it will not be easy during the next three weeks.

     One big plus the Sooners did get against the Red Raiders was the performance of Taylor Griffin. He played within his limits. He has some skills. He’s a good rebounder and he has a nice short-range jump shot.

     With Keith Clark no longer a member of the team, look for Taylor Griffin to replace Longar Longar in the starting lineup newt year and team up with younger brother Blake. Also in the mix will be 6-10, Ryan Wright, who is sitting this year out at OU after transferring from UCLA.