Oklahoma State is off to its best start in four years with a new coach at the helm.

On Thursday, OSU beat Southern Illinois to go 3-0 for the first time since 2020-21. After needing six games to get its third win last season, OSU is off to a much better start with Steve Lutz.

The Cowboys also bid for wins against Green Bay and St. Thomas, and uses some big runs to pull away in every contest. While Big 12 play is still a few weeks away, the Cowboys are off to a promising start.

Three exciting stats from Oklahoma State’s opening games:

The Cowboys have allowed their opponents to knock down 42.1% of their shots from beyond the arc so far this season. With Southern Illinois shooting 11-of-28 (39.3%) the worst of any OSU opponent this season, defending the 3-point line is a problem.

While it hasn’t hurt the Cowboys yet, their inability to force misses from 3-point range will be a significant problem if not addressed later in the year.

Although a small sample size, OSU has excelled in its trips to the foul line this season. After shooting just 69.7% from the line and missing easy points last season, OSU appears to be a much better team at the rim this year.

The Cowboys have shot at least 70% on 20+ free throw attempts in every game this season. Last season, OSU accomplished that just eight times in 32 games.

Abou Ousmane, Khalil Brantley and Robert Jennings have all shot at least 80% from the line on four or more attempts per game.

Perhaps the most important piece of OSU’s success has been its defense that forces turnovers consistently. Through three games, OSU is averaging 19 forced turnovers per game.

With reliable players like Arturo Dean wreaking havoc on ball handlers, the Cowboys have been able to get stops and get out in transition. The other key to the Cowboys’ game has been their ability to hang onto the ball.

OSU is averaging just 10 turnovers per game, and its total has dropped in each contest, turning it over just seven times against Southern Illinois. The Cowboys may be a long shot to contend in the Big 12, but winning the turnover battle is a trend that must continue.

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