Feb 08, 2014 04:35 PM EST By Staff Reporter, UniversityHerald Reporter

After watching the overtime portion of #19 Oklahoma State's (16-6, 4-5) triple overtime loss to #16 Iowa State (17-4, 5-4) on Monday, I'm beginning to lose some faith in Marcus Smart. Admittedly, I haven't watched much of him this year, but the end of that game typified my hesitancy in endorsing him for a top five selection in the next NBA draft. With the chance for either the tie or the win, Smart received the ball in a wing post up (the worst place to start an offensive move if you're not Michael Jordan or Paul Pierce) and attempted a poorly executed spin fade-away that clipped the front rim, and never had a chance.

Admittedly, final shots are an art -- one that even Carmelo Anthony hasn't completely mastered. Such moments lay bare one's offensive game. That's what made MJ so good. Even when everyone on the court knew he was going to drive to the hoop and then pull up for a jumper, they couldn't stop him, so complete was his offensive repertoire (aided by his tremendous burst). After watching Marcus Smart try the same thing, and watching him falter at key moments during that overtime, I'm wondering whether his offensive game is refined enough, and whether it can one day become refined enough to justify his selection within the top five.

As I continue to watch the Cowboys play, like in tonight's game against Texas Tech (11-11, 3-6), I'll be watching closely how Smart gets his points, and if his egregious shooting percentage (42 percent) is due to a still developing jump shot or due to his inability to put himself in positions to take good shots.

Oklahoma State better start assessing the same qualities, for they tend to sail and sink with the play of their sophomore "floor leader." Its no surprise he's been shaky over their last five, of which they've lost four.

At Texas Tech tonight (ESPN 9:30), they'll be just 6.5 point favorites. I didn't want to pick the Cowboys, and the Red Raiders have been playing teams tough this year, and I'm going to stick by that. A loss would put Tech under .500. They'll fight hard to prevent that reality. 

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Record: 11-15

Butler @ Creighton: L (picked Butler, +10.5)

UConn @ Memphis: L (picked Memphis, -7.5)

Depaul @ Villanova: W (picked Villanova, -17.5)

Pittsburg @ Syracuse: L (picked Syracuse, -5.5)

Creighton @ Villanova: L (picked Villanova, -6.5)

Baylor @ Kansas: W (picked Baylor, + 10.5)

Indiana @ Michigan State: L (picked Michigan State, -12)

Iowa @ Michigan: L (picked Iowa, + 1.5)

Colorado @ Arizona: W (picked Colorado, + 14.5)

Illinois @ Ohio State: W (picked Illinois, + 11)

Michigan @ Michigan State: W (picked Michigan, + 4.5)

Villanova @ Marquette: W (picked Villanova, -3)

Utah @ Arizona: W (picked Utah, + 15)

Oklahoma @ Oklahoma State: W (picked Oklahoma, + 4.5)

Villanova @ Georgetown: L (picked Villanova, -6.5)

Michigan State @ Iowa: W (picked Michigan State, + 5)

St. John's @ Creighton: W (picked St. John's, + 12)

Iowa State @ Kansas: L (picked Iowa State, + 8.5)

Syracuse @ Wake Forest: L (picked Syracuse, -10)

Purdue @ Michigan: L (picked Michigan, -12)

Florida @ Mississippi State: W (picked Miss. State, + 15)

Duke @ Syracuse: L (picked Syracuse, -3)

Xavier @ Villanova: L (picked Xavier, + 10)

Nebraska @ Michigan: L (picked Nebraska, + 13)

Boston College @ Virginia: L (picked Virginia, -13)

Oregon @ Arizona: L (picked Arizona, -11)

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