Last Thursday Oklahoma State had a 9-PT loss to Iowa State in the Big 12 tourney but were still good enough to earn an at-large bid to this week’s NCAA tournament. The Cowboys did not make the 2016 NCAA tourney but bounced back this year and will face #7-seed Michigan on Friday afternoon in a Midwest Region match-up in Indianapolis. Earlier today HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel got to speak with SR SF Leyton Hammonds about why he was not in panic mode after an 0-6 start to conference play.
You grew up in Texas: what made you choose the Cowboys? Former coach Travis Ford recruited me pretty hard and I knew a couple of other guys who came up here from Texas to play like Le’Bryan Nash/Marcus Smart.
You play for Coach Brad Underwood: what makes him such a great coach, and how has your team been able to have so much success during his very 1st season in Stillwater? He came in and told us that we would work hard every day, so I was ready to get after it from the very 1st day that he stepped onto campus. He cares about us as players/men and has led us in the right direction both on and off the court.
You faced several NCAA tourney teams in non-conference play including Arkansas/Maryland/UNC/Wichita State: which of these teams impressed you the most? All of those teams were great tests for us (especially the 2 on the road with their great crowds) because they are all great teams. We went 2-2 against some great competition but they are all well-rounded.
You started conference play 0-6 before winning 10 of your next 11 games: how were you able to turn things around so dramatically in late-January? Coach made some changes defensively and we all bought in. I give all our players/coaching staff the credit because our confidence never wavered even when we were 0-6: we never doubted ourselves so it was just a matter of time until we turned things around.
You lost each of your final 3 games this season by single digits to #1-seed Kansas and Big 12 champ Iowa State: what is the mood of the guys knowing that you are a 20-win team but entering the tourney on a 3-game losing streak? Our heads are held high because the Jayhawks are a #1-seed and the Cyclones are playing as well as anyone in the country (9 wins in their past 10 games). We are not doubting ourselves and we are ready to face Michigan because we know that our next loss will be our last loss.
SO PG Jawun Evans was Big 12 ROY last year and 1 of the best PGs in the nation this year: what makes him such a great player? He has a great feel for the game and knows when to take over and the right plays to make on the court. I think he is the best PG in the country because he can do it all and knows where everyone needs to be on both ends of the court. He is 2 steps ahead of whoever is trying to defend him.
You and Phil Forte III are the only 2 seniors on the roster: how much pressure has there been on you to be leaders this season? None at all. It would be hard if we had teammates who were nutcases, but everyone bought in to our style of play, so we just go out there and keep the train going. They make it easy on us because they do whatever it takes for us to win.
Your team missed the NCAA tourney last year but faced Oregon in 2015 and Gonzaga in 2014: what did you learn from those losses that you think can help you this time around? I learned that you cannot just flick the switch whenever you want to: it is win or go home so you have to be locked in physically/mentally the entire week and cannot take anything for granted.
Your older brother Justin played basketball at the Air Force: who is the best athlete in the family, and how proud are you of his service to our country? I would say that he is the best athlete: to play basketball and serve in the military at the same time takes incredible physical/mental strength. I am blessed to have a brother who is such a role model: he understands that there is a bigger picture than just himself and is trying to make our world a better place.
How do you feel about getting a #10-seed, and what do you know about Michigan? I am glad that we have an opportunity to make the NCAA tourney again: when you do not have something after you had it in the past it makes you miss it more. I watched some of the Wolverines’ games last night: they have a great offense and make a lot of threes but I think that we will be prepared.