Texas Basketball Faces Tough Trap Game Tonight Against Oklahoma State

Trap games are a dangerous thing. All too often, teams coming off of big, emotionally-charged wins lose to teams they shouldn't in their next game.

Tonight's Texas Longhorn visit to Stillwater to face Oklahoma State is a classic example.

The Longhorns gritted out a tough win in Lawrence last Saturday behind a strong comeback in the second half after playing very poorly in the first half and digging a 12-point hole going into halftime.

As anyone who has played the game at a high level knows, coming back from that kind of deficit in a hostile environment takes a huge toll, not only physically, but emotionally as well.

Sure, beating the No. 2 team in the country on their own court to derail one of the longest home win streaks in NCAA history was a big lift for Texas, but tonight's game could be just as large of an emotional hangover.

Rick Barnes will need to have his troops ready to play with a calm and poised nature as they enter one of the country's most hostile arenas, Gallagher-Iba, with a huge target on their backs. People love to hate Texas, and their most recent big win will only fuel the fire of opposing student sections.

Oklahoma State has the firepower to play with anyone in the Big 12, but have struggled with consistency in the early going. Marshall Moses, Keiton Page and Jean-Paul Olukemi all have the ability to score in bunches, and if one of the trio gets going early, it could be a tough night for Texas.

Can Tristan Thompson handle Moses and establish dominance in the paint?

Can Texas' guard combo of Dogus Balbay and Corey Joseph keep the ball out of Page's hand and not allow him open looks?

The answers to these two questions, as well as Texas' ability to shake off an emotional hangover following the Kansas win, will tell the tale tonight in Stillwater.

Trap games are tough to overcome.