For Victor Williams, the sting of underachievement is all too familiar.
For two seasons, his Oklahoma State side has brought an impressive resume into the postseason. Each time, the Cowboys exited quickly and quietly.
Since the 2000 NCAA Tournament, when the Cowboys enthralled the Stillwater faithful in driving all the way to the Elite Eight, Williams and his three fellow seniors have wilted each March.
Their first round victory in the 2001 Big 12 tournament against Texas Tech, a full two seasons ago, was OSU's last win in the postseason. Future Hall of Fame coach Eddie Sutton's bunch has since lost five consecutive postseason games -- three in the conference tournament and two in the NCAAs.
The bracket-busting losses in the Big Dance -- to Southern Cal in 2001 and upstart Kent State last spring -- marked the first time in the venerable Sutton's career that his teams have lost consecutive first-round games.
This season, at least for a while, the Cowboys appeared ready for the next level. Williams, a plucky 5-foot-10-inch guard, managed to build on what was an outstanding junior campaign, again pacing the Cowboys in scoring and assists and improving in nearly every offensive category.
Classmate Melvin Sanders, the Cowboys' defensive specialist at small forward, emerged as a worthy offensive complement for Williams.
OSU cruised through a demanding non-conference schedule, piling up victories and steadily climbing the national rankings.
On Jan. 29, the Cowboys bested conference rival Iowa State in Stillwater, 68-55, to notch their 15th consecutive victory. They were 17-1and ranked No. 9 nationally.
However, since their 6-0 start in the Big 12 -- a spurt that included a thrilling, albeit controversial 48-46 victory over Oklahoma -- the Cowboys have regressed considerably down the stretch, dropping eight of their last 12 contests. They now cling to a No. 23 ranking that many pundits consider unwarranted, while several unranked teams from mid-major conferences boast records more sterling.
Their early exit to Missouri in the Big 12 conference tournament last Friday -- courtesy of a Travon Bryant buzzer-beater -- was another step in the decline. The Quakers, decided underdogs in Friday afternoon's first-round matchup, are moving in a different direction than their highly-touted opponent.
While Penn has improved as the season has progressed, following some early setbacks -- the team brings a 15-game winning streak to Boston's FleetCenter -- the Cowboys have floundered as the stakes have increased.
Sutton has repeatedly addressed his team's inconsistency on the offensive side of the ball, but a lack of adamance on defense has been a recent concern.
But despite their dubious recent history and lackluster play of late, the Cowboys are a proud, veteran group that, doubtlessly, realizes that this is its final opportunity.
"It's been told to them that many times you're remembered as a senior by what you do in the end," Sutton said in a press release. "I don't think these seniors want to go one-and-out in the NCAA Tournament three times. That's certainly very much on their minds."
