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Monday, February 18, 2013
 Marcus Smart's defensive prowess
By Joe Kaiser

 Of all the good things about the game of Oklahoma State's star freshman Marcus Smart, it's his defense that's stealing the show.

Few players in the country -- let alone freshmen -- are filling the stat sheet quite like Smart is in his first season in Stillwater. He's scored 21 points or more in four of the last six games while directing the Cowboys offense, and for the season is now averaging 5.8 rebounds and 4.5 assists per game.

It's his defense, though, that may be the best part of his game. That's what a closer look at the numbers via Synergy Sports Technology indicates, anyway. Smart is currently at 0.882 points per play on offense, putting him in the 62nd percentile nation wide, but his defense is far better. On that side of the ball, Smart is limiting opponents to 0.634 PPP, which is in the 88th percentile.

Here's our own Jay Bilas with more on the Cowboys multi-talented point guard.

Jay Bilas
Smart is one of the nation's most complete players
"Kansas standout Ben McLemore is getting more headlines in the Big 12, but Marcus Smart is the more complete player. Smart scored 28 points on 14 shots in an overtime win over Oklahoma, and also recorded 7 rebounds, 4 assists and 2 steals. Smart got his 70th steal in that win, an Oklahoma State record, and is just 19 steals shy of Mario Chalmers' Big 12 freshman record. The 6-foot-4 freshman is averaging 15 points, 5.8 rebounds, 4.5 assists and 2.9 steals per game, and is getting to the line six times per game. Smart is a leader, competitor and winner, and there are not many like him -- at any age -- in college basketball. A game that can make a big difference for Oklahoma State in the league race is the rematch against Kansas on Wednesday night."