'Light years': How OSU's Bryce Thompson has improved as defender while offensive numbers rise
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STILLWATER — Bryce Thompson often approaches Oklahoma State assistant coach Terrence Rencher with his phone in his hand and a clip from a recent game or practice ready to view.
The plays aren’t his step-back jumpers or clutch 3-pointers. They are steals and defensive stops.
Whether it’s the steal early in the second half Saturday from Texas’ Andrew Jones or the big steal in the final minute a week before against Baylor or even something less noticeable, OSU’s transfer guard is quick to point it out.
"I'm listening to you," Thompson tells Rencher.
OSU's first-year assistant coach is certainly happy to see it.
“He takes pride in that,” Rencher said.
For a player regarded as a scorer, that’s big.
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Thompson transferred to OSU with an unfavorable perception of his defensive ability. He's not perfect, but progress has been made.
And when the Cowboys host No. 23-ranked Iowa State at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Thompson will be crucial on both ends of the court.
He’s been their go-to scorer the past four games. And with his rise offensively, his defensive ability has improved.
That is not coincidental.
“I feel like I’ve come a really long way,” Thompson said. “I think my coaches have been a big part of that. They’ve obviously stayed on me. No matter how many shots I make, they always stay on me about being a good defender.”
Thompson — a five-star recruit from Tulsa Booker T. Washington who transferred from Kansas — has averaged 16 points in his past four games, setting a career high twice. But he’s also had six steals since Big 12 play began and been at the right place at the right time on the defensive end.
Confidence in his shot has carried over to his ability to defend.
“Light years,” OSU coach Mike Boynton said recently when asked about Thompson’s defensive progression this season.
“And I think part of it is confidence. He’s got natural leadership abilities, but fitting in again and being able to take on some of that was something he struggled with early. I think he’s just comfortable now and feels better about our system and the guys he’s out there playing with.”
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Early in the season, Thompson struggled at times to remain in front of ballhandlers. Sometimes, one-on-one matchups were tough.
His shots certainly weren’t always falling.
For seven straight games, he did not score in double figures. He dealt with a minor hip injury in December.
But he fully invested in improving on both ends.
Thompson listened to Rencher and Larry Blunt, OSU’s assistants in charge of the defensive gameplan. Rencher was a dynamic player at Texas, where he is the program’s all-time leading scorer. But he also leads the program in steals.
“One thing that people always messed with me about is, ‘You didn’t play no defense,’” Rencher said. “I took pride defensively. I didn’t want to be the guy that scored 20 and let my guy score 20.
“It’s important to have that kind of balance, because the ball’s not always going to go in either. You have to find ways to impact winning. That’s where he’s maturing the most.
“That’s a big step in the right direction for him.”
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Thompson’s improvements have rapidly shown. He’s committed more fouls in Big 12 play than non-conference, but to him, it’s a sign of being more active.
But he’s also been in better places.
Thompson was positioned perfectly to intercept a pass from Baylor’s Adam Flagler with 16 seconds remaining in the Cowboys’ upset on Jan. 15. But even Thompson admits that if that game happened a week earlier, he likely would have not been in the proper spot.
In Saturday’s loss at Texas, Thompson had two more steals and did little things right.
“He just really invested into the gameplan, the schemes of really learning what’s going on exactly out there and different things like that,” OSU senior Isaac Likekele said. “It’s not that he wasn’t ever capable of doing it. He just had to get the drift of it and really learn and hone in on it.”
With more focus, Thompson has grown into a crucial part of the Cowboys.
On both sides of the ball.
That’s a tremendous step in his first year in Stillwater.
“You have that chip on your shoulder,” Thompson said. “‘I’m going to be able to score on you but you can’t score on me.’ Those are little things, just being able to sit down and guard your man.
“I think that just adds value to yourself.”
Jacob Unruh covers college sports for The Oklahoman. You can send your story ideas to him at junruh@oklahoman.com or on Twitter at @jacobunruh. Support his work and that of other Oklahoman journalists by purchasing a digital subscription today.
This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Bryce Thompson improving defensively for Oklahoma State basketball
