Chat with John Helsley at 11 a.m.
Penn Says He’s Ready
By John Helsley
LUBBOCK – Breaking news from Lubbock… via Facebook… via Ray Penn… on Ray Penn.
The freshman point guard apparently will play today, according to the man himself on his Facebook page.
Penn has been doing light work in practices this week and has suffered no setbacks to the “stress reaction” in his knee. At Friday night’s shootaround inside United Spirit Arena, Cowboys coach Travis Ford told us he was leaning toward using Penn some today against Texas Tech.
Now Penn has declared himself ready.
After missing the past four games, Penn is likely to be rusty.
Still, he says he believes he’ll be back to normal soon.
Ford is counting on it.
“We need him to be,” Ford said. “I think it’ll be difficult, but there are eight games left and hopefully more after that. I think he can get back to there. I’m anxious to see it because I think it’s going to be a great test for him and really see how much determination and what he’s made of between the ears a little bit because he has been sitting out.
“When he’s ready to go, I’m throwing him back in there. We need him, we need him badly.”
Ford could prove a tough critic. As a player at Kentucky, he once endured a full season with a broken knee cap, playing on until requiring surgery to remove a chunk of bone once the schedule was complete.
So while Ford knows how difficult and painful Penn’s ailment may be, he also carries his own history of toughness.
Ford said that in no way does he want Penn to jeopardize his health.
But if ready, Ford wants the best out of his point guard.
“I have sympathy, but I don’t have time to make excuses,” Ford said. “I addressed it after the game the other night that people want to make excuses for other people. This is February in the Big 12. You can make excuses in November and December but at this point in time you better play.
“We all better play and step up and coach and be the best that we can at this point in time because nobody’s going to feel sorry for you. It’s the same thing with Ray. I know he’s been hurt and everything, but if he steps on that court ready to play, he better help our team be successful.”
OSU Hoops: Gottlieb; Penn Update
By John Helsley
jhelsley@opubco.com
Came across a great tribute by Doug Gottlieb at espn.com. For OSU fans, it’s a must read.
Gottlieb, the former Cowboys point guard, puts not only faces, but spirit into each member of the basketball crew lost in the 2001 plane crash in Colorado in his touching tribute titled “The Ten will live in OSU hearts forever.”
Absolute must read, for Cowboys and non-Cowboys, anyone who remembers — or more poignantly may have forgotten — that heartbreaking period in Stillwater.
Proceed to the link — now.
And grab a hanky.
* Free Ray Penn
As OSU tries to shake a two-game losing streak, the return of point guard Ray Penn appears near.
And it can’t come soon enough.
While the Cowboys were able to disguise some weaknesses and win twice without their freshman point man, teams have begun to exploit Keiton Page and Fred Gulley.
Turnovers have skyrocketed and now the good gained from a road win at Kansas State could be surrendered if the Cowboys don’t start winning again quick.
Penn practiced a bit this week, although in a limited capacity. His status for Saturday’s game at Texas Tech is iffy, but with a full week between games before a Bedlam in Stillwater clash, the most he should miss is one more game.
“My trainer, he has been working with me every day, getting extra work in,” Penn said Thursday. “I’m almost there now. We are still in the debate of whether I am going to play Saturday, but definitely against OU.”
OSU is now officially calling the injury a “stress reaction,” which, fortunately for Penn, is something less than a stress fracture.
Still, it’s quite painful. And after first cropping up in the Baylor game, then worsening against Colorado, Penn knew it was more than just a sore knee.
“I can play through pain,” Penn said, “but that pain was starting to reach a certain point to where I couldn’t even bend it.”
Penn said that there is no indication this will be a lingering problem and he stressed hope that he’ll return to full speed at some point this season. The sooner the better, with his spectator status anything but fun.
“It’s miserable, you know,” he said. “It’s miserable, especially when you are losing and you know you can’t help your team. But you know, like I said, I’m healthy now and it’s in the past and just move forward for the second half of the Big 12.”
Recruiting Shenanigans
By John Helsley
jhelsley@opbuco.com
Pat Jones offers up a great take — an inside take — on the recruiting game. And I couldn’t agree with him more, across the board, whether it’s the topic of rankings (who knows!?), coaches’ spin (always positive!) or the obsession of fans and the media with the decisions and futures of 18-year-olds.
And Jones is dead-on when it comes to the signing party silliness where players reveal their decisions with a pick of a hat, or by stripping away a jacket to reveal a shirt or some other attempt at being cute.
Cute, it is not. Nor is it entertaining.
C’mon, be a man. State your destination, clearly, so as not to embarrass yourself or your new school before you even arrive on campus.
Bottom line: for the coaches and their families who understand and feel the time involved with chasing talent, resulting in too many nights away from home, recruiting isn’t some fanciful folly. It’s serious.
So when a guy like Calvin Barnett sends out a tease alert by promising “something different and a little flashy” a week before signing day, you can count on some silliness.
And some shenanigans.
But beyond the silliness, there’s something less than genuine involved. In Barnett’s case, there was deception and, according to OSU insiders, lies.
What we’ve heard:
Cowboys coaches were told for 10 straight days leading to Wednesday’s signing that Barnett and his mother told OSU coaches he would be a Cowboy.
Left to rely on his word, OSU couldn’t seek a replacement for his vacated spot in the signing class. And some young man who wanted to be Cowboy could not.
And there would have been options, right here in state. Cowboys coaches were taking calls from interested players — including a defensive tackle — right up to signing day. And based on Barnett’s word, they had to turn them away.
All Barnett had to do was be open and honest with OSU’s coaches. Yeah, he would have had to resist efforts to re-recruit him. Yeah, it might have been uncomfortable. But he owed them some honesty after all the “love” they’d showered on him for six months.
That honesty would have allowed the Cowboys to move on, fill their recruiting class and not have their own signing day tinged by silliness.
Barnett’s silliness.
Thoughts and Observations: Signing Day 2010
by Brandon Chatmon
bchatmon@opubco.com
–I don’t see how you can be an Oklahoma State fan and not be excited about this class. Forget about stars, forget about rankings and look at the offer lists of some of these guys. You’ll see schools like OU, Alabama, Florida, LSU, Miami (Fla.), Tennessee, Michigan, Notre Dame, Florida State… i.e. schools that can recruit nationally and go in an pull out recruits that want from any state. Yet OSU won out. So I repeat… I don’t see how you can be an Oklahoma State fan and not be excited about this class.
–Obviously the big news of the day was Calvin Barnett and his flip to Arkansas. And he’s a huge loss, no doubt about it. Talent-wise, he’s second to none. But at the same time you have to ask yourself: If a player doesn’t have a burning desire to be a Cowboy do you really want him? Think about the commitment it takes to play college football, the commitment to the program, the commitment to your teammates, your coaches and the overall belief in what the program is trying to accomplish and where it is going. If a guy isn’t 100 percent down with that cause do you really want him?
Shaun Lewis: Everyone wanted him... he wanted to be a Cowboy.
–I continue to be shocked that OSU fans aren’t more excited about Shaun Lewis. While I had Calvin Barnett ranked No. 1 overall in my breakdown of OSU recruits, I’m not so sure Lewis shouldn’t have been at that spot all along. I put Barnett ahead of him because elite DTs are VERY, VERY hard to find. That said I only thought Calvin would be a part of the rotation as a true freshman. I wouldn’t be the least bit surprised if Shaun Lewis earns a starting spot at some point in 2010.
–See what I wrote above and replace the name Justin Gilbert for Shaun Lewis.
–The most excited people in the world should be OSU’s recruits at receiver. Chris Dinkins, Kevin Johnson, even Montra Nelson should be doing cartwheels. Especially Johnson, he’s been overlooked but he just has great football saavy, work ethic and is a better athlete than people give him credit for. Expect him to play right away also.
–OSU’s offensive line class, for the second straight year, is very solid. We can talk all we want about this skill player, that skill player, this blue chip receiver and that standout running back. As a school south of OKC proved this year, none of that matters if you don’t have talent and depth up front.
Joe Randle: Wore K-State colors but the smile tells you how he feels about being a Cowboy.
–I love the confidence of Joe Randle. I went up to Wichita today (the reason I was MIA for much of the day) and asked him point blank why the depth chart didn’t concern him. He basically said… I’ll learn behind Kendall for a year then after than it’s on! You have to like that type of confidence.
–I’ve followed recruiting for years and I’m not sure I’ve seen a class of defensive players with this much versatility. The linebackers are athletic, fast and physical. The safeties are physical hitters who can also cover. They have a lot of guys who looks like they can play corner or safety… sounds like Markelle Martin, Victor Johnson, Daytawion Lowe, etc. It’s clear how much Bill Young values versatility.
–I can’t believe it’s taken me this long to get to the quarterbacks, Johnny Deaton and Nathan Sorenson. Maybe because I’ve written so much about them already. But I think both guys have the physical abilities to lead OSU to a Big 12 south title before their careers are over. It will be their mental approach, will to succeed and work ethic which separates them from each other and anyone else competing for the starting job.
Chat with John Helsley at 11 a.m.
A weekend full of rewards
by Brandon Chatmon
bchatmon@opubco.com
In Oklahoma State’s 67-63 win over Texas A&M on Sunday, the Cowgirls displayed a surprising mental toughness and an uncommon will to win.
And the nation has taken notice. Among the accolades:
–The Cowgirls entered the Associated Press Top 10 for the first time ever on Monday at No. 10. OSU is 18-3 with its lone losses at No. 8 Ohio State, at No. 17 Texas and on a neutral court to Michigan State. The Cowgirls are undefeated at home including wins over No. 15 Baylor and No. 21 Georgia Tech.
–Senior point guard Andrea Riley was named Big 12 Women’s basketball player of the week. She averaged 30 points, 5 assists and 3.5 rebounds while leading the Cowgirls to wins over Missouri and Texas A&M. It is the fourth time this season that Riley earned the honor and the 11th time in her stellar career.
–Fox Sports revised their schedule to televise OSU’s top-10 battle with No. 4 Nebraska on Fox Sports Oklahoma at 7 p.m. on Wednesday. Clearly the network realized the importance of this game, which could decide the Big 12 regular season title. Nebraska is 19-0 including 6-0 in the Big 12. The Cowgirls are currently second in the Big 12 at 18-3, 6-1. The game was originally set to be shown on Fox Sports Midwest ONLY.
–Riley is on the front page of ESPN’s women’s basketball section. National analysts have finally started noticing the Cowgirls. Everybody knows about Riley but Tegan Cunningham has performed at an all-conference-type level and OSU has more depth and athleticism then most observers expected in the preseason.
The winter storm and long trip to College Station, Texas made for a long weekend… but it was an rewarding one.
Chat with Brandon Chatmon at 11 a.m.
Missouri Ties For Ford, Gulley
Ford Returns To Mizzou
By John Helsley
jhelsley@opubco.com
Travis Ford admits he wonders what kind of reception he’ll receive in Columbia today, the former-former Tiger that he is.
Ford, you see, is two times removed from Mizzou. He played there for one fantastic season in 1989-90, serving as a backup in a backcourt that featured Anthony Peeler, before transferring to Kentucky. Ford was named to the UPI Big Eight All-Freshman team with the Tigers, after averaging 6.4 points and 3.5 assists a game.
When NCAA investigators started sniffing around the program, with probation appearing likely, Ford left for Kentucky.
Saturday, Ford returns to Mizzou.
“First time back,” Ford said this week. “Eight years ago had dinner and no one knew.”
They’ll know today.
“Will they just kill me?” Ford wondered. “I’m preparing for the worst.”
His time at Mizzou, however, was grand.
The Tigers went undefeated at home that season and were ranked No. 1 for a while. They flamed out in the NCAA Tournament, as Norm Stewart’s squads were apt to do, but the experience was special for Ford.
There student paper even held a contest, seeking nicknames for Ford. Among the entries: Hot Rod , Turbo, Maverick, Scooter, Sparky, Ford Dog or Napoleon.
“We had a great year,” Ford said. “That’s the first thing. I loved it. I loved going to school there. I loved playing for Norm Stewart. I loved it.
“Great teammates, guys I still talk to today. Anthony Peeler and Doug Smith. One of the most memorable years. I loved it there. But they got into trouble and that was the main reason I left.”
Cowboys point guard Fred Gulley could have played at Mizzou.
Might have played at Mizzou, based on a strong relationship with Tigers coach Mike Anderson, forged when both were back in Fayetteville, Ark., where Anderson served as Nolan Richardson’s top assistant at the U of A.
“Every weekend, I spent at their house,” Gulley said. Me and their daughter (Yvonne) played on the same basketball team growing up. Actually, probably about third through fifth grade. She was our starting point guard and we both played point guard. She’s at Texas now playing.”
Gulley said the Andersons were almost family.
“Really close,” he said.
Not so close, however, that Anderson could persuade Gulley to Columbia, although he tried. A scholarship was there for Gulley, but the former Arkansas prep star preferred Stillwater.
“It was a real tough situation,” Gulley said. “They offered me. I went up there
for a couple of visits and stuff. Oklahoma State was just the right place for me.
“It was probably one of the toughest things I have done, but (Anderson) called and wished me good luck and congratulated me.”
Gulley expects a call or two before tip time, too.
“It’s going to be great,” Gulley said. “It’s going to be real great. It’s a good
rivalry. He will probably give me a call or I will probably talk to someone in the Anderson family before the game. It’s going to be good.
“I spent a lot of time there at recruiting time. It’s just going to be good
to go in there and try to get a win.”
OSU-A&M: Afterthoughts
By John Helsley
jhelsley@opubco.com
The Cowboys answered a major question Wednesday night: How would they handle the aftermath of their big win at K-State.
Asked and answered. In fine fashion.
OSU’s 73-69 win was solid, especially considering the Cowboys were without starting point guard Ray Penn again.
A&M actually played one of its best offensive games of the season, uncharacteristically firing in 3-pointers. And OSU weathered the blows and came out with a home win — a mandatory home win — that revealed another positive development.
Backup point guard Fred Gulley, splitting time with Keiton Page in replacing Penn, played his best game yet. It was reminiscent of Saturday, when Nick Sidorakis emerged with a breakout game.
“(Gulley) made plays tonight,” said Cowboys coach Travis Ford. “His offense came by making plays, not by him trying to create something himself. That’s not his game. He got it by a back-door layup. He got it off a tip-in. he made free throws. That’s what he needs to do. And he can do that, because he’s athletic and he’s long. We need some of that out of him. That’s a huge bonus when we can get a few points out of him, because our team struggles at times to score.
“Just as Nick did last game, I thought Fred did this game. When you’re trying to just survive and piece minute-by-minute together, the way we’re doing, you’ve to have guys step up that may not normally be scoring a lot of points or playing a lot of minutes. You’ve got to have that.”
For Gulley, who scored a career-high eight points, it was an opportunity to shake some recent struggles and show some of the stuff that made him a two-time Arkansas Gatorade Player of the Year.
“I really feel like this is something I can build upon,” Gulley said. “I feel like myself out there and how I’m used to playing. It just felt good and hopefully I can build on it.”
So does Ford.
The Cowboys’ next test takes them to Mizzou, where the Tigers bring the pressure for 40 minutes. Penn’s status remains iffy. And even if he is able to play, Gulley will be needed.
“The more I play, the more confidence I’ll get,” Gulley said. “I know Missouri likes to do a lot of pressure, but if we handle it right we can use the pressure against them and turn that into a lot of easy offense.
“(Wednesday) was just a good startup. We’re going to keep working to where we feel good against Missouri and can handle their pressure.”
