Moving Past Kansas
Pilgrim Making An Impact
By John Helsley
jhelsley@opubco.com
Matt Pilgrim couldn’t deny the buzz still circling his Cowboys Monday, a full two days after OSU’s stunning and convincing win over Kansas.
“To tell you the truth, I’ve still got a natural high from it,” said Pilgrim, who enjoyed a bit of a breakout with 18 points. “It felt good to play well in front of that national spotlight. It’s going to be unforgettable.”
Unforgettable perhaps, but Pilgrim didn’t mean the Pokes couldn’t or wouldn’t move past it. That’s not how coach Travis Ford rolls.
“Coach Ford is going to humble us so quick,” Pilgrim said before Monday’s practice. “There’s two things he’s good at, that’s motivating and humbling people. I may expect to practice an hour and 45 (minutes), but I know it’s going to be a tough hour and 45.”
Still, there are some things Pilgrim needs to cling to from the Kansas game, like just how good he can be. The junior forward continues to make strides in his first season at OSU, after sitting out last year at Kentucky as a transfer.
Saturday’s game should provide a leap in confidence for Pilgrim, who owned the interior against KU center Cole Aldrich, a projected first round NBA draft pick. Pilgrim has gone from early season starter, to reserve, to starter again. Oh, and impact player.
“At the beginning of the year, when (coach Ford) put me on the bench, I was like, ‘I’d rather start on the bench than start,’” Pilgrim said. “But now, I’m just basically feeling myself more. I’m gaining confidence with my game. I’m just feeling more of a flow.”
And the Cowboys are better for it.
“When he’s focused, when he’s just in the zone of doing whatever he can to help our team win — screening and rolling and defending — when he’s in that mindset, he’s a valuable member of our team,” Ford said. “When he’s in that mindset, I think he’s one of the best big men in our league. I think he’s physically talented enough. He can affect the game in a lot of ways for us, because we don’t have anybody else like him.
“The way he can play above the rim, the way he can offensive rebound, the way he can block a shot, the way he can defend. He’s athletic, big, quick, fast, strong. We’re just always hoping that he continues to do that today. And tomorrow.
“We’re trying to build habits of consistency with him, to make him realize just how great he can be, because I still don’t think he truly and fully understands how great he can be as a basketball player. And it’s all about consistency for him.”
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