OSU-Texas: Who’s Got Who?
By John Helsley
jhelsley@opubco.com
Made it safety to Austin, where just yesterday they were hurling snowballs and building snowmen and one young man even went skiing down the Capitol steps.
Today, however, there’s no evidence of the weather that was.
Thank, gawd, this annual trip is always about escaping the cold, not dragging it along across the border. And after being in Ames a week ago, the promise of warmth keeps you going.
Now, it’s up to the Cowboys to heat things up inside the Erwin Center tonight, where the Longhorns still haven’t revealed a definite starting five.
After losing point guard Dogus Balbay — one of the defensive stars of Texas’ win in Stillwater — to a blown knee, the Horns are likely to go big, with 6-6 forward Gary Johnson joining a front line of 6-7 Damion James and 6-10 Dexter Pittman.
That would make for matchup problems, not that it’s anything new for these vertically challenged Cowboys. But it could also create advantages for OSU on the offensive end, where the Horns would have to scramble to keep up with James Anderson and Co. on the perimeter.
As for the defensive dilemma should Texas look large, the Cowboys could sure use a re-appearance of Marshall Moses.
This has not been a welcoming town for OSU over the years. Since the formation of the Big 12, the Cowboys have won just twice in Austin. So the Pokes will be leaning heavily on the improved leadership that has been evident through a three-game winning streak.
“It’s been fun watching Obi (Muonelo) and James kind of taking this team under their wing a little bit and understanding what this time of year is all about,” said Cowboys coach Travis Ford. “You can see they’ve raised their leadership ability this time of year. You can see the intensity they have and the sense of urgency they have.
“That’s been fun. They’re using their experience to help these younger kids, in practice, the day of games and things like that. We just hope it continues. It’s something these guys have worked on over an extended period of time this year. They haven’t always been comfortable doing that. But now’s a good time to have it, that’s for sure.”
Keiton Page, while just a sophomore, is contributing, too.
“I think Keiton provides it in that guys know that he was starting this time last year and playing a lot of minutes into the NCAA Tournament. He’s starting to speak up more.
“It’s pretty much those three and Nick (Sidorakis) can jump in there, the players respect him.”
And Ford emphasizes how important that kind of leadership can be during a season’s stretch run.
“It’s important this time of year,” Ford said, “as important as anything we do, making sure players hold themselves accountable. And holding players accountable is the leadership within the team. We’ve been doing it for a long time, but when you can get players doing it, that helps a lot.”
Ford To Nation: Pay Attention
By John Helsley
jhelsley@opubco.com
A recent polling of 50 media members on the topic of the national Player of the Year found Cowboys star James Anderson lagging behind.
Waaaay behind.
Anderson received but a single third-place vote.
Really?
Granted, OSU didn’t play many national TV games through the non-conference portion of the schedule, let alone any meaningful TV games. But at some point, when Big Game James was consistently carving up what many believe to be America’s best basketball conference, you’d think that curiosity might have overcome a few of my my media brethren across the country.
Apparently not, because otherwise Anderson’s exploits couldn’t be so ignored.
But is it too late? Can Anderson gather some momentum as we rush toward March?
And if so, what will it take?
Cowboys coach Travis Ford says it’ll take some folks paying attention.
“It’s going to take people who have a voice in it to watch a little tape and not sit at home and eat potato chips all night, or whatever they’re doing. Watch tape and study the game.
“Don’t just watch one conference, watch everybody. Watch the Big East and watch the ACC and the SEC and Pac-10 and the Big Ten… And figure out who the best player in the country is. It’s not hard to figure out, if you watch our team and what he does for our team.”
Ford isn’t saying Anderson should be the obvious choice, just that he’s a legitimate choice.
“Am I saying he’s the best player in the country? I don’t know if he’s the No. 1 best player in the country. I think he definitely could be. Absolutely. I’d vote him No. 1. But for him to not even be mentioned in some polls is an absurdity. It’s insane and shows the lack of knowledge of people when they don’t see what he’s doing.
“You look at his numbers, at what he’s doing numbers wise, free throw wise, rebounding, steals, blocked shots, 3-point field goal percentage, field goal percentage, defensively. And we’ve won 19 games with the youngest team in the Big12.
“I think he’s got a little bit to do with that.”
OSU-Iowa State Afterthoughts
By John Helsley
jhelsley@opubco.com
Sitting in the Kansas City airport, waiting on a flight home from the frozen cornfield that is Iowa and thinking how hard it must be to be a Royals fan. Pitchers and catchers are reporting, hope springs eternal, and yet, the sports talk radio guys here are killing the Royals already.
(Sorry, compadre Mike Baldwin!)
But that’s not why you’re here.
Cowboys won a crucial game Wednesday night in Ames. A game with many twists, from a big blown lead (20 points in the first half); to a nearly 22-minute scoring drought by James Anderson; to Obi Muonelo’s greatest game as a Cowboy (seriously); to an underrated defensive job on ISU’s big two of Craig Brackins and Marquis Gilstrap; to a hang-on-at-the-end finish that saw the Cyclones give away some chances at the end.
Quick thoughts, before boarding:
* Muonelo’s growth as a player was evident against ISU. Clearly, he sensed that his team needed somebody to step up with the offense struggling. And he did, scoring 21 straight points during a stretch that turned away the Cyclones’ comeback. Considering OSU’s still-difficult quest for an NCAA Tournament bid, Muonelo’s pack mule effort and 31 points resulted in his best game in orange.
* Didn’t get this in the print edition, but Keiton Page suffered a minor thigh pull that shouldn’t be an issue. Page left the game late, yet was back on the floor at the end. And he was walking fine on the way to the bus after the game.
* The Cowboys face a stretch of four straight games against ranked teams, beginning Saturday with Baylor. We’ve been saying this a lot lately, but consider it a must win. At 6-5, the Cowboys need at least two more wins and maybe three to go dancing. With three home games left, and Nebraska the only one that looks like a lock, beating Baylor could be a necessity.
* As Matt Pilgrim emerges, Marshall Moses’ game has suffered. Moses’ work on the defensive end shouldn’t be dismissed Wednesday night, but it was a miserable night for him on offense. Missed a dunk and a couple of point-blank shots. Turned the ball over. Seems Marshall is having a difficult time adjusting to his new reserve role.
The Stats Don’t Lie
By John Helsley
jhelsley@opubco.com
So… what’s wrong with the Cowboys, who have now lost three straight for the first time under Travis Ford, again placing their NCAA Tournament resume in peril?
It’s simple: check the stats.
When the season started, OSU looked like a team of shooters, with James Anderson, Obi Muonelo and Keiton Page all carrying reputations for putting the ball in the basket.
Only Anderson has lived up to the billing.
Among the Big 12′s top 20 scorers, you’ll find only one Cowboy — Big Game James. Of course, Anderson is also the league’s leading scorer. Still, OSU lacks a reliable No. 2 scorer.
The streaky Muonelo second on the team at 12.5 points per game, yet that reliability issue came into play Saturday at Texas Tech, when with Anderson struggling, Muonelo went 3-of-12 from the floor and finished with eight points.
The stat reality, the Cowboys aren’t the hot shots they were believed to be.
In the Big 12, OSU ranks 11th in field goal percentage at 44.4 percent. Anderson makes 46 percent of his shots, with Muonelo at 44 percent and Page 37.3.
More stat reality: part of the shooting problem is tied to shot selection. The Cowboys are last in the Big 12 in assists, meaning they’re either forcing up shots or not working hard enough for easier shots.
Travis Ford said earlier this week that OSU missed Byron Eaton’s leadership. And that is true.
But they miss his playmaking, too.
So what’s wrong with the Cowboys? They miss Byron Eaton, which we always knew they would.
Maybe, though, they’ve been missing Ray Penn, too. The healthy Ray Penn.
Penn was seemingly just turning the corner in his freshman season when he suffered a “stress reaction” in his knee.
In the two contests prior to sitting out four straight games, he produced his two best assist totals of the season, with seven at Baylor and six at home against Colorado.
Penn is back. And while he showed some rust in the loss at Texas Tech, there’s hope that he can re-ignite the Cowboys offense and help fix what’s wrong.
Afterthoughts: OSU-Kansas State
By John Helsley
jhelsley@opubco.com
Folks, I enjoy my job. Enjoy what I do. Consider myself blessed to be paid to go to games.
And yet, a lot of days/nights, because I’ve spent a lot of days and nights going to games, the thrill is gone.
Bad games. Bad opponents. Uninspiring performances. Travel. Weather. Long drives home in the wee hours.
Yeah, I know it sounds like whining. Probably is. And when I start feeling sorry for myself, I remind myself that I once was an accountant (no offense, bean counters, it just wasn’t for me).
Well, I want you to know, Saturday at Kansas State was FUN.
Great opponent. Great atmosphere. Great drama.
Great game.
As I wrote in the paper, everything seemed to be stacked against the Cowboys.
Everything but one key factor: Guts.
The Cowboys showed a toughness against the Wildcats that should serve them well through the remainder of Big 12 play. They kept taking shots, from the loss of point guard Ray Penn to foul trouble and strong rallies from a really good K-State team.
And the Pokes came through with some blows of their own.
A week ago in this space, I said I was souring on OSU’s chances to make the NCAA Tournament.
I stand corrected.
These Cowboys — Saturday’s Cowboys — can win games. At home. On the road, in places like Columbia and Ames and College Station and who knows where else, if they can win at Bramlage Coliseum.
Now, it’s never going to be easy. The Cowboys have limitations. But they also have maybe the Big 12′s most valuable player in James Anderson.
And if they also have toughness, they’ve got a chance.
OSU-Baylor: Afterthoughts
By John Helsley
jhelsley@opubco.com
Going into Saturday’s game at Baylor, I wasn’t as alarmist as some in the media about OSU’s chances for the NCAA Tournament.
After Saturday, I may be changing my take.
Now, I’m not at all ready to bury the Cowboys. Things change. Things changed last year, drastically, as OSU rallied late to The Dance. And this is still a team somewhat in transition, with a freshmen point guard and several other inexperienced parts.
But this leopard must change its spots — and fast.
OSU is a bad shooting team, the Big 12′s worst. Worst in overall percentage. Worst in 3-point percentage.
Just worst.
If there’s a bright side, the Cowboys should be better, which means they can get better.
With James Anderson, Obi Muonelo, Marshall Moses and Keiton Page in play, it’s hard to imagine these Cowboys being this bad: 43.4 percent; 36.8 percent in conference games.
That won’t get it. Not in the Big 12.
There are too many good squads in this conference this year. For the Cowboys to be one of them, NCAA Tournament good, they have to find their shooting stroke.
Welcome to Bedlam
By John Helsley
jhelsley@opubco.com
We posted the combined home record of all Big 12 teams in the Monday paper: 111-1.
Let me repeat that, 111-1.
Even Cowboys coach Travis Ford, who fully understands the value of the home court, blinked at that stat.
“Really? Really?” Ford asked in wonder.
“That’s amazing.”
Tonight’s Bedlam bash features two teams on opposite ends of the home front over the weekend. OSU rolled previously No. 22-ranked Texas Tech by 29 points in Gallagher-Iba Arena, while the Sooners were slugged by 30 at Baylor.
Tonight also introduces several key OSU newcomers to the ruggedest of road venues when it comes to being a Cowboy: Lloyd Noble Center.
And that figures to play crucial into a prime opportunity for the Pokes to pull off a cherished road win that would get them off to a smashing start in conference play. James Anderson, Obi Muonelo, Marshall Moses and even Keiton Page should be ready for what’s in store. How freshmen Ray Penn, Fred Gulley and Roger Franklin and transfer Matt Pilgrim perform could be the tipping point.
Penn, as the lone starter among that group, and the point guard, and paired in an emotional meeting with former Houston prep rival Tommy Mason-Griffin, shoulders heavy pressure.
For Penn, this will be the most hostile environ he’s faced, oh…
“Of his life,” Ford said. “Guarantee you that. Plain and simple, we are trying to prepare him mentally for it, but you just have to dive into it. We’ve played some good enough games where he should be prepared. He doesn’t need any excuses that it’s the Big 12, ‘I’m a freshman.’”
Same, Ford says, for all of OSU’s freshmen.
“As we’ve told our guys, they’re a little bit past being true freshmen. They’re older freshmen at this point, especially the guys who have been playing a lot of minutes. They are older freshmen and they need to act like it at this point.
“Some of these guys have gotten extremely valuable experience. Ray, Fred Roger — those three stand out as far as guys that are averaging 15-20, 30 minutes a game. I don’t want to sit here and make excuses for them. They need to be ready to play.”
Don’t expect Penn to wilt under a Bedlam spotlight that also features an ESPN Big Monday showcase.
Penn firmly believes his sweaty shorts don’t stink.
“It’s going to be fun,” he said. “I’ve waited 19 years (to be in) the Big 12. It’s time to get it. This is what I’ve been working for.”
On Point: Is Ray Penn Ready?
Training is over for Ray Penn
By John Helsley
jhelsley@opubco.com
The Cowboys arrive at Big 12 play at 12-2, yet carrying plenty of questions.
OSU’s non-conference schedule revealed some about these Cowboys — James Anderson deserves mention among the nation’s elite, the team’s defense has improved markedly, Matt Pilgrim must stay out of foul trouble and Marhsall Moses must stay out of legal trouble — but overall, there’s not a great feel for what to expect as Big 12 play begins Saturday against Texas Tech at Gallagher-Iba Arena.
“It’s been a strange deal. Are we going in on a high? It’s something I hadn’t really thought a whole lot about. We’ve just kind of been the same. We haven’t been real, real bad other than Tulsa and we haven’t been real, real good ever. We played a great first half against Pacific, the best whole game we played was versus Utah. But I haven’t seen the best of three or four guys at a time. I know we’re 12-2 now, but we’re not playing as well as we need to be playing. We better figure it out over quickly.”
The guess here: the Cowboys will follow Ray Penn’s lead.
As good as Anderson is, and he’s big time, point guard is a critical position, especially in what appears to be the nation’s best basketball league. Penn’s future appears bright. At times, he’s shown flashes of brilliance. But he’s also thrown in a few clunkers.
Penn is averaging 7.8 points on 36.7 percent shooting dragged down by a 28.3 percentage (17-of-60) from 3-point land. He’s not turning it over much, 21 times in 14 games, but he also has just 39 assists.
So, is Penn ready for the Big 12?
“I think so. I know so, actually,” said the always confident Penn. “We’ve got games under our belt. We just came off a close one. I think I’ve been well prepared by my coaching staff as well as my teammates.”
Ford:
“We’ll find out Saturday. That’s a great question. As a coach, you want to think he is. For Ray I think his abilities are ready with what he can do. He just has to push himself mentally to get to that point. (Wednesday) he was OK at best in practice. (Thursday) it looked like he’d been in the program for three years. Typical of a freshman, but as a coach you want to find out what makes him take and click that button every day. That’s what we are doing, but there’s no question we need Ray Penn to play well. There’s no doubt we need Ray Penn to be ready to play in the Big 12. Whether he is or not we’ll see. And it’s not going to be all judged by Saturday. Ask me four or five games into it and I’ll let you know.”
Survival Counts
By John Helsley
jhelsley@opubco.com
For Cowboys fans, there was much to love and hate about Wednesday night’s win at Stanford.
On the bright side, of course, was a win. As they say, a win is a win is a win. Especially on the road.
And James Anderson played like the star he is. And Obi Muonelo reminded us of his ability to recognize — and deliver — when he’s needed most, firing for 18 second-half points.
And you had to like the way that with the game in danger of slipping away, freshman point guard Ray Penn — held scoreless to that point — looked as cool and refreshing as meringue on lemon pie.
Now to the dark side.
The Pokes nearly choked away a 15-point lead against a team with one real scoring threat.
Marshall Moses, one outing after scoring a career-high 28 points, got zip against Stanford, falling into foul trouble and playing just 14 minutes. The Cowboys need Moses every night, with little trusted help inside except for Matt Pilgrim, who has his own fouling issues.
Except for Anderson and Muonelo, OSU’s perimeter shooting was atrocious: 2-of-14 from 3-point range by everyone else combined.
An ugly win? The final five minutes, yeah.
But the first 35 were actually pretty appealing.
And remember, blemishes and all, a win is a win is a win.
Travis Ford Talks Recruits
By John Helsley
Back from a spin through the ESPN “Car Wash,” the hip term attached to a full day’s run through the many studio’s — TV and radio — Travis Ford finally had a chance to talk about his latest recruiting class.
The newest Cowboys: 6-foot-9 power forward Michael Cobbins of Amarillo’s Palo Duro High School; 6-4 shooting guard Markel Brown of Peabody Magnet High in Alexandria, La.; 6-4 shooting guard Brian Williams of Glen Oaks High in Baton Rouge, La.; and 6-6 small forward J.P. Olukemi of Vincennes University Junior College.
It’s a group gaining steam as a consensus top-20 recruiting class, ranked as the best in the Big 12 and No. 10 nationally according to HoopScoop.com, and the top class in the league and ranked 18th nationally by Scout.com.
A closer look:
Brown is a four-star recruit, ranked as the No. 24 shooting guard in the country by Scout.com. He averaged 28.5 points, eight rebounds, three assists, three steals and three blocked shots per game as a junior last season.
Also recruited by LSU, Marquette, Michigan, USC and Texas A&M, Brown was a first-team Class 4A All-State selection and was named the Most Valuable Player for District 3-4A. He was also named the All-Cenla MVP in 2009, voted on by local sports writers and consists of all the central Louisiana schools. He also started on the team his sophomore year as the Warhorses went 38-1.
“Markel is a kid I went and saw play and the first five minutes I watched him play I said, ‘that’s our guy’,” Ford said. “He plays for a big-time high school program. He can play the point, the two and also the three. He’s arguably one of the most athletic guys we’ve recruited.
“He’s just like a grasshopper. He can shoot it and has a great in-between game. He will fit into our system well. He can shoot it, which we need because we could be losing our two best shooters next year in James (Anderson) and Obi (Muonelo). He’s very quiet, but I think he will be a fan favorite.”
Cobbins is a consensus four-star and top-50 recruit, ranked as high as 38th nationally by Rivals.com. Scout.com lists him as the 12th-best power forward in the country.
As a junior last season, he averaged 18.3 points and 10.5 rebounds per game, leading the Dons to the Region I-4A finals. Also recruited by Memphis, Oklahoma, Missouri and Georgia Tech, he was also named the Player of the Year of the 5A-4A Golden Spread Super Team by the Amarillo Globe-News.
“Michael is someone we’re very excited about,” said Ford. “He’s a very versatile player and before he got hurt, was having a top-10 player-of-the-year season. He came to our elite camp and we fell in love with him.
“He plays a lot of different positions. He has recovered from his injury and is 100 percent, so I’m anxious to see him. He has a great attitude and is a player who has just gotten better and better. He’s very versatile and very long. We don’t really have anybody like him on our team that’s his size with the skills that he has.”
Olukemi could be a vital cog next season, when James Anderson and Obi Muonelo have moved on. The 6-7, 215-pound forward played during the 2008-09 season at Vincennes University in Indiana. He averaged 14.9 points and 4.2 rebounds per game while shooting 51.6 percent from the floor.
Olukemi is a consensus three-star player, and was ranked as the top junior college recruit this season by Midwest Scouting Service. He is sitting out the 2009-10 season and will have three years of eligibility remaining once next season begins.
“Many publications have JP rated as the No. 1 junior college player in the country,” said Ford. “We targeted him right away. He’s special in that he has three years to play. He has a great attitude and a great presence about him as a person. He has a big, strong basketball body and is someone who will step in and play right away. He’ll bring size to our team.”
Williams is a consensus three-star recruit, and ranked as high as the No. 26 shooting guard in the country by Scout.com. He was also recruited by LSU, Oregon State and Baylor.
Williams averaged 25.9 points, 13.6 rebounds, 4.1 blocked shots and 3.5 assists per game as a junior last season, pacing Glen Oaks to a No. 1 ranking in Class 4A. He was named Class 4A’s Outstanding Player by the Louisiana Sports Writers Association, and one of two juniors — joining Brown — named first-team All-State for Class 4A. He was also named the District 6-4A Most Valuable Player.
“Brian’s game is a lot like Obi’s,” Ford said. “He’s 6-4 to 6-5 and much more athletic. He can jump over the rim. He averaged 30 points a game last year in high school. He can step out and shoot it, he’s very athletic and has a great in-between game.”
