At 6-foot-4, Markel Brown has learned to fly.

By John Helsley

jhelsley@opubco.com

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The Cowboys aren’t winning big, but they’re winning some, with Tuesday night’s 69-67 win over Iowa State pulling OSU even overall at 12-12 and 5-6 in the Big 12.

And lately, they’re winning – and even losing – with flair.

Markel Brown’s high-rising antics are making him a highlight-reel regular, with his dazzling dunks showing up on Play of the Day lists everywhere.

Against the Cyclones, there was a drive-the-lane elevation jam over ISU’s Royce White, who was rendered helpless by Brown’s sudden explosiveness. And there was an in-flight finish of a fastbreak alley-oop set up nicely by Brian Williams, who added a statement slam himself.

Don’t look now, but these Cowboys are becoming fun to watch.

Not only are the youngsters growing and going together, they’re entertaining, too.

With a nod to the L.A. Clippers’ cool “Lob City” take, the Cowboys have started referencing “Lob Stilly.”

Their coach, Travis Ford, isn’t in on the tag, but he says the dunks are big at home – his home.

“My children are very excited about it,” Ford said. “And they’re keeping track, that’s all they want to talk about.

“But it’s great. It’s fun to see. We know (Brown) has the capability, a lot of our guys do.”

Brown, who went national with two big dunks in OSU’s upset of Missouri, said he’s just trying to deliver some juice.

“I think it gets the team going,” he said. “It obviously gets the crowd pumped and I

think the team feeds off the crowd.”

Said Ford: “He can make some spectacular plays. And our guys are giving him good passes and stuff like that. And they came at crucial times. That’s what I’m more concerned about, make sure we finish the play.”

For Tuesday’s game, the king of OSU dunkdom, Desmond Mason, was seated courtside with his son. Twice Brown dunks prompted the former Cowboys star to rise out of his seat in appreciation.

In an impromptu interview with The Daily O’Collegian, the school’s newspaper, Mason shared some thoughts on Brown and the Cowboys.

“Markel is one of the most athletic guys in the Big 12,” Mason said, “probably one of the most athletic in the country.”

Mason told O’Colly writer Anthony Slater that he’s talked to Brown a few times, attending some Cowboys practices.

“He’s having a great season,” Mason said. “He’s still young and he’s still learning his game, so his talent will continue to open up even more. His athleticism speaks for itself.”

Freshman Le’Bryan Nash won a national high school dunk contest last year, but gladly takes a back seat to Brown and his theatrics.

“I call it ‘Lob Stilly.’ Every time you see me tweet, I am like #lobstilly, because he is going to get a dunk.

“That gets me excited. That gets me motivated to play defense more. It’s good to see guys like that jumping out the gym and it’s good to see highlights besides me. It’s great to see action like that. I love it.”

Le'Bryan Nash rose up against Iowa State much of the night.

By John Helsley

jhelsley@opubco.com

follow on Twitter @jjhelsley

Sometimes, things that don’t quite go right, still turn out all right.

That’s what happened for Oklahoma State in the final seconds Tuesday night, leading to the drama that produced a 69-67 win over Iowa State, complete with a final stand that found Le’Bryan Nash swatting away Chris Allen’s attempt at a buzzer-beater to tie.

Might not have happened, at least not that way, if the preceding offensive series had gone down like Cowboys coach Travis Ford wanted.

“They executed exactly what we wanted,” Ford said of his Cowboys. “I don’t know what type shot we wanted to get, but I wanted to make sure we got it with three or less seconds on the clock.”

OSU got a good shot, with Nash bouncing back to shoot over the smaller Allen, drilling a 15-foot jumper for the lead.

Except he did it with :04.7 left, not three seconds or less.

And that changed what the Cowboys did defensively.

Ford said that with less time, he would have put Nash on the ball, defending the inbounds pass, which likely would have been thrown at least to midcourt.

“With four seconds left, you’ve got plenty of time to throw it in and take 10 dribbles,” Ford said. “I didn’t think they were going to throw it long.”

And the Cyclones didn’t, instead getting the ball in quick to Allen, who dribbled the length of the floor.

Anticipating that, Ford positioned Nash off the ball. And when Brian Williams got screened, Nash picked up Allen, rolling with him stride for stride at the end, before sending Allen’s shot into the stands.

“I knew they were going to go to Allen,” Nash said. “I told B-Will, ‘You have got to guard him,’ because I knew they were going to go to him. My man set a pick, so I switched on him. He didn’t jump that high off the floor, so the ball… I got a good block.”

And a surprising block.

Nash entered the game with just 10 blocked shots on the season.

“I was excited,” said Cowboys sophomore Markel Brown. “LB blocking a game-winning shot? It’s unusual. Usually he doesn’t get up off the ground.”

Even Nash joked after the game about his supposed defensive deficiencies.

Not that he doesn’t have it in him.

“He’s come a long way,” Ford said. “If he continues with the mindset of, ‘Hey, I’ve got to get better,’ then he can get to the point where he’s a really good defender. Because he’s got a great feel for the game.

“When you have a good feel, you can read angles and do some things. And I think he did that with the timing of the blocked shot.”

Turned out all right.

jhelsley@opubco.com

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Le’Bryan Nash admits an affinity for Twitter.

“I’m a Twitter freak,” said Nash, who can be found here: @LeBryan_Nash02.

“I like tweeting about stuff. People tweet me.”

And sometimes he’s misunderstood.

Early last week, Nash sent out a tweet that read, “Im not let this man hold me down from being great I got two much on the line.”

Immediately, some followers figured Nash was referencing Cowboys coach Travis Ford.

“I need to address that,” Nash said after his big game against Missouri, “I’m not talking about Coach Ford at all. When I’m talking about the man, it’s what everybody talks about, ‘The Man.’

“It’s not about Ford at all, he’s a great coach. I’m glad I came here. I’m absolutely 100 percent with him. He’s doing a great job coaching me right now.”

Usually, Nash’s tweets are upbeat. He frequently reaches out to Cowboys fans.

A sampling:

“Just keep believing n us.”

“People see me around campus dont be shock come up and say hi want some friends lol.”

“I dont get this class but the teacher is funny.”

Before the Missouri game, Nash urged Cowboys fans to produce a “white out.”

“All students attending the mizzou game tonight @ 6:30 we need your support please support the team by wearing white ( WHITE OUT)!!!!!!!!!!”

Trouble was, the team wore orange.

Nash’s correction didn’t come soon enough, with much of the student section showing up in white amid reports that the student union sold out of white shirts.

“ATTENTION all oklahoma state fans the white out has been changed to baylor home game everyone please wear orange tonight (ORANGE OUT)!!!!!!!”

All harmless, of course, right?

Most of the time.

“Right after the Baylor game, I knew I was going to get bad tweets,” said Nash, who scored six points in a 41-point loss. “I just can’t wait until that game comes back here, try to beat them.”

Meanwhile, Nash will keep taking things out on The Man.

“It’s probably life I’m talking about really,” he said. “I’m trying to have an uplifting life, keep God in my prayers.

“My mom motivates me all the time. I talk to my mom every night. And she tells me, ‘It’s going to get good if you keep God in your prayers.’”

jhelsley@opubco.com

On Twitter @jjhelsley

Nearing tipoff here at Gallagher-Iba Arena, where the Cowboys are set to take on No. 25 Kansas State. Fans are slowing flowing in.

Here’s a quick primer, our Five Things, for a Big 12 game that means much to both teams. The Wildcats are trying to break through on the road in the Big 12, where they are 0-2 so far. That’s not good enough for a ranked team that considers itself in the top tier of the Big 12.

The Cowboys are trying to break through against a good team, having come oh-so-close at Iowa State on Wednesday night. Do they have what it takes?

1. Rebound. It’s going to be a regular item here during this season, but banging the boards is critical today, with the Wildcats leading the Big 12 in total rebounds and offensive rebounds, the latter a sore spot for the Cowboys this season. They need to limit second chance opportunities. Mike Cobbins and Philip Jurick can only do so much, athletic guards Markel Brown and Brian Williams need to chip in.

2. Good Nash, Bad Nash. Do we see the Le’Bryan Nash who scored 21 points and was most effective at Iowa State, or do we see the Nash who hit just 2-of-12 shots at Baylor and was a non-factor? That’s been the tale much of this season. Obviously, the Cowboys need the Good Nash.

3. Point Taken. The Pokes got a huge lift from Markel Brown at the point in Ames, with him producing 11 assists, the most since Byron Eaton’s days on campus. The Cats will adjust, so how does Ford and Brown adjust?

4. K-State Streak. Frank Martin has never walked out of GIA a winner and the Wildcats have lost 11 straight in Stillwater. The crowd is starting to fill in, and these young Cowboys need the support. Will it be there?

5. Don’t Reach. Battling the Cats’ athletic and aggressive forwards, Jamar Samuels and Thomas Gipson, and their reinforcements, will be a challenge on the boards and in the paint. The depth-strapped Cowboys can’t afford the cheap fouls.

The Cowboys need Brian Williams -- and others -- to get active on the boards.

By John Helsley

jhelsley@opubco.com

follow on Twitter @jjhelsley

OSU’s Big 12 road slump has reached 12 games.

The last time they won in a conference locale: Feb. 17, 2010.

At Iowa State, where the Cowboys will be tonight. Tipoff 8 p.m.

Obi Muonelo went off for 31 points (23 in the second half and 21 straight at one key point) that frigid night in Ames – I was there, freezing on the long walk back to the rental car. And boy, couldn’t the Cowboys use Obi now, lugging this losing steak into Hilton Coliseum tonight?

Still, Ames represents a return to the scene of better times, at least for Keiton Page, the only current Cowboy who was there that night.

“A good place to start back up,” Page said the other day.

Five things worth watching tonight:

1. White(Out). No, blizzard conditions aren’t expected. But warnings have been issued about ISU’s Royce White, a Minnesota transfer who has bolstered the Cyclones, leading the team in scoring (13.4), rebounding (9.6) and assists (4.3) per game. The biggest problem comes with the matchup, as White, at 6-8, 270 pounds, will frequently bring the ball up the floor. And he’s more than capable, reminding Travis Ford of one of his old Kentucky teammates, Jamal Mashburn.

“Maybe not as good a shooter as Jamal Mashburn, he handled the ball like a guard,” Ford said. “Jamal brought the ball up as much as I did when I played. Royce White is going to bring the ball up as much as anybody on their basketball team. His ballhandling skills are as good as any of the point guards I’ve seen in the league. He understands angles, understands drawing contact. He’s a very, very impressive basketball player. And he makes everyone else around him better.”

So who gets White? Not Page. Maybe Brian Williams or Markel Brown. It’s a critical matchup.

2. Cover Up. White isn’t the only Cyclone creating concern. ISU has six players averaging 7.5 points or more, and a deep and versatile bench. And after facing a barrage of 3-point shots by Baylor Saturday, the Cowboys get the Big 12’s best 3-point shooting team tonight, with the Cyclones averaging 9.1 long balls a game.

3. Don’t Underestimate. The ’Clones are just 2-2 in the Big 12 and enter on a two-game losing streak, but the setbacks came against two top-10 teams, No. 5 Missouri and No. 7 Kansas.

4. Stepping Up. Le’Bryan Nash’s roller-coaster ride of a rookie season continues. After a strong performance in a win over Oklahoma, Nash took a step back at Baylor, making just 2-of-12 shots and backing down from the challenge. The Cowboys need the good Nash tonight. And the good Page, Brown, Williams and Cobbins, too.

5. Board Wars. Lacking height, the Cowboys routinely have trouble on the boards. Even when OSU got stops at Baylor, it frequently struggled to secure rebounds, leading to too many second chances. Brown and Williams, while guards, can help on the boards by crashing and using their leaping ability. And they’ll need to, with the Cyclones outrebounding 14 of 17 opponents thus far.

jhelsley@opubco.com

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Travis Ford, still clearly agitated by Saturday’s lopsided loss at Baylor, reiterated his stance Monday that he doesn’t believe in brushing off such performances as simply a bad day at the office.

Ford said the Cowboys shouldn’t forget, but rather remind themselves of how bad that 106-65 beating felt and tasted, using the stat sheet as a reference, perhaps taped prominently in their lockers as “a challenge and fuel.”

And he said that extends to him, too.

“I got it home on my mirror,” Ford said. “I put it right where I brush my teeth.”

School was out at OSU on Monday, in recognition of the MLK holiday, but it was no off day for the Cowboys. They practiced – twice – and spent extra time reviewing the video.

Ford called it a “spirited film session.”

Clarifying later, Ford said he raised his voice frequently, “something I haven’t done a whole lot with this group.”

Freshman forward Michael Cobbins confirmed: “It was pretty intense. Film doesn’t lie, I can tell you that. A lot of mistakes made from everybody on the team.”

The fourth-year coach is treading carefully with what remains of this team – five freshmen among an eight-man rotation – trying to balance encouragement and hard-edged teaching techniques with such a young squad.

He doesn’t want to squash their confidence, yet must push and press them to make progress. There are no shortcuts.

And while Ford allows that it won’t be easy stacking wins the rest of the way, he won’t allow the Cowboys to just accept that.

“It should be that, ‘Hey, I don’t care how old you are, how weak you are right now, how small you are, it don’t matter.’

“Doesn’t mean that you are going to win every game, but you sure can compete.”

Some degree of reality is setting in with Ford, if not a portion of the fan base. The Cowboys are in a rebuild. They’re going to have major matchup problems with bigger teams. And with so many young players in key roles, not complementary roles, there are going to be rough nights.

That doesn’t mean Ford is willing to surrender, far from it.

And that’s what irritated him most Saturday, when the game got out of hand and his guys bowed out instead of bowing up.

“I told our guys and I want them to understand this, ‘It’s not about winning and losing at this point, it’s about how you are playing,’” Ford said. “Because we can play well and still not maybe win the game.

“About eight to 10 minutes to go in the (Baylor) game, we didn’t have much fight in us.”

The Cowboy kids -- Markel Brown, Mike Cobbins and Le'Bryan Nash -- celebrate a Bedlam win.

By John Helsley

jhelsley@opubco.com

follow on Twitter @jjhelsley

Several times this season, Cowboys have chatted on about their tough half-court defense, drawing nods and thoughts of “yeah, yeah, yeah.”

Well, maybe it’s time to buy in.

The Cowboys put the clamps on OU Monday night, forcing the Sooners into a 32.4 percent shooting night in a 72-65 Bedlam win.

OU made just 24-of-74 shots from the floor.

In three Big 12 games now, the Cowboys have held Texas Tech to 39.6 percent shooting, Texas 30 percent and OU 32.4 percent.

“We know our half-court defense is going to be our identity,” said Cowboys captain Keiton Page.

As for the rest of us, we’re slowing catching on. And to think, we’ve always expected offense from Travis Ford’s teams.

“(Defense) is something we take a lot of pride in, Ford said. “In the past it has gotten overlooked. It’s not now because we can’t score.

“Everybody used to think all I did was offense and my teams have always scored a whole lot of points. But the people who know us, we probably spend 70 or 80 percent of our time on defense every day. Our offense shows that at this point.”

Monday night, OSU’s offense looked better, too, although it’s not necessarily reflected in their final 38.6 percent shooting number. But that number was skewed late, when the Cowboys tried to run clock and wasted several offensive possessions. And overall, they moved the ball with better spacing and flow, resulting in several dunks and back-door layups, the result of a new emphasis to get players moving more fluidly on the floor.

OSU’s 13 assists were the team’s third-highest total of the season.

A few more day-after Bedlam thoughts:

* Le’Bryan Nash is finding his second gear. Recent games have seen him play with more energy and passion, resulting in more production, which the Cowboys desperately need to free Page and the rest of the Cowboys. Now, imagine what Nash can be when he finds third and fourth gear.

* While depth is a concern, the reduced roster may turn out to be a good thing for the Cowboys, both now and long-term. Ford admitted Monday night that he was previously struggling with sorting through all his available players to see who could play and who couldn’t. The defections of Fred Gulley and Reger Dowell and the unfortunate injury to Jéan-Paul Olukemi have forced Ford’s hand. And the resulting increased playing time for freshmen Brian Williams, Michael Cobbins and Marek Soucek has been beneficial, with all three looking like winning players for the future.

* The crowd wasn’t classic Bedlam, but it grew to be pretty good… considering. The teams were going up against the BCS title game, which has since been revealed as the No. 2 watched cable TV program – ever. Another factor playing against the basketball game was a 6 p.m. tip that made it difficult for fans coming from Tulsa or Oklahoma City. So a gathering of 9,000 or so isn’t at all bad.

Markel Brown figures to get the call to slow UT's J'Covan Brown. It's a key matchup, if the Longhorn is healthy.

By John Helsley

jhelsley@opubco.com

follow on Twitter @jjhelsley

OklahomaState’s 1-0 start to Big 12 Conference play stirred optimism – for a few days.

No reason to get carried away, the Cowboys’ win league-opening win over Texas Tech was expected, with the Red Raiders filling the role as Big 12 bottom feeder while Billy Gillispie sorts things out inLubbock.

Tonight’s game at Texasis a better barometer.
The Longhorns are a powerhouse in name only, left to rebuild when too many players bolted for the NBA last spring. Six freshmen play – and three start – in Rick Barnes’ nine-man rotation.

Of course, they’re good freshmen. AndTexasis 9-0 at home.

Still, the Horns, 10-4, don’t own any notable wins and have lost toOregon State,North CarolinaState,North CarolinaandIowaState. And their best player, junior J’Covan Brown – UT’s leading scorer at 19.3 ppg – is questionable tonight with a sprained ankle suffered in the Wednesday loss atIowaState.

So let’s see what the Cowboys got.

Five things to watch:

1. The Brown Dilemma. The news on UT’s Brown couldn’t come at a better time, with OSU’s Markel Brown still recovering from his butt-muscle strain. Markel is the Cowboys’ best defender and he’ll draw the assignment on J’Covan if he goes.

2. Noticing Nash. Let’s see how Le’Bryan Nash handles a road game back in his home state. The last time, in a game he highly anticipated in his hometown ofDallas, against SMU, it didn’t go so well: four points, four rebounds, 2-of-10 shooting. Nash is coming off perhaps his best effort against Tech, when he played with more energy and toughness, a must if he’s going to come close to approaching the player the Cowboys thought he could be.

3. The Frank Erwin Factor. Erwin is the man UT’s arena is named after. The Cowboys are 0-7 in their last seven trips to Erwin’s building. Overall, the Longhorns have won four straight in the series and 10 of 11.

4. Check Out TheCzech.Yes, I’ve used that before. And I’m sure to use it again. Can’t resist. Marek Soucek isn’t ready for a starring role with the Cowboys, not physically or mentally, as he continues to adjust to the American game. Still, he does some good things that are otherwise lacking from these Cowboys. Like shooting. And screening. And passing. He can help.

5. Paging Page. It’s always interesting to see what Big 12 coaches have in store for Keiton Page, who is riding a hot streak of late. Barnes is one of the league’s best, and you can bet he’ll work up something to pressure Page and force other Cowboys to prove they can score.

Those are a few of the storylines from here inAustin, where I’ll be tweeting throughout the game and, of course, writing this one up for the paper and newsok.com.

OSU's Keiton Page (12) dribbles past Texas Tech defender Javarez Willis (5) in the first half of a men's college basketball game between the Oklahoma State University Cowboys and the Texas Tech University Red Raiders at Gallagher-Iba Arena in Stillwater, Okla., Wednesday, Jan. 4, 2012. Photo by Nate Billings, The Oklahoman

Opinions on Keiton Page vary widely.

And wildly.

I don’t get it.

The Cowboys haven’t been great this year – or last – but I shudder to think where they’d be without Page.

So he doesn’t pass the eye test. And he’s not the best athlete on the floor; heck, may be among the worst.

Maybe the Pokes have too many athletes. Page is a basketball player.

And a winner, lugging around a young team struggling to find its way, doing his best to will it to victories. And Wednesday night’s win over Texas Tech in a Big 12 opener – a must win, lest there be any doubt – featured Page pulling the Cowboys over the finish line again.

Happy to let Le’Bryan Nash shoulder the load early, Page answered the call when needed late. He finished with 23 points, the bulk of which came with the rest of the Cowboys tightening on the offensive end.

Page scored OSU’s final 12 points and 16 of its final 17.

And in his third game at the point, the Cowboys committed just two turnovers – a school record – with Page providing five assists.

What’s not to like?

After the game, Tech coach Billy Gillispie gushed about Page. And if you think it was just polite coachspeak, it sure didn’t play that way.

For two seasons now, Page has been the object of opponents’ bad intent, drawing major attention that makes it difficult for him to even catch the ball in a normal flow, let alone get shots. With OSU lacking true scoring options, teams focus first and foremost on slowing Page.

Bill Self. Rick Barnes. Frank Martin. All have saluted Page, whether verbally or by devising defensive schemes aimed primarily at him.

That, friends, is respect.

When James Anderson and Obi Muonelo were still around banging down shots, things were easier for Page, who often found himself left free to fire.

Those days are long gone.

So Page is asked to carry the load, as hard as that is for a 5-8 unspectacular athlete to pull off. And more often than not, he obliges. Beyond all that, no other Cowboy is as orange as Page, anOklahomakid with a sense of school history who always plays the good soldier, representing the program in good times and bad.

His reward: a mixed bag of love and hate.

C’mon, get off Page’s back.

His burden is heavy enough.

–
By John Helsley
jhelsley@opubco.com
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Oklahoma State's Justin Blackmon (81) celebrates a touchdown during the Fiesta Bowl between the Oklahoma State University Cowboys (OSU) and the Stanford Cardinal at the University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Ariz., Monday, Jan. 2, 2012. Photo by Sarah Phipps, The Oklahoman

By John Helsley

jhelsley@opubco.com

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With the OSU offense sputtering in the second half and Stanford ahead 14-0, Justin Blackmon did what he does best, striking for a 43-yard scoring play to get the Cowboys started.

First, however, Blackmon got mad.

“I knew we could play better,” Blackmon said. “If that takes me getting mad, I guess I get mad and go out there and do it.”

Blackmon got mad and soon enough the Cowboys got even.

And eventually, after a full 60 minutes of game time, they pulled ahead, for the first time at the end of overtime, good enough for a 41-38 win in a Fiesta Bowl classic.

Andrew Luck was everything he’s been billed to be, maybe more. And Brandon Weeden was great, too, throwing for 399 yards and three touchdowns, although he wasn’t getting near the love of Luck.

But in the end, the Fiesta Bowl was Blackmon’s Big Show.

Eight catches and 186 yards and three touchdowns, with Stanford committed to stopping him and Blackmon supposedly slowed by a bum leg caused by an infection.

He did it, too, with a receiving corps that featured Colton Chelf as the No. 2 option, as more explosive wideouts Tracy Moore and Michael Harrison played only limited roles due to apparent disciplinary issues. Did it with the running game going nowhere.

Blackmon averaged 23.3 yards a catch, scored on receptions of 43, 67 and 17. And he made the defining play of the game for OSU, a fourth-down grab on the game-tying drive in the final minutes of regulation, rendering Stanford’s fifth-year senior corner Corey Gatewood helpless on a quick slant.

“If I know it is one-on-one,” Weeden said, “I’m going to Blackmon 100 percent of the time.”

Cardinal coach David Shaw was fully aware of Blackmon’s potential impact heading into the game. Afterward, he was no less impressed.

“The fact that Justin Blackmon did not get Heisman votes is ridiculous, absolutely ridiculous,” Shaw said.

During the week, Shaw had compared Blackmon to Terrell Owens.

“Yards after catch, physical play, great blocker, plays with an attitude,” Shaw said. “Give the kid all the credit in the world. He deserves it.

“He’s going to do the same thing on the next level that he does on this level. Guys like that play that way in high school, junior high school, college and the NFL. He’s special.”

Don’t we all know it.

“To make big catches in crucial situations then make plays with the ball in his hands when the other team knows he is going to do it, it is pretty amazing, especially when the teams roll up on him like tonight,” Mike Gundy said.

“Stanford’s game plan, other than blitz, was to roll up and play a guy down on him. He still finds a way to get open and get the ball and the quarterback finds a way to get it to him.”

Blackmon found a way to will the OSU offense Monday night.

And to will the Cowboys’ victory.

The program has featured some elite wide receivers. Gundy played with Hart Lee Dykes and has long proclaimed his greatness. Rashaun Woods was all but unstoppable, once catching seven touchdowns in a single game. Dez Bryant dazzled with regularity.

Gundy hadn’t been willing to place Blackmon alone at the top of the list, until Monday night.

“I resisted in saying he was the best wide receiver that has ever played atOklahomaState,” Gundy said. “He is, bar none.”