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

By John Helsley

jhelsley@opubco.com

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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
follow on Twitter @jjhelsley

jhelsley@opubco.com

@jjhelsley

Because it’s December and it’s still too soon to surrender on the season, OSU’s game against SMU tonight inAmericanAirlinesCenteris big.

Big enough even to call a must-win, if – if – the Cowboys still hold NCAA Tournament hopes.

Bottom line: The Pokes are better than SMU. They should win this game; not that just being better has assured anything this season. There hasn’t been a game yet in which you came away from a Cowboys win thinking they really looked good or produced a complete effort.

Still, let’s go on the assumption that OSU has the better players and should win. And forget theDallaslocale, this won’t be some sort of home-court advantage for SMU.

So it’s must-win.

Here are five things to watch:

1. The Point Plan. Keiton Page surely gets the nod at the point, a move necessitated by the failure of the other three guys to hold that spot – Fred Gulley, Reger Dowell and Cezar Guerrero. Of course, Gulley and Dowell have since left the program. Guerrero’s playing time figures to get a major bump. But it’s mostly about Page. And while a lot of folks have claimed this is what they’ve all been waiting for, it’s not ideal, for Page or the Pokes. Remember, Page was pushed to the point for a while last year. And it didn’t work out so well. Opponents pressured Page all the way up the floor, making him labor just to get the ball past midcourt. It wore him down on the offensive end, affecting his playmaking ability as well as his scoring ability.

2. Nash’s Homecoming. For freshman Le’Bryan Nash, this game represents a return home to theDallasarea where he starred as a prep player. How will he respond? Will it fire him up? Will he try to do too much? The Cowboys need Nash at his best.

3. The Rotation. Previously, a rotation that stretched as many as 10 deep created problems for Cowboys coach Travis Ford, who had to try to manage playing time for so many deserving players. With Gulley and Dowell now gone, some of that has been alleviated. Will that mean increased time for Brian Williams or even Marek Soucek?

4. About The Mustangs. SMU was pretty good a year ago, winning 20 games. But these aren’t those Mustangs. Even at 7-4, they don’t own a quality win and have lost toColoradoState,FresnoState, Oral Roberts andJacksonState. Did we say must-win?

5. Defining Roles. The buzz word surrounding this OSU team early was versatility. Now, you have to wonder if mixing and matching players and working guys at different positions may have set them back, with guys not fully recognizing their roles. That’s sure the way it’s looked. Maybe the trimmed roster allows for better definition.

Cezar Guerrero shows his skills from high school.

By John Helsley

jhelsley@opubco.com

follow on Twitter @jjhelsley

Someone posed the question late Wednesday night – “Have we been hyping the wrong Oklahoma State freshman?”

How about answering a question with a question, “Why pick only one?”

Le’Bryan Nash came to the Cowboys with all the credentials – high-ranking national recruit, dunk champion, NBA body with crazy skills.

Cezar Guerrero came in under the radar, despite a big-time prep career in California. Then his early major moment was a scare, when he suffered a stinger, lost feeling in his extremities and had to be medi-flighted to Oklahoma City.

Well, Guerrero’s second impression, made on a wild Wednesday night in Gallagher-Iba Arena, is what prompted the original question. With 29 points, almost all of them clutch, and eight 3-pointers the little guard won over the Cowboys crowd and all but won OSU the game, 90-85, in overtime.

The 29 points tied Guerrero with James Anderson and Byron Houston for the most by a freshman in Cowboys history, but more than anything, established his personality: fast, fun and fine in prime time.

“I didn’t know about any records, to be honest with you,” he said after the game. “I just go out there and play. I just want to do me and do what I’m capable of doing. And that’s making shots, creating stuff and winning games. I’m a leader. If you need me to be vocal, I’m vocal.”

That’s right, Guerrero fancies himself a leader, no matter his freshman status.

With Keiton Page out with a toe injury, Guerrero took it upon himself to fill the void.

“This is real stuff, I told KP, ‘I’ve got you,’” Guerrero said. “When he was putting on his clothes, his regular clothes, I told him, ‘Hey baby boy, I got you. Don’t worry about it. I’m here. I’m going to support you and I’m ready to take on that role to be that leader for you.’

“There’s always moments for us to be leaders in this game. You’ve got to take your opportunity to be a leader on the court and just flourish with it.”

Guerrero flourished, alright.

And his intensity and aggressive play should help Nash, who sometimes plays like he needs a jolt of excitement.

Nash has flashed his potential, with a 26-point effort in his exhibition debut and a gliding style and strength in and around the basket. He’s an obvious talent.

So who deserves the hype?

Celebrate them both.

Page Update

For the first time in his career, Page did not play for the Cowboys.

The injury occurred in Tuesday’s win over Arkansas-Pine Bluff, as Page came up limping after crashing out of bounds on one end. He played on, however, and Ford was looking forward to his long-range shooting to combat UTSA’s zone, when word came that he was really hurting.

Page tried to give it a go in warm-ups, but changed from his uniform into a sweat suit before the game. X-rays revealed nothing too serious, with the injury being termed as similar to a turf toe.

Cowboys coach Travis Ford is optimistic about his availability for the NIT semifinals in New York on Wednesday.

“My guess is he’ll be ready to go,” Ford said.

Don’t Sleep On UTSA

Former OSU standout Brooks Thompson brought a savvy and talented team into GIA.

The Roadrunners return four starters and 12 lettermen from last year’s 20-14 team that won the Southland Conference Tournament and made the school’s first NCAA postseason appearance in any sport.

A definite advantage for the Roadrunners is the benefit a summer trip to Australia delivered in the form of practices and games and chemistry.

“This is with the utmost respect, San Antonio is probably a better basketball team than we are right now, for the fact they have four returning starters, they went to Australia in the summertime and they’re just so much further ahead,” Ford said. “They’ve got good players and are really well coached.

“Without Keiton Page, even with Keiton Page, I knew this was going to take a special effort, period. I got to watch enough tape on San Antonio to realize that at this time of year, they’re really very well polished.”

UTSA was the unanimous pick to win the Southland West Division.

Jarred Shaw surely saw the handwriting on the wall at OSU.

By John Helsley

jhelsley@opubco.com

follow on twitter @jjhelsley

The news of OSU granting Jarred Shaw his release was unexpected, yet hardly stunning. The signing of 6-11 Philip Jurick, combined with the Cowboys’ commitment to playing fast next fall, likely sent Shaw packing.

OSU coaches always felt Shaw had upside. And we saw it, too, in glimpses of games here and there — remember the Kansas game in the Big 12 Tournament? — if never in abundance.

The slender Shaw was hampered somewhat by Chron’s Disease, an inflammatory illness of the intenstines, which affected both his ability to gain weight and his cardio fitness. Shaw was a polite kid who always offered a smile and he seemed to be well-liked by teammates.

But players want to play. And Shaw’s place in the program going forward was in question, especially with Jurick on board, so he’s seeking a transfer.

Cowboys coach Travis Ford has vowed to run and gun next season, making best use of a roster that finally offers the athletes able to fit the system we’ve all awaited since Ford was hired from UMass three years ago. Even Jurick’s role is somewhat sketchy, although his size and proven rebounding and shot-blocking skills won’t go to waste.

But if the Cowboys run with regularity next season, it’s easy to project plentiful playing time for Markel Brown, Keiton Page, Jean-Paul Olukemi, Mike Cobbins, LeBryan Nash, Reger Dowell and Cezar Guerrero. And Darrell Williams’ status remains in flux while his legal situation plays out. Fred Gulley and Brian Willliams are also in the mix. And then there’s Jurick.

Shaw had to understand it all. So his departure is no stunner in a roster overhaul that will require a roster for 2011-12.

Ray Penn and Roger Franklin have also departed, meaning three key pieces of Ford’s 2009 recruiting class are gone.

The question now is when will OSU fill Shaw’s scholarship? The Cowboys hold out hope that La Salle transfer Aaric Murray heads their way, although all indications are that he’ll go to West Virginia. OSU is also involved with Chicago prep power forward Jamari Traylor, who may need to go to junior college first.

Ford won’t just add a body, not with a bevy of top prospects supposedly on the radar in what is considred a rich recruiting class nationwide next year.

Did Reger Dowell do enough to solidify his status at the point for 2011-12?

 

By John Helsley

jhelsley@opubco.com

follow on Twitter @jjhelsley

As we close the book on the 2010-11 Cowboys hoops season, it’s easy to look ahead to next year.

This season was disappointing in many ways and next year offers much more optimism, with expected growth for OSU’s young players and the anticipated arrival of LeBryan Nash and Cezar Guerrero, if not a big man to add to the recruiting list.

One of the fun things to ponder going forward: Who will be the starting five?

There could be serious competition, especially if Darrell Williams is cleared from his legal troubles and rejoins the team. Consider the contenders for a starting role:

G Keiton Page. A senior and three-year starter, Page will benefit from what should be a permanent place at the off guard spot, where he can concentrate on perimeter shooting.

G Jéan-Paul Olukemi. Had his ups and downs, with the latter coming especially on the road. His adjustment to Big 12 basketball took time, but revealed progress. His offseason should be focused on diversifying his offensive game and learning to play hard for 40 minutes.

G Markel Brown. Exciting freshman gained confidence as the season moved along. An inconsistent shot is the only keeping him from being a big-time scorer. He’ll put up thousands of shots in the offseason in an effort to improve.

G Reger Dowell. His explosiveness off the dribble is as good as anyone in the Big 12. And he has scoring skills. But to be a long-term answer at the point, he needs work as a playmaker. He didn’t have a single assist in the NIT loss to Washington State.

F Darrell Williams. He was just starting to get it, when his season was shut down amid rape charges. His status for 2011-12 is unknown.

F Mike Cobbins. Redshirted this year and needs to add bulk, but everybody around the program believes he’ll be a dynamic player for the Cowboys. And if OSU turns up the tempo next season, he’ll fit right in with that scenario.

G/F LeBryan Nash. All the talent scouts confirm that Nash is a superstar. The big questions appear to be whether he can play hard all the time and how he’ll fit in.

G Cezar Guerrero. Should at least share the point with Dowell, joining the Cowboys as a guy who can score and run an offense. He’ll give the Cowboys a guy who can create offense for himself and teammates.

Who do you like for the starting five? Send me suggestions and an explanation why, either here or at jhelsley@opubco.com.

As always, send me any questions or comments, too. 

Marshall Moses would love nothing more than a return to Gallagher-Iba Arena for another Senior sendoff.

 

By John Helsley

jhelsley@opubco.com

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Oh, boy, another road challenge for the Cowboys.

And way out west, at Washington State, reminding of OSU’s botched trip to Gonzaga earlier this season, a hint of what the Cowboys would become in enemy gyms.

Bad.

This time, however, there are definite carrots dangling out in front.

* A return home to Gallagher-Iba Arena to play Northwestern; not to mention one final fling for OSU’s seniors – Marshall Moses, Matt Pilgrim and Nick Sidorakis – who would relish another Senior Night.

* Extending their NIT run, with that game against Northwestern for a spot in the NIT Final Four in Madison Square Garden. As Matt Pilgrim pointed out, it’s for a ring!

Cowboys coach Travis Ford has wanted this chance, despite OSU’s rocky road record. And he’s not backing off now.

“I think it all goes back to wanting to win, period,” Ford said. “But road games, I’ve always told my teams, are the greatest challenges in all sports. Trying to go onto somebody else’s field or court or whatever it may be is the greatest challenge.

“Any time you go try and win one on the road is rewarding. Obviously, we haven’t done that too well this year.”

Maybe tonight. Late tonight.

If you hoped for a move to the Pac-10 when all that conference flirting was going on, this is a taste of what you’d have for basketball.

Long-distance travel and games past your bedtime, let alone your kid’s bedtime.

How do you like it now?

Can the Cowboys win tonight? Sure.

If they can solve the road.

Five Keys:

1. Road Rage. We’ve discussed this for months now – and again above – but the Cowboys are just a different club on the road. Just look at the Bedlam game in Norman. Maybe they gained something from back-to-back good games in the Big 12 Tournament, on a neutral floor, mind you, although Sprint Center sure looked like Allen Field House East. WSU had just 4,213 in the stands for its opening NIT win over Long Beach State, but expects many more with students back on campus from spring break. If OSU can manage what figures to be a pretty rowdy environment, it’s got a chance.

2. Come Together. Doesn’t it seem like this reduced roster has produced better chemistry? Maybe tightening things up has brought the Cowboys together. But there have been times in the last few weeks when OSU actually looked like decent team. Matt Pilgrim is playing with more passion, and producing. Reger Dowell adds an explosive element at the point. Those wild cards, combined with Keiton Page, Marshall Moses, Jéan-Paul Olukemi, Markel Brown and Nick Sidorakis have given the Cowboys a glossier new look late.

3. Mold Klay. Washington State guard Klay Thompson is the Pac-10’s leading scorer, a legitimate threat who can dominate a game. Who handles him? The Cowboys don’t have anything resembling a lockdown defender, but have had some luck with Brown and Olukemi on athletic guys Thompson’s size. The challenge will be in forcing Thompson into shots he doesn’t want to take.

4. Rely on Reger. The Reger Dowell experiment continues, mostly to positive results. And Dowell is one Cowboy who hasn’t been overwhelmed on the road so far. If he can keep the offense moving, while providing a take-it-to-the-rim threat, everything will run more smoothly. If Page has to handle the point for an extended time, the offense suffers.

5. Get Home. That should read, get home with a purpose. Suddenly, the Cowboys carry a realistic shot of making it to Madison Square Garden. Northwestern’s upset of No. 1-seed Boston College allowed for a quarterfinal home game at Gallagher-Iba Arena – if OSU wins tonight. And at home, inside GIA, the Cowboys would be favored. And let’s not forget, they’ve done well against the so-called “smart” schools this season, already owning wins over Stanford and Harvard. Why not Northwestern, too?

Nick Sidorakis is relishing his final Bedlam shootout.

jhelsley@opubco.com

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Wrote in the paper today about how the Bedlam rosters are featuring fewer and fewer Oklahomans these days.

But for the Okies involved – notably Keiton Page and Nick Sidorakis for OSU and Cade Davis and Tyler Neal for the Sooners – there’s another side to the story.

The passion state players have for Bedlam.

“You can read into it what you want,” Sidorakis said of the lack of Okie influence, “but I know for me, Keiton and Cade, growing up here we know what the series is about.”

And for those who don’t, Sidorakis is happy to inform.

Before the first meeting, a Cowboys win in Stillwater, the Jenks product played historian for a large group young OSU players who’d be making their Bedlam debut.

“We had a meeting and I personally sat them down and told them, ‘This is, by far, one of the most important games, not only in the state, but to our university.’

“I’ve heard people say we can be winless in our season, then go beat OU, and it’s a good season. Fans have told me that. That’s how big a rivalry it is and how big a pride factor it is.

“So, for us Oklahoma kids, it’s a big deal.”

And for the senior Sidorakis, playing his final regular season game against the Sooners is special.

“It’s kind of weird that it’ll be my last conference game and we’re playing a bitter rival,” Sidorakis said. “But also, it’ll be fun. It’ll be a fun environment.

“To be honest, I can’t think of a better game to play my last conference game, other than against OU. So I’m looking forward to it.”

Crowds at Lloyd Noble Center have slipped this season. But Sidorakis is expecting more for Bedlam.

And hoping for more.

“It’d be fun,” he said. “I think Bedlam should always be a packed, fun environment. It’s fun when the other crowd is heckling you, especially when it’s OU. It gets me going a little bit. I hope it’s a packed house.”

The crowd could be key today, one way or the other, for the Cowboys.

The Five Keys:

1. Manage the Environment. It’s been a rough season for the Sooners, who limp into today’s Bedlam matchup on an eight-game losing streak. The slump has turned off and turned away OU fans, robbing the squad of any home-court advantage. Still, when Bedlam is involved, expect a crimson come-together. And the Cowboys should expect a rough crowd. How they handle it will be vital in claiming their first conference road win – or not.

2. Free Keiton. Page finally found his shooting stroke in Tuesday night’s win over Baylor, firing in three key 3-pointers in the second half. The Cowboys need his production. And they’ll need some perimeter offense today, with the Sooners likely to focus on Marshall Moses inside.

3. Deny Davis. OU’s Davis will be alone in the spotlight during the program’s Senior Day festivities. He’s been solid in the series and tried to will the Sooners to a win in Stillwater, sparking a big early lead. And you can bet he’ll be juiced to add a final feel-good moment to what has been a roller-coaster career.

4. Corral Clark. When the Cowboys and Sooners first met, OU freshman Cameron Clark was seemingly enjoying a breakout moment in his young career. But Jéan-Paul Olukemi put the clamps on him in Stillwater and Clark hasn’t been the same since. Still, Clark is as capable as any Sooner in taking over a game. Expect Olukemi to be out to prevent it, again.

5. Keep Breathing. As unlikely as it may seem, the Cowboys keep hovering near the NCAA Tournament bubble, if not on it. Win today and win again in the Big 12 Tournament and who knows?

Keiton Page typically draws a crowd, but maybe he can find room to shoot by stepping back. Way back.

By John Helsley

jhelsley@opubco.com

follow on Twitter @jjhelsley

Keiton Page may run hot and cold from the perimeter, partly because opponents are so focused on slowing him they’ve taken to covering him even beyond the 3-point line.

So after a series of cold shooting nights, Page found a way to create some breathing room between him and defenders against Baylor.

Scoot back.

Way back.

So far, in fact, the Cowboys quarterback Brandon Weeden had to chime in via Twitter:

“Keiton Page is displaying Jimmer Fredette range! That was DEEP!!”

Informed of Weeden’s Jimmer jibe, Page returned the compliment.

“Actually, I walked through the gym the other day and some of the football guys were out here, and (Weeden) was in here shooting. I was a little surprised. He’s got a nice little jumper himself.”

Cowboys coach Travis Ford offered no objections to Page’s deep 3s. Quite the contrary, he’s encouraging them.

Ford’s basic take is that an open shot is a good shot when it comes to Page.

“We kept telling our other two guards,” Ford said, “‘Now, when Keiton throws you the ball, throw it right back to him immediately.’ It took them about eight possessions to get that concept. I’m not kidding.

“I kept bringing them over, because I noticed when Keiton had the ball and passed, they would drop off. I said, ‘As soon as Keiton throws you the ball, throw it right back to him. It’s not an overly difficult play.’

“We finally got to it. For right now, that’s a good shot for Keiton. That’s as good as he’s getting at this point.”