OSU-Baylor: Five Keys
Nick Sidorakis is one of three seniors being honored before tonight's game against Baylor.
By John Helsley
follow on Twitter @jjhelsley
Senior Night in Gallagher-Iba Arena.
And while a detoured season – and detoured careers of the three: Marshall Moses, Matt Pilgrim and Nick Sidorakis – probably limits some of the fuzzy feel-goodness of the proceedings, there’s something to be said for each man’s journey.
* Moses nearly quit, yet stuck it out and became a captain and a hard-working force for the Cowboys, while playing out of position.
* Sidorakis never reached his potential, due to a series of nagging injuries at OSU, including a bad back that plagued him this season. But his value as a leader and stout character guy shouldn’t go overlooked.
* Pilgrim’s path revealed a series of ups and downs. Yet, just when it looked like he may drift out of sight quietly, he’s played his best – and his hardest – of late.
In advance of Senior Night, Moses (with help) has produced a video of his career highlights dating back to his prep days in Aiken, S.C. It’s really well done.
And dig the Michael Buble backdrop.
As for tonight’s main event, the clash with Baylor, the Cowboys continue their quest for some late-season momentum into, presumably, the NIT.
Five Keys:
1. Senior Sendoff. OK, so it hasn’t been the season everyone expected. But the guys going out have all been a part of good times at OSU. So give them a proper salute before getting up for Scott Drew and the Bears, which isn’t all that hard for Cowboys fans.
2. Man Up. Bottom line: this is a bad matchup for the Cowboys, especially with Darrell Williams no longer available. Going 6-11, 6-11, 6-10 across the front line, the Bears hold a major advantage in size. OSU’s only answer is to play big and play tough. And, at all costs, play smart. None of the silly fouls that regularly haunt the Pokes.
3. Welcome Back? After a brief disappearing act, Jéan-Paul Olukemi resurfaced in the nick of time Saturday, carrying the Cowboys to a win over Texas Tech that halted a crippling four-game losing streak. Olukemi didn’t do much the first time against the Bears in Waco, managing but four points on 1-of-7 shooting in 18 foul-plagued minutes. To help combat Baylor’s length, the Cowboys need the good Olukemi tonight.
4. Dunn Deal. Markel Brown did a solid job defending LaceDarius Dunn in the first meeting, with the players exchanging chatter throughout. Dunn did get 16 points, but that’s below his average of 20.2 ppg, and he was limited to nine shots from the floor.
5. Perk Up Page. The Cowboys have heaped a lot on the shoulders of Keiton Page this season, from minutes to scoring expectations and point-guard duties to leadership needs. And Travis Ford admitted Saturday that it’s likely taken a physical toll on Page. Ford said he’d be taking measures to give Page a break during practices the rest of the way. Some perimeter shooting success could go a long way in loosening up Baylor’s big interior and nobody is better equipped to do the shooting than Page.
OSU-Texas A&M: Five Keys
The Cowboys could use a hot hand from Keiton Page tonight.
By John Helsley
follow on Twitter @jjhelsley
The term must-win has been following the Cowboys around for what seems like months now.
Now in the final stretch run, with five games to play and OSU’s Big 12 record at 4-7, the Pokes play Texas A&M tonight at Gallagher-Iba Arena amid fleeting NCAA Tournament hopes.
Dare we say it?
“A must-win,” said Cowboys senior captain Nick Sidorakis. “We can’t lose this game. It’s a must-win game, hands down. I don’t know any other way to put it.”
And he’s right.
Only this time, it’s for real. Lose and the NCAA dream is gone, barring a magic upset of No. 1 Kansas in Lawrence Monday night.
So, how do the Cowboys beat A&M?
Five keys:
1. Ride The Wave. As bad as the Cowboy have been on the road in the Big 12 – 0-6 bad – they’ve been solid at home, owning wins over Kansas State and Missouri in a 10-1 run, with the only loss to Texas. The crowd should be good, with no excuses to get in the way. The weather is right. The time is right, considering the team’s plight. And it’s not a school night. So it’s time for the Cowboys to use their crowd to fuel a big win and stay alive in the hunt for an NCAA bid.
2. All Together Now. For whatever reason, OSU can’t get more than two or three players producing on any given night. And it’s driving Travis Ford crazy. Against A&M – and from here on – more Cowboys must step up. “I’m past the point of saying everybody’s got to bring their A game,” Ford said. “You’ve got to contribute. If you’re not scoring, bring something else. You better defend or do something else.”
3. Wild Card. Without Darrell Williams, the Cowboys are shorthanded inside. Marshall Moses can’t hold down the paint alone. That means Matt Pilgrim or Roger Franklin or Jarred Shaw needs to help out. And, yes, it’s a broken record. But it’s mandatory.
4.Find Walkup. When the Aggies beat OSU in College Station, Nathan Walkup went off for 16 points, mostly left unguarded from the perimeter. The Cowboys must locate Walkup and get a hand in his face.
5. Win. Somehow, someway – any way – the Cowboys must find a way to win. It’s that simple. Win ugly. Win late. Win in overtime if necessary. But win.
OSU at Nebraska: 5 Keys
Cowboys coach Travis Ford is looking to steal a Big 12 road win.
By John Helsley
follow on Twitter @jjhelsley
OK, so the magic number for NCAA Tournament inclusion may have dropped to 8 in the Big 12, if the league gets the six bids it is projected to receive.
That’s good news for Oklahoma State, which is 4-5 and faces road trips to Texas and Kansas, as well as Nebraska (Today) and Oklahoma.
The bad news: the Cowboys haven’t won a league road game since February of last season. And any math adding up to 8 Big 12 wins requires a breakthrough in an enemy gym somewhere.
Could today be the day?
Five keys for the Cowboys at Nebraska:
1. Shoot Straight. Sounds simple, right? But it’s more complicated than that, as the Huskers will pack the lane, taking away OSU’s offensive strength, which is using Jéan-Paul Olukemi on drives and getting trash baskets from Marshall Moses and Matt Pilgrim. Keiton Page, Olukemi and Ray Penn will get some open looks. For a team that has been wildly inconsistent from the perimeter, the Cowboys will have to knock down some 3s.
2. Fill The Void. Just as Darrell Williams was coming off his best two games at OSU, and seeming to figure things out, the skilled forward was suspended amid sexual assault charges. Williams wasn’t a regular impact player, so it’s not like the Cowboys are without their go-to guy. But he was a starter at a position where OSU has lacked any consistency. That spins the focus to a familiar figure: Matt Pilgrim. A bit of an enigma, Pilgrim has played better of late and is capable of lessening the loss of Williams. Roger Franklin and Jarred Shaw factor in as well. And watch for Ford to utilize more of a four-guard look, too, with Olukemi filling an Obi Muonelo-type role.
3. Be Patient. The Huskers aren’t at all sexy, with a pedestrian offense. But they will get after teams on the defensive end, which is why they lead the Big 12 in scoring defense, allowing just 59.1 points a game. For the Cowboys, the key will be showing patience with their offense, working the ball and working off screens and not firing up ill-advised shots.
4. Road Worriers. The Cowboys haven’t won on the road in the Big 12. The Huskers are 14-1 at home, with only a loss to Kansas appearing as a blip. So this looks like a tall task for the Cowboys seeking a breakthrough. Still, it’s not like the Huskers are world beaters inside the Devaney Center. Nebraska does own a nice home win over Texas A&M, but otherwise they’ve beaten Iowa State and Colorado and a bunch of nonconference lightweights.
5. Tit For Tat. The Huskers can defend, but so can the Cowboys. And Nebraska struggles to score, ranking 11th in the league in scoring. The Huskers don’t have anyone among the league’s top 20 scorers. That should assure that OSU is in this game to the end. Now, they have to find a way to win it.
Is OSU’s Future PG on Campus?
Is Keiton Page the long-term answer at point guard?
By John Helsley
@jjhelsley
OSU’s point guard of the future is…
Keiton Page? Ray Penn? Fred Gulley?
Someone else? The Cowboys appear set with two new recruits and two outgoing seniors, but they’re back on the trail in search of a point guard, with California high schooler Cezar Guerrero at the front of their search.
Page is the acting point guard today, but is better suited for the off guard spot, where he can carry less responsibility and draw less attention and more freely work for shots — his specialty.
Penn has been the point guard in the past, the recent past even, but currently finds himself trying to escape Travis Ford’s doghouse. Penn played but one minute in OSU’s loss at Texas Tech on Saturday.
Gully, of course, is sitting out this season as he continues to recover from shoulder surgery — his second at OSU. Gully played the point during the Cowboys’ run to the 2010 NCAA Tournament. He’s unspectacular, but solid, and we may not have yet seen the best of him, considering the issues that have affected each shoulder.
But there’s a chance — and the level of chance is determined by who’s available — that OSU’s future point guard is not yet on campus.
Karron Johnson, a Juco forward who signed with the Cowboys in November, is on shaky ground, both on the court and off. He’s been kicked off the team at Midland College (his fifth school in five years) and reportedly needs to pass 28 hours to become eligible at OSU next fall.
There’s major doubt that Johnson will make it to Stillwater. Either way, the Cowboys are looking for a point guard.
Guerrero is the highest-rated point man still unsigned, yet comes in at No. 25 on the Scout rankings. The Cowboys are late to the party and must make up ground on a number of schools, including Bedlam rival Oklahoma.
But they have a strong selling point, with instant access to a position that could be the missing piece to a strong team.
Assume, too, that the Cowboys will be looking far and wide for other possibilities, including the junior college ranks.
OSU-Tech: Five Keys
The Cowboys need to get Ray Penn going.
By John Helsley
follow on Twitter @jjhelsley
Just a few days ago, Jéan-Paul Olukemi dubbed OSU’s game with Texas as must-win.
The Cowboys lost, decisively and disappointingly.
Now it’s on to Texas Tech, where the Red Raiders are suddenly showing signs of life after an 0-4 start to conference play. They’ve won back-to-back games, including on the road at Iowa State Wednesday night.
Still, the Raiders are just 10-11 overall and 2-4 in the Big 12.
The Cowboys are just 2-4, too, in league play. And they’re 0-3 in enemy Big 12 venues.
If OSU is an NCAA Tournament contender, it must start winning games – and soon, as in Saturday.
So what does that make this matchup in Lubbock, must-must-win?
Five keys vs. Texas Tech:
1. What’s New? Cowboys coach Travis Ford promised offensive changes after Wednesday night’s shutdown by Texas. He didn’t get specific, suggesting they could either be lineup or style oriented. But Ford has few personnel options, meaning the tweaks are more likely tied to pace of play. And this team could actually thrive on the run, with slasher types at several spots. Stay tuned.
2. Maintain Focus. OSU has been hampered by ragged play just before – and after – halftime. In four of their last five games, the Cowboys have been outscored 57-8 during the minutes crossing over the two halves. Three of those games have been losses. The Pokes must maintain focus and carry it out of the locker room as well, with little wiggle room to allow teams to make a run.
3. Play Hard. In each of OSU’s road losses, Ford has found himself questioning his team’s effort. The Cowboys must be a max-effort squad to succeed. The work ethic was strong against the Longhorns, if the shooting wasn’t. As Ford said afterward – it’s a start. But only a start. They’ve also got to play better.
4. Take it to Tech. The Raiders have regrouped with the two wins. Still, they came against Nebraska and Iowa State, hardly league powerhouses. And they’ve lost four times at home, where the crowds have been sparse. The atmosphere won’t be a factor. And while Tech has a veteran team – much more was expected of them in the preseason – if the Cowboys can strike hard early, the Raiders may fade. Still, Mike Singletary and John Roberson are capable of filling up a stat sheet, so beware.
5. Free Ray Penn. Ford can get frustrated with Penn, who has a tendency to freelance and stray from the offense at times. Still, he’s this team’s best option at the point, not Keiton Page, who needs to be concentrating on firing daggers from the 3-point line. Penn’s confidence appears to be teetering on the edge, and extended bench time could push him over the edge. The Cowboys should get him involved and get his offensive game going, which would be a huge boost.
OSU-Texas: Five Keys (Plus Bonus Material)
The Cowboys need Marshall Moses foul-free and scoring against Texas.
By John Helsley
follow on Twitter @jjhelsley
Jéan-Paul Olukemi said it, so we’ll say it.
Tonight’s game against Texas is a must-win.
Not a must-win in terms of “season over” if the Cowboys lose.
Must-win to keep from chasing the .500 mark from well behind.
Must-win to keep team confidence from sinking into the abyss.
Must-win to add a marquee win to the resume, with only Missouri and A&M qualifying as the similar opportunities on the remaining home schedule.
That said, here they are:
Five keys vs. Texas:
1. Manage Emotions. It’s a tissue and hanky kind of night planned for Gallagher-Iba Arena, with emotional nods and tributes to the families of the 10 men lost in the 2001 plane crash. There has been a significant, and proper, buildup to this 10th anniversary. For the Cowboys, there’s also a game to be played.
“We of course want to win for us,” said senior captain Marshall Moses, “but if anything, winning the game for them on a night where their ceremony will be bigger than any win we could ever have, because we’ve got life to live after the game. Win, lose or draw, God has blessed us with life. God willing, we’re all going to walk out of this building.
“Those guys didn’t get that chance. So winning for them would actually be bigger than winning for us.”
2. Hold Down The Fort. Winning at home, especially for a team that struggles mightily on the road, seems mandatory for these Cowboys, even with No. 7 Texas in town. The Longhorns are big and tough and talented, maybe the Big 12’s best team. Still, a loss would be difficult to swallow for an OSU team already 2-3 in conference play. Last year, the Cowboys found a way in a similar spot against No. 1 Kansas. Can they do it again?
3. Don’t Foul! The Cowboys have been fouling at an alarming rate. “There’s no question it’s holding us back, a lot,” said OSU coach Travis Ford. There’s a danger of this team getting tagged as frequent foulers by officials, removing any benefit of the doubt on calls. Texas will play aggressive and physical, so the Cowboys can’t back down. But they better play smart.
4. Harness Hamilton. UT’s Jordan Hamilton enjoyed his breakout game inside GIA a year ago, going off for 27 points in a Longhorns win. Now a sophomore, he’s a star, leading the Horns with a 19.5 scoring average to go with 7.2 rebounds a game. Texas has other capable scorers, but Hamilton can take over a game. He must be slowed, with Olukemi the likely best option to defend him.
5. Paging Penn. Bottom line, the Cowboys need Ray Penn to play the point, freeing Keiton Page to concentrate on shooting and relieving him of the stress of bringing the ball up court. But Penn continues to frustrate Ford with his freelancing ways.
Bonus Material
Leftover quotes from the weekly notebook:
Marshall Moses on entering a stretch of games to build a resume:
“Right now, we’ve just got to get a win. Losing is not something we’re used to and not something we like. We’ve just got to figure out how to compete on the road, and now at home, when you play against top five or top 10 teams.”
Travis Ford on Texas:
“They’re good in everything they do. It’s a team that starts four McDonald’s All-Americans and has another on the bench. They’ve got a lot of weapons.
They’re one of the top two or three teams I’ve seen play all year long. Seems like they have great team chemistry. And they look like a hungry basketball, a team that’s very driven right now.”
Ford on a fluid lineup:
“Always. Could be due to matchups. Could be due to guys not performing. Could be due to a lot of different things at this point. There’s no givens at this point.
“Hopefully, it can help wake a few guys up.”
UT coach Rick Barnes, the only coach still in place from 2001, the year of the plane crash, on the emotions of the night:
“Personally, you think back to that time and it’s hard to believe it’s been 10 years ago. It was a very emotional time. I remember going to the memorial service, along with most everyone else from our league.
“You don’t want to ever forget what happened. It’s an emotional time and it should be an emotional time, because families there lost loved ones and there will always be a void there. I really, one, respect that and certainly honor that.
“Our team will be aware of that, because some of them probably don’t know exactly what it’s about. But we have talked about it and we will continue to talk about it because I want them to understand what happened and why this is the 10 year anniversary, and why every year is important and every day is important.”
Five Keys: OSU at Baylor
Jean-Paul Olukemi is becoming an offensive force for the Cowboys.
By John Helsley
follow on Twitter @jjhelsley
Back to even in the Big 12 at 2-2, thanks to their last-minute miracle and overtime win over Iowa State, the Cowboys again face the task of winning a road game.
It hasn’t been easy, with OSU now 1-3 in true road games. The Pokes could have, maybe should have stolen a win at Colorado last week, leading by 12 in the second half.
But then, the same could be said for the Cyclones, who led by 10 in the second half – and six in the final minute – inside Gallagher-Iba Arena.
So the Cowboys are back to even, about where we might have picked them when conference play began.
And now comes a winnable game in Waco.
Once a Top 25 team, the Bears are 12-5 overall and also 2-2 in the Big 12, not quite living up to their preseason hype.
Five keys at Baylor:
1. Bring out the Bears. Baylor can be long inside, with 6-11 Perry Jones, 6-10 Anthony Jones and 6-7 Quincy Acy manning the middle. That trio will pack the lane and make it tough on opposing post players. So it’s up to Keiton Page, Ray Penn and Jéan-Paul Olukemi to pump in some shots from the perimeter and loosen things up for Marshall Moses and Co.
2. Press the Point. The Bears returned three big-time starters in LaceDarius Dunn, Jones and Acy and added one of the nation’s most coveted recruits in Jones. Ekpe Udoh was a major loss, but an underrated subtraction was point guard Tweety Carter, who pushed the ball and started the offense. Baylor is trying to make do at the point and it often shows.
3. Free JP. Olukemi is getting more and more comfortable in his expanded role, slashing and scoring, making mismatches inside with his athleticism and explosive jumping ability. He’s one Cowboy who can create and he’s starting to do just that on a regular basis. He’ll be matched against similar athletes today, so this could be fun.
4. Dunn Deal. Dunn is a premier scorer, averaging 21.6 points a game to lead the Big 12 and rank 10th nationally. He can take over a game and ignite the Ferrell Center crowd. There’s no natural matchup for the Cowboys, with Olukemi probably best suited to defend him, or maybe Markel Brown. No matter who gets the call, the Cowboys can’t afford to let him go off.
5. Who’s In? Against Iowa State, starters Penn and Matt Pilgrim played themselves off the floor with careless play and ill-advised shots. And as the Cowboys rallied down the stretch and pulled away in overtime, Penn and Pilgrim were nowhere to be found, while Brown and Roger Franklin provided positives. Are we witnessing a changing of the guard, or were Penn and Pilgrim just on the receiving end of a serious message?
OSU at A&M: Five Keys
By John Helsley
follow on Twitter @jjhelsley
The Cowboys scored a major early win over Kansas State on Saturday.
In retrospect, it may have been a must win, considering the road tests that await them the next four days.
OSU visits Texas A&M tonight and is at Colorado on Saturday. The two teams are a combined 26-5 overall, 2-0 in the Big 12 and 19-0 at home.
Both games are winnable and each game presents a different set of challenges.
And at the same time, winning just one should be considered a bonus.
The Pokes proved something Saturday, beating a quality team and exhibiting toughness in doing so.
But the Big 12 road is something completely different; something Jéan-Paul Olukemi and Markel Brown and Darrell Williams have yet to experience.
Five Keys for the Cowboys vs. A&M
1. Survive the Surroundings. Again, we can’t stress enough how difficult it is to win on the road in the Big 12. Any breakthrough is like stealing. It’s money in the bank in the quest to get to nine conference wins and make the case for NCAA Tournament inclusion. As the competition rises, OSU will need more and more from guys like Olukemi, Brown and Williams. They can’t get caught up with the crowds and the noise and crazies.
2. Lean on Moses. At times, the Cowboys get away from feeding Marshall Moses in the post. That’s a no-no, especially on the road, where he provides experience and leadership. He has a knack for getting big men in foul trouble, which can be an equalizer in enemy gyms. Moses, because he’s left-handed and a bit unorthodox, creates matchup difficulties for defenders. The Cowboys must lean on that.
3. Good Guards. OSU survived shaky shooting from guards Keiton Page and Ray Penn against Kansas State. They’ll need one or both to fire some daggers against A&M, so that Moses and Olukemi and Matt Pilgrim can find room to score and rebound inside.
4. Manage Middleton. A&M’s Khris Middleton is among the most improved players in the league. While the Aggies’ scoring is balanced, Middleton is a guy who can go off – as he did with 31 against Arkansas – and he’s a guy who gets everyone else going. He’s led the Aggies in scoring a team-high eight times and has a team-best 13 games with 10 or more points.
5. Penn’s Place. For Ray Penn, it’s his first time to play at A&M, which is as close to his Houston home as it gets in the Big 12. A knee injury prevented his College Station debut a year ago. Penn is expecting several family members to make the trip over, which is always nice. But he must maintain focus on the job at hand.
Bonus Coverage!
We don’t always get this, but we’ve secured some comments from Aggies coach Mark Turgeon on tonight’s game. Turgeon’s take:
On the next stretch of games being a big judge of where the team is…
“I want to see truly where we are. I think Oklahoma State’s phenomenal. They had a game that they lost, Virginia Tech, that they probably should have won. They were ahead seven with about four to go, and had a tough break. Something happened, or they’d be like 15-1 or whatever and they’d be ranked too. I think they’re really good. Then you play a Missouri team that’s ranked, then a Texas team that’s ranked, then a Kansas state team that’s ranked. So it’ll be good for me to see where we really are. I know we’ve beat some good teams, but consistently for four straight games to do that…we’ll see how tough we are and what we’re all about.”
On what makes Marshall Moses such an effective player…
“He’s just so strong. He’s got a great base and just overpowers you. He can turn and face. He’s got a quick first step. He can get you deep and he can score, and get second chance points, (he’s) just real physical. He’s really good at posting up. They do a really good job of getting him the ball and they usually have some good shooters around him, so they can space pretty well too. He’s good. I remember we played him there his sophomore year and we’d never really heard of Marshall Moses. And he just lit us up at their place that game and ever since then he’s really never looked back. He’s having a phenomenal senior year. That’s why they’re doing so well.”
On OSU losing players like James Anderson and Obi Muonelo off last year’s team and still playing so well…
“They’re bigger and stronger. They’re a whole different team. I think they defend really well. Keiton Page is playing really, really well and having a great year. He’s gotten better. Jean-Paul (Olukemi) sat out last year and practiced, and he’s really giving them good minutes. They’ve got some good depth, good players, good guards and are well-coached. They have a plan and a purpose every game and they execute it, and that’s why they are where they are. It will be a real physical game Wednesday night, which we need to prove we can play in.”
On Oklahoma State’s offensive strategy this year…
“Get the ball to Moses or get the ball to Keiton Page. That’s what they’re trying to do. They only shot 10 threes the other day against K-State, and only made two, but they shot 40-something free throws. So it was a combination of a physical game and it being called closely, but also (them) getting to the foul line. So they’re doing a good job of that. It’s good coaching when you can play one way one year and win, then play different the following year and still win. That’s the sign of a good coach. Travis (Ford) has done a good job with this team and they create some problems. Defensively they’re real solid and always have a game plan. They’re playing different, I think they’re averaging 69 a game or something, where last year this time I’m sure they were in the 80s. So they’re playing differently. They’re rebounding better. They look more like us probably.”
OSU Hoops: Be Patient
Travis Ford enjoys teaching. That's good, because there's much to be done.
By John Helsley
follow on twitter @jjhelsley
OSU’s Monday exhibition opener offered equal doses of panic and pleasure, yet begs mostly for a long leash of patience.
This could take a while, Cowboys fans.
As the Cowboys venture into the early stages of this college basketball season, with Travis Ford sorting through his roster for the right mix, there will be highs and lows. We saw it against OCU, with a first half filled with struggle, followed by a second half of budding promise.
When Matt Pilgrim joins in Wednesday upon his return from suspension, things could only get more complicated.
That’s what happens when you lose your best players (James Anderson and Obi Muonelo), then introduce five viable new players into a deep returning core. The new guys are just trying to figure out Ford’s demanding system. The old guys are trying to meld with the new guys. And the coaches are trying to figure out exactly what they’ve got.
Immediate (and probably premature) impressions:
The Cowboys may struggle to score. A year ago, when all else failed, OSU could always turn to Anderson and Muonelo to freelance and find baskets. With Anderson, the Cowboys often had the best player on the floor. It’s early, and heads are spinning, but no one in the current crew has the look — yet — of being a guy who can create offense on his own. There are plenty of talented pieces. But the Cowboys may have to grind their way offensively, at least until someone (Markel Brown? Mike Cobbins? Ray Penn?) evolves into a go-to scorer.
Get ready for Darrell Williams.It’s Da-Rell, for pronunciation purposes. Might as well get used to it, you’ll hear and repeat his name often. After a slow start against OCU attributed to hesitancy, Williams got going and finished with 15 points, 15 boards and five assists. He’s a big man with skills who can run the floor, dribble, pass and finish. If Ford can convince him to play like the man he is, Williams will command extra attention in the paint, which could open things up offensively on the perimeter, where Keiton Page can do his thing.
The youngsters need time.For all the hyperventilating that occurs over freshmen recruits — among the fans and the media — reality usually slaps us upside the head. So it is with the Cowboys’ freshmen trio, Brown, Cobbins and Brian Williams. All three are taking baby steps in adapting to Ford and the college game. They should be good in time, maybe great in an instance or two. It’s not happening immediately. The goal should be for two of them, Brown and Cobbins, to become major contributors at some point this season. Travis Ford enjoys teaching, which he’ll be doing plenty of.
Frontcourt depth has improved.We’ve talked about Williams. Pilgrim is on his way back. Marshall Moses remains in the mix. And Jarred Shaw appears ready to give the Cowboys something off the bench. Cobbins, while a bit thin, has the best long-term skills of the bunch. That’s a significant upgrade in the post, not just over last year, but in a long time at OSU.
Defense will be key. The Cowboys forced 27 turnovers from OCU. Now, the Stars were an NAIA team that was overmatched. Still, the Pokes showed their athleticism and quickness and depth, which is going to allow Ford to turn up the pressure on teams. If a grinding offensive style becomes necessary, stout defense will be key to providing easy baskets and winning ugly.
OSU Hoops: Where’s the respect?
Matt Pilgrim could be a beast in the Big 12.
By John Helsley
follow me on twitter @jjhelsley
So the Big 12 basketball coaches have spoken, albeit silently, by vote.
And while I completely concur they know exponentially more about the game than I ever will, I’m calling them out for their preseason poll.
Since this is an OSU blog, let’s start with the Cowboys, who were picked for eighth place. Too low.
I understand the focus on the loss of James Anderson and Obi Muonelo, the team’s leading scorers and unquestioned leaders. Anderson was the conference Player of the Year and Muonelo was the league’s biggest matchup nightmare.
Those guys will be missed.
But there’s plenty in place, with the Cowboys, to expect more than eighth place.
Soon, you’ll be hearing about Keiton Page’s summer of shape, how he’s transformed his body and upgraded his quickness and stamina and should be ready to lead this team in transition.
You already know about Matt Pilgrim, who was a beast down the stretch in the Big 12 and should only be better as a more confident and secure player. Marshall Moses returns, too, and provided a glimpse of hope to an otherwise disappointing season with a nice outing in the NCAA Tournament loss to Georgia Tech.
You know, too, about Ray Penn and Nick Sidorakis and Fred Gulley. Penn, by the way, is healthy.
What you don’t know, and the league’s coaches apparently don’t know either, is that the new faces have bolstered the team’s overall talent and depth.
Markel Brown, the Player of the Year in Louisiana, should be an impact player as a freshman. Darrell Williams gives the Pokes another big body for the paint, a luxury they just didn’t have a year ago. Cowboys coaches would ideally like to redshirt freshman Michael Cobbins and add bulk to his thin frame, but his skills may force them to reconsider. And don’t forget JP Olukemi, who arrived in January and drew raves in practices, and is now ready to bring his slashing style to the floor.
There’s talk, too, that center Jarred Shaw has improved dramatically. And Roger Franklin and Reger Dowell are still around. Only freshman Brian Williams, rehabbing from offseason surgery, is out the picture for this season.
Yes, there’s no obvious scoring threat, like Big Game James and Obi provided a year ago, although Brown averaged nearly 30 points as a prep senior.
But the strength of this team will be its versatility. This is Travis Ford’s kind of team, one that’s athletic and deep and can play fast on both ends of the floor.
Will they win the Big 12? Likely not.
But will they finish eighth? I say no; no way.
K-State is a solid pick for No. 1. But Kansas gets two first-place votes on reputation alone and finishes second in the voting. Baylor will challenge for the championship and should have been No. 2, not No. 4.
And A&M and Tech ahead of OSU, please.
