OSU-Washington State: Five Keys
Marshall Moses would love nothing more than a return to Gallagher-Iba Arena for another Senior sendoff.
By John Helsley
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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?
Ford Appreciates Fans
By John Helsley
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At first glance, the crowd of 5,342 inside Gallagher-Iba Arena for OSU’s NIT opener against Harvard might seem disappointing.
Cowboys coach Travis Ford was thrilled.
Consider the challenges the school faced in selling the game:
* Spring Break virtually eliminated the student faction, with the campus a ghost town.
* The athletic department was dealing with a short turnaround for sales, with the announcement of the game coming late Sunday night and the game set for Tuesday.
* The weather outside was absolutely perfect – pleasant and calm. Who wanted to be indoors?
Oklahoma State's Marshall Moses (33) and Oklahoma State's Keiton Page (12) celebrate during a first round NIT college basketball game between Oklahoma State University (OSU) and Harvard at Gallagher-Iba Arena in Stillwater, Okla., Tuesday, March 15, 2011. Photo by Bryan Terry, The Oklahoman
* And, of course, it was the NIT, not the NCAA Tournament, at the end of a disappointing season.
Still, while the arena was less than half-filled, there was an energy inside and plenty of noise, contributing to a 71-54 win that extends the Cowboys season.
“I think this played a big role,” in the win, Ford said. “A huge, huge role. It did for me and I know it did for the team.
“We didn’t know what to expect crowd-wise tonight. To be honest with you, we didn’t expect a lot. It was on national television. We walked out there and it was as loud as it has been.”
After the game, Ford said he bumped into many fans who spoke words of magic.
“I can’t tell you how many people I have run into in the last 20 minutes that said they had never been able to come to a game until this game,” Ford said. “Or, ‘I hadn’t been to a game, but I could afford to come to this game.’
“So many people, I think, were excited to be at this game that maybe couldn’t have come to other games. But the energy level in this building tonight was great. Our players felt that. When I walked out there, I felt it.
“‘I went, hey, this is exciting. This is great. We are going to need it.’”
Back to the words of magic. Cowboys fans have complained about ticket pricing for several years now, with the cost of attending OSU games rising steeply and rapidly. They’ve cried out in e-mails and on message boards. And they’ve spoken silently, in the form of empty seats.
This should be a lesson for OSU officials, help your coach and help your team and help your fans and lower ticket prices.
The same ticket pricing principles from football – successful principles, we’ll allow – don’t apply to basketball.
On short notice, on a gorgeous spring day in a tournament that doesn’t exactly command attention, a decent number backed the Cowboys for the NIT.
Not long after the final buzzer sounded, Ford grabbed the public address mic to say a few words to the GIA gathering.
“I thanked them for making the effort,” Ford said. “Because everybody had to come buy a ticket to get in. We really appreciate the effort and really appreciate everybody sticking with this basketball team.”
OSU-Harvard: Five Keys
By John Helsley
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The NIT comes to Gallagher-Iba Arena tonight.
Fired up?
Semi-sort of? Yeah, me, too. Not what I was expecting this season. I did think the Cowboys were in for a transition, losing Big Game James Anderson and Obi Muonelo and counting on so many kids. But I thought they’d find a way into the NCAA field.
Didn’t happen, as OSU’s offensive inadequacies made scoring a very difficult endeavor all season long.
So it comes to this. A chance to play on, maybe even get a trip to New York City and a spot in the NIT Final Four, which would be a nice bonus for these Cowboys… if they care.
That’s one of the always obvious questions with the NIT – do the players care? If so, teams can find a purpose in the postseason and make a deep run. If not, if they’re wishing instead for sandy beaches or ski slopes for Spring Break, it usually ends soon. Therein lies the challenge for coach Travis Ford.
Harvard, OSU’s visiting foe in this first-round game, figures to bring it. The Crimson has never been in the NIT and hasn’t made the NCAA Tournament in 65 years.
So this is new. And exciting.
And that’s one thing to watch tonight, when the Cowboys come together at least one more time.
The Five Keys:
OSU's Marshall Moses goes to the basket between Kansas' Josh Selby, left, and Mario Little during the college basketball Big 12 Championship tournament game between Oklahoma State-Kansas in Kansas City, Mo., Thursday, March 10, 2011. Photo by Bryan Terry, The Oklahoman
1. Spring Break or Spring Breakthrough? As mentioned above, it’s hard to gauge a team’s interest in the NIT. So right away, check out OSU’s intensity. It should be apparent immediately, or at least through the first sign of adversity. The Cowboys have played hard in recent weeks, even when it looked like some guys might be playing out their careers and the NCAA Tournament went from longshot to no shot. Do they still have that in them?
2. Matching Smarts. Harvard is one of the renowned institutions of higher learning in the land. It’s an honor just to be accepted into school. So academically, the Crimson own a massive edge. But what about basketball IQ? Hasn’t been a strong point of this Cowboys club all season, although it has improved lately. We always assume the smart kids at the smart schools play smart, too. That may be a generalization. We’ll see.
3. Other Matchups. Physically, the Cowboys should hold the edge, with Matt Pilgrim, Jéan-Paul Olukemi, Reger Dowell and Markel Brown getting the athletic checkmark in the matchup box. Forward Keith Wright was the Ivy League MVP and must be accounted for. But the Cowboys should be in good shape if they just play relatively mistake free, and…
4. Don’t Foul. I know, I know, we’ve been spewing this advice for months. But it’s a plague for these Cowboys, who lost all three big men to foul outs in their near-miss against Kansas in the Big 12 Tournament. Foul the Crimson and you’re asking for trouble. Their 81.1 free throw percentage ranks No. 2 nationally. And a march to the foul line is the great equalizer to overcoming a talent disadvantage.
5. Cheap Tickets. With students gone for Spring Break – and certainly some fans, too – it’ll be interesting to see what kind of crowd shows up at Gallagher-Iba Arena. Give athletic director Mike Holder credit for tossing out cheap tickets of $10, $8 and $4, about half what Wichita State is charging.
Bedlam: Five Keys
Nick Sidorakis is relishing his final Bedlam shootout.
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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?
Page Steps Back To Step Up
Keiton Page typically draws a crowd, but maybe he can find room to shoot by stepping back. Way back.
By John Helsley
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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.”
OSU-Baylor: Five Keys
Nick Sidorakis is one of three seniors being honored before tonight's game against Baylor.
By John Helsley
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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-Tech: Five Keys
The Cowboys could use a lift from a slumping Jean-Paul Olukemi.
By John Helsley
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The Cowboys have lost four straight and fallen out of NCAA Tournament at-large consideration.
And the tone around the team is taking on a build-for-the-future feel.
And yet, there are still games to be played and things to be accomplished. And that returns to focus today, when OSU hosts Texas Tech at Gallagher-Iba Arena.
Five Keys:
1. Just Win. Sure, the season is a disappointment. But there are opportunities for some feel-good moments ahead, aka, wins. Of OSU’s final three regular season games, all are winnable: Tech today, Baylor at GIA Tuesday and at Oklahoma next Saturday. A few wins would make everyone – players, coaches, fans – feel better.
2. Continue Auditions. Reger Dowell has already made his case for an enhanced role with some solid play in the past two games. And he’ll continue to take the stage. Who else might be ready to step up? Roger Franklin? Jarred Shaw?
3. Make Amends. Among OSU’s disappointing road losses, an overtime setback at Texas Tech might be the most regrettable. If the Cowboys had won there – and they should have – they’d still be holding NCAA Tournament hopes. And, who knows, they might have found something positive to carry into other enemy gyms.
4. Single Out Singletary. Tech has a veteran team with several solid players. They’ve underachieved and it may ultimately cost Pat Knight his job. But the No. 1 item on any scouting report of the Red Raiders is slowing Mike Singletary. That will be key again today, as he’s a difficult matchup because of his strength and athleticism. Expect Jéan-Paul Olukemi or Markel Brown to draw that tough assignment.
5. Polish Up. Hey, it’s not what everyone hoped for, but the NIT is OSU’s next best option. Travis Ford acknowledged, naturally, that the Cowboys would accept a bid. For a young team building for the future, there’s something to be gained from any postseason experience. Barring a total collapse at the end, the Cowboys look like an easy choice for NIT officials. Still, winning at least a couple of games here late would solidify that status.
OSU Hoops: What Now?
Reger Dowell is making a case for more playing time going forward.
By John Helsley
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The Cowboys have lost four straight and by all accounts dropped from NCAA Tournament consideration, confirming the disappointment that has surrounded the program for much of the past two months.
So, what now for OSU, with three regular season games and the Big 12 Tournament remaining?
Five things to watch as the Cowboys finish their stretch run:
1. Recruiting. Travis Ford and his staff are hardly satisfied with how this season has played out. They never expected to contend for a Big 12 title, but they did count on making a strong play for inclusion on the NCAA dance card. Instead, the team has frustrated Ford from the get-go with its inconsistencies and lack of basketball IQ. Ford isn’t sitting still. Incoming super-recruit LeBryan Nash will infuse the team with an elite talent and Ford is looking for more, especially after cutting ties with former commitment Karron Johnson. The Cowboys are looking for a point guard, a shooting guard and help in the post. A new name to the point guard mix: Jeremy Jones, a Juco prospect at Seward Junior College. Academic issues hurt Jones out of high school, but he’s fast becoming a hot target. Along with the Cowboys, Jones is drawing interest from OU, Kansas State, Arizona State, Indiana, North Carolina, Arkansas and others.
2. Personnel Push. We’ve already seen Reger Dowell make a play for a more prominent role with two strong games back-to-back. Now’s the time for that, with Ford watching to see who’s serious about helping the team going forward. He’ll likely get Jarred Shaw and Roger Franklin more playing time, as both will be needed next year.
3. Alternate Postseason. The Cowboys would appear headed for the NIT, or one of the lesser postseason tournaments (CBI/CIT). With a couple of wins, OSU could secure its place in the NIT and make a case for hosting a first-round game.
4. Style Points. With Dowell gaining more and more exposure at the point, it’ll be interesting to see if the Cowboys pick up the pace in these final games. They’ve already made more of an attempt to attack the rim, and that’s one of Dowell’s major strengths. It’s also a style that figures to fit next year’s team, so why not start revving it up now?
5. Body Language. When there’s an emergence of new faces, somebody gets kicked to the curb. Ray Penn has already seen his playing time decrease and the Dowell experiment cuts into his PT further. In the second half at Kansas, Jéan-Paul Olukemi was left on the bench. How will those guys respond? The answers could be revealing on next season.
OSU Hoops Recruiting Back On
Cowboys coach Travis Ford must get busy on the recruiting trail.
By John Helsley
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The news that Travis Ford and Co. were cutting ties with Juco forward Karron Johnson came as no surprise. And it shouldn’t be regretted.
The Cowboys chased Johnson a long time and there was promise when he signed a letter of intent with OSU back in February. But Johnson couldn’t steer clear of a familiar trail of trouble that traced from school to school to school — five schools in all, in five years.
His season at Midland had barely begun when he had a run-in with Chaps head coach Ross Hodge, who booted Johnson from the team after just nine games. It was the same story a year ago, when clashed with coach Jeff Spoonhour at Moberly Area Community College in Missouri and was dismissed from the squad there.
Nobody doubts that Johnson is a rare talent, an NBA talent. But there’s no doubting his track record for trouble, either. Needing a focused direction going forward from this season of struggle, the Cowboys don’t need any distractions of this sort.
So the Cowboys are moving on. And moving out, now scrambling to find some new pieces for the 2011-12 season. And they’ve got their work cut out for them.
OSU will be lacking a proven presence in the post next year, especially if Darrell Williams doesn’t return from his legal issues. Marshall Moses and Matt Pilgrim are seniors. That leaves Roger Franklin and Jarred Shaw as experienced forwards. Mike Cobbins, a redshirting freshman, still draws raves from the coaching staff. But there’s a noticeable lack of muscle.
Trouble is, there’s little unsigned talent left in the prep ranks. And getting in late on what is available won’t be easy. Maybe the Cowboys can have some luck with some other Juco players.
Here are a few names to monitor as the Cowboys re-start their recruiting efforts:
PG Cezar Guerrero. A 5-11 prep point man in California, Guerrero is the best point guard still unsigned. A number of schools are involved and the Cowboys are late to the dance. But don’t count them out.
SG Tony Kimbro. A 6-4 prep shooter out of Louisville, Kimbro has been on the Cowboys’ radar for some time. The Cowboys need shooters, clearly.
PG Sam Grooms. At the Juco level, Grooms would likely be the top target — of several teams. The 6-1 guard, who plays for the nation’s No. 2 JC in Florida, is garnering interest from Florida, North Carolina and Kansas as well.
PG Anthony Hickey. The Cowboys are the most prominent program on the 5-10 point man out of Kentucky, but they may be aiming higher.
SF Anthony Norris. A lot of familiar names are in on this 6-7 forward from Houston, including Baylor, Oklahoma, Colorado and others.
SG Zeke Chapman. More like a combo guard at 6-2, Chapman may answer dual needs for the Cowboys.
SG Josh Richardson. An under-the-radar prospect from Edmond Santa Fe, the 6-5 Richardson is picking up some late interest.
PG Kevin Amayo. A 6-4 guard from New Jersey, Amayo would offer size the Cowboys currently lack at the position.
SG Ben Dillard. Another prep option out of Texas.
SF Ahmad Ibrahim. A 6-5 prep player out of Houston.
OSU-Texas A&M: Five Keys
The Cowboys could use a hot hand from Keiton Page tonight.
By John Helsley
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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.
