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 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.”
Ventura Boulevard: Pursuit of the Streak Continues… UPDATED
By John Helsley
Garrett Wittels keeps streaking. And while we watched with some interest, it’s time to take his pursuit of Robin Ventura’s seemingly unreachable record seriously.
After going hitless in his first two at-bats against Texas A&M ace Barret Loux at the Coral Gables (Fla.) Regional, Wittels lined a 3-0 pitch for a double into right-center field at the home of the Miami Hurricane, extending his hitting streak to 55 – three short of Ventura’s still-standing Division I mark of 58.
While Ventura predated Oklahoma State’s entry into the Big 12, Cowboys fans were surely sending some conference love to Texas A&M, which is blasting FIU, but couldn’t stop Wittels’ streaking ways.
“We’ve prepared for him, and we’re ready to go,” Wittels said of Loux this week.
Well, Wittels was prepared anyway.
Wonder if Gary Ward was watching.
Ward, of course, was along for the ride in 1987, when Ventura charged to his 58-game streak that carried into the College World Series.
And Ward remembers that year – and Ventura – fondly.
“Robin was obviously a great college hitter, Ward said. “Made contact consistently. Didn’t strike out much. Didn’t have much trouble against left- or right-handers.
“To us who were around the program, we kind of nicknamed him ‘The Franchise’ after his first year. He did some unbelievable things as a college player.”
Teams couldn’t pitch around Ventura, either.
That Cowboys lineup was stacked. Monty Farriss, a great college player, batted second. Jimmy Ifland, a first-team All-American at DH that year, hit behind Ventura in the four hole. And two-time All-American Jimmy Barragan was next.
And even after Barragan, it didn’t get easy navigating the Cowboys lineup.
“The greatest advantage to Robin was that was one of the really outstanding offensive ball clubs,” Ward said. “If you pitched around Ventura, he had two cover chaps who were really having great years. They were .400 hitters in their own right. So you were only adding another run to the scoreboard.”
Ward said Ventura’s ability to hit left-handed pitchers was key in his great run.
“You’ve got to handle the on-side breaking ball,” Ward said. “Robin learned to handle the left-handed pitcher pretty well, so there wasn’t a lot of vulnerability there.”
Even then, what he did, and what Wittels is doing, requires some magic.
“There’s a lot of luck involved in those things,” Ward said. “Those days, we played a lot of seven-inning ball games. You can walk and hit two bullets at the center fielder and go 0-fer. And your day’s done.
“It has to be a rather fortuitous set of circumstances.”
Wittels’ streak has moved from the inside pages of sports sections to the spotlight of the NCAA Tournament.
Clearly, it’s time to take this pursuit of Ventura seriously.
Chat Recap: OSU basketball beat writer John Helsley
NCAA Tourney: Pay the man
by Brandon Chatmon
bchatmon@opubco.com
I am helping out with the Oklahoman’s coverage of the NCAA Tournament at the Ford Center. Today’s games feature Kansas against Northern Iowa and Kansas State against BYU. It’s a snowy day in OKC but for NBA fans, there are plenty of reasons to head downtown.
Here’s a closer look at the NBA prospects (and their NBA projections according to ESPN.com) playing at the Ford Center today:
Kansas
C Cole Aldrich: Considered by many analysts as KU’s top NBA prospect, Aldrich is an athletic big man who could help several NBA teams right now. He’s a shot blocker who has a decent jump shot as well. ESPN.com projects him as a Top 10 pick.
G Xavier Henry: The former Putnam City standout entered college with a NBA body and has performed at a high level since a midseason slump. Scouts like his range, body control and ability to finish around the basket. He’s projected as a late lottery pick but he could really help himself with a strong March as the Jayhawks make a run towards a title.
G Sherron Collins: The senior point guard makes the Jayhawks go. Scouts like his strength, explosiveness and speed. Collins is projected as a late first round pick largely because of his lack of height. Collins is the type of player who will just have to prove people wrong for passing on him because he’s done all he can do on the collegiate level. I imagine he’ll be like a Tony Parker or Ty Lawson in terms of a late first rounder who falls due to lack of height but makes a big impact on the next level.
G Tyshawn Taylor and F Marcus Morris are also NBA prospects but neither project to be first round picks if they declare this year.
Northern Iowa
None
Kansas State
F Wally Judge: Has exceptional potential with his length and athleticism. Nonetheless, Judge projects as a second round selection. He’ll be a beast as sophomore at K-State.
G Jacob Pullen: Pullen is a quick, strong guard but he projects as a second rounder.
F Jamar Samuels: Another Wildcat with a lot of potential thanks to his length and versatility. The sophomore from Washington, D.C. projects as a second rounder.
BYU
G Jimmer Fredette: ESPN’s sleeper prospect in the region, Fredette scored 37 points in the first round. He’s nifty around the basket and can shoot the ball. He’s also excellent off the dribble. Scouts are concerned about his quickness and ability to defend but a good NCAA Tournament would go a long way to helping him move up in scouts eyes. Jimmer is projected to be a second round selection.
NCAA Tourney: Kansas looks to set the pace
by Brandon Chatmon
bchatmon@opubco.com
I am helping out with the Oklahoman’s coverage of the NCAA Tournament at the Ford Center. Therefore in this blog I will be blogging on the Kansas Jayhawks.
With KU facing Northern Iowa in the second round, the potential gauntlet also known as the road to the Final Four for the Jayhawks begins. UNI was ranked among the Top 25 in the nation for several weeks this season and is one of the nation’s top defensive squads.
UNI has an exceptional ability to control the tempo of a game and force teams to play their slow-it-down deliberate style. The Panthers hold opponents to 54.6 points per game on 40.4 percent shooting from the field.
But Kansas guard Tyshawn Taylor wants his team to worry less about UNI and more about themselves.
“We’re going to play our game,” Taylor said. ”I think if we do that, we’ll be fine.”
“They’re one of the best defensive teams in the nation,” KU freshman Xavier Henry said. ”They can shoot the three-point ball real well. We have to come out and defend, run the ball and try to speed up the tempo.”
NCAA Game Day: Sizing Up OSU-Georgia Tech
By John Helsley
MILWAUKEE – Here in the nation’s Dairyland, those analyzing tonight’s Midwest Regional matchup between OSU and Georgia Tech are focused on one aspect: size.
Or the Cowboys’ lack of it.
Is it key? Yes… and no.
The Cowboys have faced long and athletic frontlines before — and slayed the giants.
Cole Aldrich, Marcus Morris and Co. with Kansas. Luis Colon and all his lanky legions at Kansas State. Baylor’s Ekpe Udoh and Anthony Jones and Josh Lomers. And others.
Are those combinations as talented as Tech’s duo of Derrick Favors and Gani Lawal? Potentially, no, with both projected as first-round NBA draft picks.
But the boys from the Big 12 are far more accomplished than the Yellow Jackets’ pair, who hardly dominated as Tech went just 7-9 in a down ACC. Favors and Lawal haven’t consistently put their potential in place.
“We’re not the biggest team in the world,” said Cowboys coach Travis Ford. “But our guys have figured out how to compete. We’ve played against some big teams. Kansas was big and Texas was big and Baylor’s big. You go down the line, there’s some big teams in the Big 12.
“And our guys, at times, they’ve figured it out. And at times we haven’t. But we understand going into these situations that we’ve got to be overachievers, that we’re going to have to make up for some lack of height and some different things at some point. And we understand that.”
Understand this: Georgia Tech faces matchup issues as well, with the pressure on to chase OSU’s shooters on the perimeter. And one of those big men will have to join in the chase.
That’s a mismatch, too, for a Tech team that has at times struggled to defend the 3-point line against a team with James Anderson, Obi Muonelo and Keiton Page that has gunned down better big teams already.
“Obviously, that’s crucial,” said Jackets coach Paul Hewitt. “Because they’re a great 3-point shooting team, one of the better 3-point shooting teams we’ve seen all year. When we’ve struggled, we’ve really allowed people to get going from 3.”
This is a far better matchup than Sunday’s possible showdown with Ohio State, which also starts four guards, but has big athletic guards who will contest shots and pressure the Cowboys to work hard with screens and cuts to create open shots.
Tonight, as it’s been much of the year, it’s not about any OSU weakness inside, but one of the Cowboys’ strengths: the 3-point shot.
If they’re on, they’re through to Round 2.
Prediction: Cowboys 75, Yellow Jackets 67
Chat with John Helsley at 11 a.m.
NCAA Tourney: Talkin’ tidbits
By Brandon Chatmon
bchatmon@opubco.com
This week I am helping out with the Oklahoman’s coverage of the NCAA Tournament at the Ford Center.
Here are some tidbits from talking with the players this week:
–Kansas State’s Wally Judge said the NCAA Tourney run he remembers most is Syracuse’s run to a title with Carmelo Anthony. “He’s the best player in the NBA in my opinion. He can dominate inside and outside.”
–Ohio State combo guard Evan Turner not only has fans among the national media but he’s impressed his peers also.
“He’s the only guy in college I would pay to see,” K-State’s Curtis Kelly said.
Said Northern Iowa’s Anthony James: “He has the size, ability to play 1 through 4, or in our conference 1 through 5, he’s versatile.”
–Kentucky point guard John Wall also has fans among his peers.
“He’s the complete package,” UNLV’s Steve Jones said. “Who wouldn’t want John Wall on their team?”
–We also got into discussions about the top up and coming player in the NBA. And Oklahoma City Thunder point guard Russell Westbrook was one of the names mentioned.
“People don’t really know about Russell and what he’s doing,” said UNLV’s Matt Shaw, who had several encounters with Westbrook in summer basketball and camps.. “In high school, he was barely talked about, I’m definitely surprised… to be doing what he’s doing is amazing.”
Shaw attended Fairfax (Calif.) High School.
–Shaw’s teammate Steve Jones brought up another member of the Thunder when I asked who was the toughest player they had played against.
“James Harden,” Jones said. “He brought it. He’s really crafty, he’s quicker than you think.”
NCAA Tourney: LeBron or Kobe?
by Brandon Chatmon
bchatmon@opubco.com
I am helping out with the Oklahoman’s coverage of the NCAA Tournament at the Ford Center.
I asked several players who they prefer: LeBron or Kobe?
Wally Judge, Kansas State: “LeBron. I’m down for the younger guys.”
Steve Jones, UNLV: “Kobe. He’s proven it over the course of time, LeBron hasn’t proven it yet.”
Matt Shaw, UNLV: “LeBron. Even though I’m from LA. He does so much as a player. He can get a triple double anytime.”
Anthony James, Northern Iowa: “LeBron. Watching him in high school and he’s an better overall player. He can get a triple double.”
Curtis Kelly, Kansas State: “Kobe. LeBron is a better passer, a better athlete. But Kobe’s basketball I.Q. is better.”
