OSU Hoops: Bracing for the Big 12
By John Helsley
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The Cowboys put the wraps on a successful nonconference schedule Monday night, blowing away from Texas-San Antonio late for a 79-63 win. OSU moved to 12-2 with a perfect 7-0 mark at home.
Still, what did we learn about the Pokes from their first month and a half? The Cowboys barrel into Big 12 play with more questions than answers.
OSU's Keiton Page goes airborne to pass over TU's D.J. Magley and Jordan Clarkson in the 2nd half of their game at the BOK Center in Tulsa, OK Dec. 8, 2010. MICHAEL WYKE/Tulsa World
And a new question, posed by the play of UTSA Monday night, could be critical: Can teams effectively shut down Keiton Page?
The Cowboys’ long-distance dialer has now been held to two points in back-to-back games, after the Roadrunners slowed him with the same approach Gonzaga used in its win over OSU last Friday night. Both teams devoted a man to fronting Page, effectively limiting his touches, and thus, his offensive opportunities as a shooter.
A year ago, teams were so focused on James Anderson and Obi Muonelo that Page regularly found himself with room to work. Such threats are missing this season. Against UTSA, Page managed just three shots and scored his only basket on a back-door cut.
“I think a lot of people are probably going to do that to Keiton,” UTSA coach Brooks Thompson said after the game while copping to copying the Gonzaga strategy.
Why not? If Page can’t fire daggers at defenses from the outside, opponents can commit more help to OSU’s one other consistent offensive threat, Marshall Moses inside.
Now, Thompson said he fully expected Cowboys coach Travis Ford to combat such strategies against Page. And Ford has proven more than capable at making the right moves, although he didn’t sound overly concerned with Page’s lack of scoring Monday night.
“I’m not worried about that,” Ford said. “I’m glad we won with him only scoring two points. That’s exciting for our basketball team.
“Tonight, he didn’t really need to score. I thought he did a lot of other things to help us win, which may not have been the case in the past.”
OSU's Matt Pilgrim (31) looks to pass the ball away from Ben Martin (4) of Nicholls State in the first half during the men's college basketball game between Nicholls State University and Oklahoma State University at Gallagher-Iba Arena in Stillwater, Okla., Saturday, Nov. 21, 2010. Photo by Nate Billings, The Oklahoman
What Page — and the Cowboys — need most is some other players to emerge as consistent threats. And that may already be happening.
Matt Pilgrim is just now showing signs of returning to the force he was late last season, after a suspension and then a shoulder issue slowed his progress this season. Jean-Paul Olukemi is shwoing range as well as his explosive abilities as a slasher around the basket. And freshman Markel Brown is starting to figure things out, gaining confidence and minutes with each game.
Ray Penn is the other major factor. If Page is cornered, Penn must be more assertive as a scorer. And he’s capable. But against UTSA, he never got going to offer a glimpse of the impact he could provide, committing two quick fouls and finding himself limited to nine minutes before fouling out in a fluke outing.
The Cowboys are 12-2. And that’s solid.
And yet, it’s squishy, too, with no statement wins on which to peg optimism.
So questions remain. And it’s time for the answers.
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.
OSU Hoops: Looking Bigger
By John Helsley
Among Oklahoma State’s perceived weaknesses in 2009-10: size, as in a lack of it.
Perception, it seems, isn’t always reality.
Cowboys coach Travis Ford mostly chose to play small, preferring the advantages that Obi Muonelo provided at the 4 spot.
Ford had capable and quality big men in 6-foot-8 Matt Pilgrim and 6-7 Marshall Moses, yet rarely played them together.
Matt Pilgrim will help in the middle next season. Photo by Nate Billings, The Oklahoman
“I was so comfortable with what we were running for two years with Obi at the 4,” Ford said. “A lot of our offense was predicated, not so much for him to necessarily score at the 4, but our plays were run in a way that our 4 man needed to be versatile.”
Muonelo, while 6-4, created major matchup issues for foes, particularly on the offensive end.
Kansas coach Bill Self – and others – referred to Muonelo as a “matchup nightmare.”
Muonelo could smoothly stroke 3-pointers, or use his quickness and strength to slash and drive and score on lumbering big men. He could handle the ball out front, or roll off screens and pop jumpers.
“Everybody talked about how hard it was to match up with us,” Ford said, “and I like that. I’ve always played that type of lineup.”
Still, Ford is looking for bigger things to come.
Muonelo will be gone; he hopes playing pro ball somewhere. And Ford is committed to working Pilgrim and Moses together, with 6-10 sophomore-to-be Jarred Shaw, 6-8 junior college transfer Darrell Williams and 6-8 incoming freshman Michael Cobbins also joining the mix.
“I got so comfortable with Obi out there, I didn’t adjust as well trying to play Matt and Marshall together,” Ford said. But next year, yes.”
Pilgrim and Moses never seemed in sync – during their hot stretches during the season or on the floor together.
It took a while for Pilgrim to shake the rust from a year of inactivity and get comfortable in OSU’s system. Yet over the final third of the schedule, he emerged as a player who could play a starring role next season.
Moses carried over the strong play that highlighted the Cowboys’ run to the 2009 NCAA Tournament, but lost his focus and effectiveness somewhere along the way this season, struggling down the stretch, before turning in a strong performance in a season-ending loss to Georgia Tech.
That style of play must be repeated, yet offers optimism going forward.
“And what changed? That’s what we’ve got to figure out,” Ford said. “There’s competition now. We’ll see which guys want to compete and want to play.
“A lot of that’s going to be staying out of trouble off the court. Doing things we want you to do off the court. Because hopefully we have a few more options.”
And Ford isn’t at all abandoning the option of going small.
JP Olukemi, a 6-7 guard in the style of James Anderson, could fill the Muonelo role. While he doesn’t shoot it as well as Muonelo or Anderson, he’s a better slasher and defender.
“There won’t be as many minutes played with a 4 man shooting the 3,” Ford said. “With that said, Matt Pilgrim can shoot it…”
Going forward, Ford has more options.
Big and small.
Farewell James, We Hardly Knew Ya
By John Helsley
As James Anderson announced he was leaving OSU for the NBA on Monday, I couldn’t help but wonder: “Did Cowboys fans truly appreciate what they had in this guy?”
Late in the Big 12 schedule, I wrote a story trying to peg Anderson’s place in history at OSU. It’s never easy crossing generations or positions for comparisons. So slotting Anderson — not even a full three years into his career — among the likes of Bob Kurland, Byron Houston, Big Country and others was a chore.
And yet, I couldn’t help but feel Anderson belonged in the discussion of being among OSU’s all-time top five.
Anderson’s magic came while working with less talented supporting cast than most of the Cowboys’ legends. Often, he was asked to carry the Cowboys, and did, leading the Big 12 in scoring on his way to unanimous conference Player of the Year honors. And if you somehow missed the hype, it was a stout conference in 2009-10.
Anderson did more than just score. He rebounded. Defended. Assisted.
Gladly.
Anderson’s kind, the unselfish and unassuming superstar, is seldom seen these days. And that goes on the floor and off, which makes him even more special to all those in Stillwater who stood amazed at his good-guy act.
Too good to be true?
Here’s what Travis Ford had to say:
“Just a joy to be around, just a tremendous person. He’s been a perfect example of what we want this basketball program to be about, not just as a player, but a person.”
Teammate Nick Sidorakis:
“You learn a good about of lessons, on and off the court. He’s a good human being, good person. All-around good qualities. Him being my roommate for three years, even in high school camps, I’m really going to miss him.
“He stands for whatever’s good.”
And Obi Muonelo:
“He’s one of those guys, you can give him your car keys and your house keys and leave for two weeks, and everything would be just the same. He’s very dependable. That’s his greatest quality as a person, his dependability.”
As the season played out, often to small crowds in the beginning and rarely to the throngs that used to make Gallagher-Iba great, there was a sense that OSU fans were missing out on something special. Eventually, the media caught up, with Anderson finally gaining national notice and All-American status.
Hopefully, Cowboys fans caught up, too.
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
Cowboys Moving Up?
By John Helsley
Rejoice, Cowboys fans, over your Bedlam blowout to start the Big 12 Tournament.
Get giddy, too, over Nebraska’s stunning upset of Missouri.
That opening day combination at the Sprint Center may have created a subtle shift in the NCAA Tournament bracket that carries seismic implications.
Checking out Joe Lunardi’s updated (as of late Wednesday night) bracketology, OSU moved from a No. 8 to a No. 7 seed in his bracket projection, joining the Tigers as a 7.
It’s the same at Sporting News Today, where Mike DeCourcy also shifted the Cowboys up a notch.
The Cowboys have been fit as a notch below Mizzou based on a lower finish in the conference regular season and a head-to-head loss. But the Pokes and Tigers have altered their images of late, punctuated Wednesday.
Better yet for the Cowboys, they can solify themselves as a bracket riser tonight against Kansas State, a team they’ve already beaten. And it comes with little risk, as a loss in an upset role at a neutral site wouldn’t be all that harmful.
Why all the issue over one spot in the bracket?
Here’s why: The first round pits 8 vs. 9 seeds in tossup games, leading into a second-round matchup with a No. 1. A 7 not only gets a lower-seeded first round foe in a 10, the next round leads to a 2, which this season is drastically different.
Consider Lunardi’s bracket.
The 8-9 matchups: UNLV-Wake Forst, Louisville-UTEP, Cal-Clemson and Northern Iowa-Florida State.
The No. 10 seeds: St. Mary’s, Old Dominion, Cornell, Marquette.
Who would you rather play?
And the next step is the difference in the No. 1 quartet of Kansas, Kentucky, Syracuse and Duke, and, the No. 2s of West Virginia, Kansas State, Ohio State and Purdue.
Again, taking your pick, it’s easy.
OSU-Kansas State: Three Keys:
1. Keep stroking. When the Cowboys are popping from the perimeter, they’re capable of beating anybody in the Big 12. The three likely teams standing between them and the tournament title — K-State, Baylor and Kansas — will attest. After Wednesday night, Keiton Page’s confidence must be soaring. Obi Muonelo’s strut is always in force. And James Anderson, after a quiet night against OU, figures to go off.
2. Stand Tall. The Wildcats are long and active, ranking fourth in the Big 12 in rebounding and second in offensive boards. They can kill a team with second chances. It’s vital that the Cowboys body up. And they’ll need the guards to help. The emergence of Matt Pilgrim should help.
3. Let It Fly. As mentioned above, the Cowboys have little to lose from this point forward, while the Wildcats are trying to reverse a two-game losing streak and confirm their own status as a No. 2 national seed that could land them in Oklahoma City for a regional. The Pokes say they’re having fun. Let the fun continue.
Bedlam Breakdown
By John Helsley
This Big 12 Tournament may lack intriguing story lines, especially today in the first round, but at least for us, there’s Bedlam.
And for Cowboys fans, this is surely a Bedlam pairing to savor.
In boxing terms, the Sooners are out on their feet, losers of eight straight and headed toward their worst season in decades. Decades.
Things have deteriorated rapidly since Blake and Taylor Griffin left Norman. And coach Jeff Capel has been forced to push every button imaginable in an effort to goose a squad that has revealed chemistry issues, flat performances and an aversion to team defense.
Willie Warren is out with an injury. Tiny Gallon could be limited by injury.
And by all indications, the season can’t end soon enough.
The Cowboys are here to oblige.
With the Soones wobbling against the ropes, the Cowboys could create a KO with one decent blow, unless Bedlam stirs something extra — something seldom seen from the Sooners of late — in their arch-enemy.
“They’re here for a whole different purpose and we’re here for a purpose and both teams are going to get after it,” said Cowboys star James Anderson.
OSU’s purpose: Publicly, a Big 12 Tournament title, which won’t come easy with the grind of four wins in four days needed. But mainly, the Cowboys can improve their NCAA Tournament seed with two wins, rising off that dreaded 8-9 spot in the bracket that everyone seems to have them occupying. Oh, and the joy of a Bedlam beatdown for the like of Anderson and Oklahoma natives Obi Muonelo and Nick Sidorakis and Keiton Page.
OU’s purpose: Presumably the spoils — or spoiler — of Bedlam, although frankly, I’m not sure many in this Sooner roster appreciate the rivalry yet.
The Cowboys should have posted a regular season Bedlam sweep, if not for a head injury that took Anderson out of Round 1 in Norman. They blistered the Sooners in Stillwater in Round 2.
Now Round 3 brings Cowboys fans something to savor.
Keys to the game
1. Get off quick. The Cowboys go as their shooters go. If Anderson, Muonelo and Page show some stroke from the perimeter early, the rout could be on. If not, the Sooners could find some confidence and some reason for hanging around.
2. Slowing TMG. Sooners guard Tommy Mason-Griffin popped the Cowboys for 30 points in Gallagher-Iba Arena, more than any player scored on OSU this season. He’s capable of keeping OU in it.
3. Inside presence. One of the keys to OSU’s stretch run has been the emergence of Matt Pilgrim. He’s capable of neutralizing Gallon and doing his own damage in the paint.
Prediction: Cowboys 85-72
Senior Day: Push or Pull?
By John Helsley
The Cowboys experienced the road version of a Senior Night on Wednesday, witnessing the emotional lift a sendoff can provide a team at Texas A&M.
The Aggies started strong, enjoying one of their hottest shooting nights of the season, and a big crowd provided a pick up at several key junctures in what became an easy win over the Cowboys.
But it doesn’t always work that way.
Sometimes, the emotions get carried away or cast a strange feel over the day.
Sometimes, the change in routine — coaches are sticklers for routine — takes teams out of their comfort zones.
Today, the Cowboys honor one senior, Obi Muonelo, who has been a four-year standout and a fan favorite and a lot of fun. We had a story on Obi in Saturday’s paper, surveying his up-and-down journey at OSU. There was much more, too, which we’ll break out at some point in the coming weeks.
It will undoubtedly be an emotional day for Obi.
“Just being able to finish four years,” Muonelo said, ”some guys don’t get to play on Senior Day, (Notre Dame’s) Luke Harongody, guys across the country, that’s tough, because you want to play your last game on the court where you learned so much.
“It means a lot to me.”
Just being able to finish four years, some guys don’t get to play on Senior Day. Luke Harongody. Guys across the country. that’s tough, because you want to play your last game on the court where you learned so much.
It means a lot to me.
OSU coach Travis Ford’s take on Senior Days:
“I’m not a huge fan of them just because there is so much emotion that goes into them. It is such a change of your game plan and your routine, but I am all for honoring, definitely, seniors. I am all for that and I think it’s just one of those things you have got to do, but we will try to keep our kids as focused as possible. And it can go either way. It can light a fire under you or it can go either way. If you look at (the Texas A&M game on their senior night), those guys used it to their advantage a little bit and had the adrenaline going.”
OSU-Texas: Who’s Got Who?
By John Helsley
jhelsley@opubco.com
Made it safety to Austin, where just yesterday they were hurling snowballs and building snowmen and one young man even went skiing down the Capitol steps.
Today, however, there’s no evidence of the weather that was.
Thank, gawd, this annual trip is always about escaping the cold, not dragging it along across the border. And after being in Ames a week ago, the promise of warmth keeps you going.
Now, it’s up to the Cowboys to heat things up inside the Erwin Center tonight, where the Longhorns still haven’t revealed a definite starting five.
After losing point guard Dogus Balbay — one of the defensive stars of Texas’ win in Stillwater — to a blown knee, the Horns are likely to go big, with 6-6 forward Gary Johnson joining a front line of 6-7 Damion James and 6-10 Dexter Pittman.
That would make for matchup problems, not that it’s anything new for these vertically challenged Cowboys. But it could also create advantages for OSU on the offensive end, where the Horns would have to scramble to keep up with James Anderson and Co. on the perimeter.
As for the defensive dilemma should Texas look large, the Cowboys could sure use a re-appearance of Marshall Moses.
This has not been a welcoming town for OSU over the years. Since the formation of the Big 12, the Cowboys have won just twice in Austin. So the Pokes will be leaning heavily on the improved leadership that has been evident through a three-game winning streak.
“It’s been fun watching Obi (Muonelo) and James kind of taking this team under their wing a little bit and understanding what this time of year is all about,” said Cowboys coach Travis Ford. “You can see they’ve raised their leadership ability this time of year. You can see the intensity they have and the sense of urgency they have.
“That’s been fun. They’re using their experience to help these younger kids, in practice, the day of games and things like that. We just hope it continues. It’s something these guys have worked on over an extended period of time this year. They haven’t always been comfortable doing that. But now’s a good time to have it, that’s for sure.”
Keiton Page, while just a sophomore, is contributing, too.
“I think Keiton provides it in that guys know that he was starting this time last year and playing a lot of minutes into the NCAA Tournament. He’s starting to speak up more.
“It’s pretty much those three and Nick (Sidorakis) can jump in there, the players respect him.”
And Ford emphasizes how important that kind of leadership can be during a season’s stretch run.
“It’s important this time of year,” Ford said, “as important as anything we do, making sure players hold themselves accountable. And holding players accountable is the leadership within the team. We’ve been doing it for a long time, but when you can get players doing it, that helps a lot.”
OSU-Iowa State Afterthoughts
By John Helsley
jhelsley@opubco.com
Sitting in the Kansas City airport, waiting on a flight home from the frozen cornfield that is Iowa and thinking how hard it must be to be a Royals fan. Pitchers and catchers are reporting, hope springs eternal, and yet, the sports talk radio guys here are killing the Royals already.
(Sorry, compadre Mike Baldwin!)
But that’s not why you’re here.
Cowboys won a crucial game Wednesday night in Ames. A game with many twists, from a big blown lead (20 points in the first half); to a nearly 22-minute scoring drought by James Anderson; to Obi Muonelo’s greatest game as a Cowboy (seriously); to an underrated defensive job on ISU’s big two of Craig Brackins and Marquis Gilstrap; to a hang-on-at-the-end finish that saw the Cyclones give away some chances at the end.
Quick thoughts, before boarding:
* Muonelo’s growth as a player was evident against ISU. Clearly, he sensed that his team needed somebody to step up with the offense struggling. And he did, scoring 21 straight points during a stretch that turned away the Cyclones’ comeback. Considering OSU’s still-difficult quest for an NCAA Tournament bid, Muonelo’s pack mule effort and 31 points resulted in his best game in orange.
* Didn’t get this in the print edition, but Keiton Page suffered a minor thigh pull that shouldn’t be an issue. Page left the game late, yet was back on the floor at the end. And he was walking fine on the way to the bus after the game.
* The Cowboys face a stretch of four straight games against ranked teams, beginning Saturday with Baylor. We’ve been saying this a lot lately, but consider it a must win. At 6-5, the Cowboys need at least two more wins and maybe three to go dancing. With three home games left, and Nebraska the only one that looks like a lock, beating Baylor could be a necessity.
* As Matt Pilgrim emerges, Marshall Moses’ game has suffered. Moses’ work on the defensive end shouldn’t be dismissed Wednesday night, but it was a miserable night for him on offense. Missed a dunk and a couple of point-blank shots. Turned the ball over. Seems Marshall is having a difficult time adjusting to his new reserve role.
