OSU basketball team looking good on paper
BY JOHN HELSLEY, Staff Writer,
jhelsley@opubco.com Comments Comment on this article2
Published: October 23, 2009
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Running through an expanded roster of 14 that now features legitimate size in the middle, Oklahoma State coach Travis Ford smiled and shrugged.
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"On paper, it looks pretty good,” Ford said.
Live, standing side by side, the Cowboys look pretty good, too, certainly more like a basketball team than the vertically challenged squad that scrapped its way into the NCAA Tournament a year ago. Truth is, Ford likes what he sees — a lot.
Still, considering much of his optimism is tied up in the infusion of seven newcomers, he’s trying to contain himself.
With an average age of 19, the Cowboys are the youngest team in the Big 12. But there’s a solid core of returning players in James Anderson, a Preseason All-Big 12 pick, Obi Muonelo, Keiton Page and Marshall Moses. Nick Sidorakis returns from a reserve role.
"You would think that we’re probably in a rebuilding stage,” Ford said, "but we’re not really approaching it that way, because of the returning players we have as the backbone of our team.
"We think we have a chance to have a very fun and exciting year.”
Where Moses, at 6-foot-7, stood as OSU’s big man a year ago, help has arrived inside. A 6-8 transfer from Kentucky, Matt Pilgrim is drawing raves from Ford as the team’s strongest and most athletic player. Freshmen Jarred Shaw and Torin Walker are 6-10 and 6-11, respectively. And 6-11 sophomore Teeng Akol may be emerging from "project” status.
More help arrives on the wing and at the guard slots, with some of the top-rated recruits in a touted class.
"It’s a different look,” said Muonelo, the team’s lone senior. "Last year we were undersized. This year, with the additions we have, we’re so athletic.”
Practices should be more productive, with more bodies and bigger bodies. The veterans have a better understanding of Ford’s system and what it requires.
And there’s the carryover value of last season’s late run, when the Cowboys grew up before our eyes, earning their way into the NCAA Tournament. Said Ford: "We think we’ve improved ourselves in every area, except maybe the point guard spot. Obviously, when you lose a four-year starter in Byron Eaton, you’re just not going to replace him overnight.”
Point guard play is vital for any team, but particularly vital for one that runs the floor like Ford’s squads.
These Cowboys are likely to feature freshmen at the point, Ray Penn and/or Fred Gulley, or Page.
"I have no question Keiton can do it,” Ford said, "it’s just we’d like to get him at that two-guard spot.”
Right now, Ford said he’s comfortable with a group of seven or eight players, yet would like for one or two more to join the mix.
A mix he likes for new and old.
"Part of me is like, you’ve got seven new players and you say, ‘Oh man, it’s going to be ...’” Ford said. "Then you talk about James Anderson and you talk about Obi Muonelo and you talk about Keiton Page and it’s kind of different.
"What’s that going to equate to? To be determined.”
