To add insult to injury

[osu_cowboy_007]

Bold statement IMO. Losing Anderson (and Obi) is bigger then you realize.

Ok. State will be NIT bound next year IMO.

People said the same thing after we lost Eaton and Harris...

 

[stoops4pres]

People said the same thing after we lost Eaton and Harris...

I wasn't one of them. I felt Anderson and Obi were good enough to help get Ok. State in the tourney.

Who do yall have as a go-to guy? Who can fill Anderson and Obi's roles?

You have Moses and Pilgrim, so the frontline should be solid compared to others in the conference. But who in the back court? I don't think Page is good enough off the dribble and can't create his shot enough to increase his averages this year. I don't see him being more then a 10-12 ppg player. What other guards/wings are there that can fill (to a good enough extent) Anderson and Obi's roles?

 

[mosezgo]

I wasn't one of them. I felt Anderson and Obi were good enough to help get Ok. State in the tourney.

Who do yall have as a go-to guy? Who can fill Anderson and Obi's roles?

You have Moses and Pilgrim, so the frontline should be solid compared to others in the conference. But who in the back court? I don't think Page is good enough off the dribble and can't create his shot enough to increase his averages this year. I don't see him being more then a 10-12 ppg player. What other guards/wings are there that can fill (to a good enough extent) Anderson and Obi's roles?

Yes, Page proved he is no good tonight vs ou.

 

[stoops4pres]

Yes, Page proved he is no good tonight vs ou.

Considering I never said that, I appreciate you putting words in my mouth.

He's proven to be good when he's not the focus. When teams concentrate on Anderson and Obi he's shown he can play. Can he improve upon this and be able to put up these numbers when he's more of a focus on the defensive gameplans? That's what I doubt. I don't think he can. He's nothing more then a supporting player, and though he fits that role well, he will be counted on substantially more next season and I doubt he can live up to those needs.

 

[HoHum]

I wasn't one of them. I felt Anderson and Obi were good enough to help get Ok. State in the tourney.

Who do yall have as a go-to guy? Who can fill Anderson and Obi's roles?

You have Moses and Pilgrim, so the frontline should be solid compared to others in the conference. But who in the back court? I don't think Page is good enough off the dribble and can't create his shot enough to increase his averages this year. I don't see him being more then a 10-12 ppg player. What other guards/wings are there that can fill (to a good enough extent) Anderson and Obi's roles?

Next year will largely be scorer by committee. Page should get some open shots with Moses, Pilgrim and Darrell Williams inside. Got to hope Penn can improve his offensive game, and hope Olukemi is as good as advertised.

I'm not sure what to expect yet. I think they'll be on the NIT-NCAA line next season.

 

[stoops4pres]

Next year will largely be scorer by committee. Page should get some open shots with Moses, Pilgrim and Darrell Williams inside. Got to hope Penn can improve his offensive game, and hope Olukemi is as good as advertised.

I'm not sure what to expect yet. I think they'll be on the NIT-NCAA line next season.

I can see that.

 

[earlpearl]

I concur about the NIT/NCAA line. I will say this. If Ford gets the Pokes into the NCAA next year the rest of the conference should be very afraid.

 

[InTheKnow]

Next year will largely be scorer by committee. Page should get some open shots with Moses, Pilgrim and Darrell Williams inside. Got to hope Penn can improve his offensive game, and hope Olukemi is as good as advertised.

I'm not sure what to expect yet. I think they'll be on the NIT-NCAA line next season.

This is probably the most objective and realistic outlook that I've seen.

Anything better than NIT/NCAA borderline would make me giddy.

I suspect we'll learn a lot about Ford next season.

 

[oSuJeff97]

He's proven to be good when he's not the focus. When teams concentrate on Anderson and Obi he's shown he can play. Can he improve upon this and be able to put up these numbers when he's more of a focus on the defensive gameplans? That's what I doubt. I don't think he can.

But it's a bit more difficult to "game plan" for a shooting guard, is it not?

What are you going to do, run a box-and-one?

Page gets most of his open looks just from our offensive sets, running off double-screens, etc. That will still be there next year even without Anderson.

Also, the very fact that teams have to account for Page in our offense is where he adds value beyond his point production. You have to find him in our offense... you certainly have to find him in transition.

Page has shown that he can light up any Big 12 team a given night.

If teams are spending all of their time game-planning and preparing for Keiton Page, then I have high hopes for next year, because we certainly have other players that can hurt you.

My prediction is that Pilgrim is going to be a force down low next year, given that juco guys really shine their senior year. He will draw enough attention that Page will get his share of open looks.

He's nothing more then a supporting player, and though he fits that role well, he will be counted on substantially more next season and I doubt he can live up to those needs.

We'll see.

This time last year, people on this site were saying that the "only reason" that Anderson and Page knocked down so many 3s last year was because of Eaton's driving ability.

 

[campbest]

This time last year, people on this site were saying that the "only reason" that Anderson and Page knocked down so many 3s last year was because of Eaton's driving ability.

I thought not having Eaton would diminish some of Page's numbers, but OSU did a good job of finding him shots in transition and out of sets. What else can be said about Anderson? Guy is a player, kudos to him and the OSU staff for elevating his game. James seems to have a good head on his shoulders and understands the game, which I attribute to his increased productivity over the years.

My only question with Page next year is that he will truely be "the guy". Eaton two years ago, Anderson this year, how will Page adapt? I don't know the answer and it's definitely not a knock on Keiton, he and Ford have some time to figure it out. To be honest, as long as you have some guards who can knock down jumepers, OSU will be ok. Ford's achilles heel is having post players who can buy into his system and offer pts/rebounds along the way...looks like he has that in Pilgrim and Moses.

Think OSU will be a bubble type team next year, which is definitely respectable.

 

[Dignon003]

I don't think Page will be the first option. I think the first option will be Pilgrim. Now that he's learned to defend without fouling.

Olukemi has been playing against these guys every day. He's good in transition and from 15 in. He's not the outside threat that Anderson is.

OSU will go inside a lot more with Pilgrim, Moses and Williams. Much like he did his last two years at UMASS.

Balance is the key for OSU next season. If the chemistry is anything like this bunch the we'll be in good shape.

 

[campbest]

My only request is that Ford stop spinning the notion that they are the youngest team in the Big XII...it sounds great on TV but it isn't exactly the truth.

 

[oSuJeff97]

My only request is that Ford stop spinning the notion that they are the youngest team in the Big XII...it sounds great on TV but it isn't exactly the truth.

It is absoultly true.

He doesn't say we have the "youngest starting five" in the Big 12. He says we have the "youngest team"... which we do. It's a factual statement.

I know that this fact makes you guys mad, because many of our freshmen don't play as much.

But, we have a starting freshman point guard (who was originally the backup), which is the most important position on the court.

We also have three other freshmen who have all contributed some meaningful minutes down the stretch (Franklin, Dowell, Shaw).

When you consider that Ray Penn was the starting point guard until he was injured, we've had 5 members of the freshmen class contribute meaningful time this year to an NCAA Tournament-bound team.

That's not too shabby.

 

[stoops4pres]

What are you going to do, run a box-and-one?

How about put your best perimeter defender on him? It still remains to be seen if he can be "the guy". The things he needs to improve on his game in order to expand from being a role player to being the guy, I just don't see happening (i.e. beating each opponents' best guards off the dribble, creating his own shot). Not a knock on Page, I think he's a good player and I wish OU had him. Just that I don't think he can elevate his game and fill the same role as Anderson and Eaton have.

Page gets most of his open looks just from our offensive sets, running off double-screens, etc. That will still be there next year even without Anderson.

Your undervaluing how much Anderson's game opens up for the other guards. Those offensive sets and double-screens will still be there, but not nearly to the same extent as this season. Defenses can not only mitigate by just putting a better defender on Paige (which will happen) but traps, etc.

Page has shown that he can light up any Big 12 team a given night.

You're right, and I said that as well. But can he do that on a consistent basis? That's what I doubt.

If teams are spending all of their time game-planning and preparing for Keiton Page, then I have high hopes for next year, because we certainly have other players that can hurt you.

Disagree. But we will see.

This time last year, people on this site were saying that the "only reason" that Anderson and Page knocked down so many 3s last year was because of Eaton's driving ability.

Another Ok. State fan told me this also... I didn't post on here last year, I still posted on the Wayman Tisdale boards on OUInsider, but last year at this time I thought Ok. State would be a tourney team. A lot of OU fans underestimated Anderson's worth... I felt Ok. State had a returning nucleus to make it back to the tournament. I'm not right about all things basketball (no way did I think OU would be as bad as they are now) but I felt Ok. State would be solid this year.

I think Pilgrim has the potential to have a breakout year, Moses will be solid. I just don't see enough from the returning guards to help Page out, and as I previously stated I don't see Page expanding his game to the point of being an effective lead-guard. Averaging 10-12 ppg is about where I see him as. A lot of this depends on how the recruits shape up, but at this point in time I see Ok. State as NIT/on the bubble.

 

[InTheKnow]

It is absoultly true.

He doesn't say we have the "youngest starting five" in the Big 12. He says we have the "youngest team"... which we do. It's a factual statement.

I know that this fact makes you guys mad, because many of our freshmen don't play as much.

But, we have a starting freshman point guard (who was originally the backup), which is the most important position on the court.

We also have three other freshmen who have all contributed some meaningful minutes down the stretch (Franklin, Dowell, Shaw).

When you consider that Ray Penn was the starting point guard until he was injured, we've had 5 members of the freshmen class contribute meaningful time this year to an NCAA Tournament-bound team.

That's not too shabby.

Jeff, sure it's technically true, but you've got to admit that it get's a little old. Why does Ford even bring it up? It's not like he needs to make excuses for anything. We're playing well, going to the Big Dance. Why continue to bring it up?

 

[stoops4pres]

It is absoultly true.

He doesn't say we have the "youngest starting five" in the Big 12. He says we have the "youngest team"... which we do. It's a factual statement.

Dude, come on... We all know that that's misleading. The guys that are seeing playing time are experienced. Its a reach at best to say they're the "youngest team".

 

[thebigabd]

PG: Ray Penn/Fred Gulley
SG: Keiton Page/Markel Brown
SF: JP Olukemi/Brian Williams
PF: Marshall Moses/Darrell Williams
PF: Matt Pilgrim/Jarred Shaw

OSU is a lock for the NCAA Tournament next year, IMO. They have a lot of talent and athletic ability. Of course losing the Big 12 POY is a big deal, but I really don't see them having much problem. They have plenty of good players.

 

[HoHum]

Dude, come on... We all know that that's misleading. The guys that are seeing playing time are experienced. Its a reach at best to say they're the "youngest team".

But they are. I don't like Ford bringing it up, because it's pretty goofy when the team that plays if fairly experienced, but it is true. By age they are the youngest team, from the average of scholarship players.

 

[campbest]

It is absoultly true.

Technically, you all have the youngest team in the Big XII...minutes wise, we demand more production from our freshman than OSU.

Penn/Gulley are in a completely different role than TMG, they have to shoulder less of the burden.

 

[blankenship4]

Technically, you all have the youngest team in the Big XII...minutes wise, we demand more production from our freshman than OSU.

Penn/Gulley are in a completely different role than TMG, they have to shoulder less of the burden.

Very true. Im really surprised Capel only signed one point guard in this class