by John Helsley, Staff Writer
jhelsley@opubco.com , The Oklahoman

The five?

"I don't know how that would work," said the 5-foot-9 Page, "but being on the court, that's the main thing."

We may soon find out how Page works out at the one, the point guard spot, as he's quickly becoming an option to replace Byron Eaton.

Starting Page at the point wouldn't be ideal for Cowboys coach Travis Ford. Yet the other candidates are a pair of true freshmen, Ray Penn and Fred Gulley, who have flashed talent and skills, but also too many inconsistencies for Ford to simply hand either such a valued role - yet.

"I'm not totally ready to put a freshman in a spot where they haven't earned it," Ford said. "I am excited about them both. I think both of them will play a lot of minutes. But as far as starting, you're a freshman, you're going to have to earn it.

"I want one of them to step up and take it, because I'd rather start Keiton at the two. We're much better with him there. But they both have areas they much improve on."

Page starred at the point at Pawnee High, where he led the state in points, assists and steals as The Oklahoman's Player of the Year.

Playing off the ball a year ago, Page appeared in all 35 games and started 12, averaging 8.6 points as a potent perimeter scorer.

Ford considers Page one of two secure starters, along with James Anderson, and labels him the Cowboys' shooting guard, unless, of course, he's needed elsewhere.

"I throw Keiton in there (at the point), not because I want to, we want him to play the two," Ford said, "but if these other two guys can't do it, Keiton's going to have to do it, because Keiton's going to have to play 40 minutes a game."

To no one's surprise, Eaton is proving hard to replace.

In many ways, he was the glue of the team a year ago and a key cog in the Cowboys' late run into the NCAA Tournament. Scoring, passing, stealing, leading - Eaton did it all.

"We all understand what Byron Eaton meant to this team," Ford said. "He got guys shots. He controlled the team. He was a great leader. When he wanted to play defense, there was nobody better.

"Man, Eaton meant a lot to this team last year, especially when we were playing well."

By all accounts, Page is ready to elevate his game in his second year. He's improved his body and his understanding of Ford's system. And the comfort of having been through a season is allowing Page to show off more of the creativity he kept hidden as a freshman.

"Keiton's way better than he was last year," said senior Obi Muonelo. "And he has that aura now about him that, 'I'm not just a little freshman, I'm a sophomore and I can play with anybody.' "

Now he may have to play the point, at least in the interim.

The situation bears watching as the Cowboys head toward their season opener in 11 days, and then beyond.

"Keiton doesn't have the quickness of Ray or Fred, but they don't have his game right now," Ford said. "He can do it. It's definitely now what I want, because he's so dangerous at the two. I don't want to take him out of his game. But he can do it.

"We're looking for one guy to step up and show me."

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