NCAA BK

Ford is looking for growth

LexisNexis Feed TheOklahoman
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Updated Nov 12, 2009 10:30 AM ET
     
 
STILLWATER - Cowboys basketball coach Travis Ford expected some turnovers in Oklahoma State's exhibition opener Saturday night. "Not 27 turnovers," Ford said, arching his eyebrows. With two freshman point guards to work into a mix that includes seven newcomers, growing pains are part of what figures to be, at least initially, a rather deliberate process. That much Ford concedes - as long as there's growth. He's seeking rapid advancement tonight, when the Cowboys close the exhibition portion of their schedule against Dillard University of Louisiana. Tip time is approximately 8:15, following the women's game. Among the 27 turnovers committed against Central Oklahoma, rookie point guards Ray Penn and Fred Gulley accounted for 13, with Gulley strapped with nine in 22 minutes off the bench. Fear of such sloppiness is behind Ford's inclination to work Keiton Page at the point until one or both of the youngsters proves capable of the full-time role. Except now, Page is out indefinitely with an ankle sprain, swinging focus back on Penn and Gulley, with the season opener just four days away. "We're looking at it as a positive thing," Ford said, "for these younger kids to get more of an opportunity. Some of these guys are going to have to step up and play." Just playing should help. Several Cowboys said the sloppiness should have been expected, with Ford mixing and matching and experimenting with lineups frequently against UCO. "That's exactly what it felt like, an experimentation," said senior Obi Muonelo. "Just seeing new faces, for me, is totally different. The last few years, we had Terrell (Harris) and Byron (Eaton) in the backcourt. "This was just basically trying out new people, new guys and it was a fun experience. We grew, especially the young guys who got the first game under their belt." Dillard, an NAIA program, enters having lost an exhibition to Arkansas and non-conference games to Texas College and Wiley College. Ford scheduled the matchup as a favor to Bleu Devils coach Dale Brown, a former teammate and roommate at Kentucky who is in his first season at a school just a few moves removed from being decimated by Hurricane Katrina. Ford heads for ESPN Ford will start today with a trip to ESPN headquarters in Bristol, Conn., to discuss the upcoming season. The Cowboys coach, Baylor's Scott Drew and Missouri's Mike Anderson will preview their teams and the Big 12 in various interviews scheduled from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. to air on ESPN, ESPN2 and ESPNU, as well as previews for the network's College Basketball Season Preview to air Nov. 12 at 6 p.m. on ESPN2. MEN'S BASKETBALL Oklahoma STATE VS. DILLARD (LA.) →When: 8:15 tonight. →Where: Gallagher-Iba Arena, Stillwater. →Radio: KSPI 93.7 FM. Three things to know: →1. Starting guard Keiton Page (ankle) is out, and guard Obi Muonelo (ankle) is questionable. →2. OSU is 45-4 all-time in exhibition contests. →3. The Cowboys open the regular season Saturday at home against Seattle.
Tagged: Oklahoma, Oklahoma State

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