Fraschilla on Ford, Big 12
Published: 4/18/2008 6:22 PM
Last Modified: 4/18/2008 6:22 PM
The returned phone call was a day too late for our newspaper publication needs. But hearing from ESPN Big 12 basketball analyst Fran Fraschilla is a phone call that I'll always accept.
Fraschilla returned my call late Friday afternoon to discuss Oklahoma State's hiring of Travis Ford the day before. Here are Fraschilla's thoughts on Ford and Big 12 basketball:
On OSU's hiring: Given the circumstances and where they were this late in the process, they found a way to bring in a solid, young up-and-coming coach. This is similar to Joe Castiglione at Oklahoma hiring Jeff Capel. Both took a chance on a guy with a solid but not spectacular track record. Look at Travis' overall record and it may standout to you, but look at the way UMass finished at the end of the season and you see they were coming on strong. Perception is reality, and the way UMass finished in the NIT helped Travis become a very hot coaching commodity.
On the situation Ford inherits at OSU: Travis fits in well there at Stillwater. He is a small-town Kentucky kid who the people in Stillwater should easily be able to relate to. Travis is walking into an ideal situation because he will have one of the best starting five's in the Big 12. I don't see why in his first year that Oklahoma State that his team can't be among the top three or four teams in the Big 12.
On the Big 12 next season: A lot of it depends on who does return. If D.J. Augustin returns, then Texas is the easy No. 1 choice in the Big 12 and one of the two or three best teams in the country. Kansas will still be very good even with losing (Brandon) Rush and (Darrell) Arthur. You also have to look at Oklahoma being up there with Blake Griffin coming back. Blake has the look of a first-team All-American pick in my book. After those three, I see a tight pack among Missouri, Baylor and Oklahoma State all vying for that fourth spot.
--- Matt Doyle
Written by
Bill Haisten
Sports Writer
