Keiton Page's big year on hold?
Published: 11/13/2009 9:22 AM
Last Modified: 11/13/2009 9:22 AM
Will injured guard Keiton Page play in Oklahoma State's basketball season opener Saturday against Seattle?
It depends on how Page looks today, according to coach Travis Ford.
Asked prior to a Thursday practice about Page's status, Ford said "He's not going to practice today. He'll be dressed out and paying attention to what we are doing in case he can play. Right now, it's going to determine a lot on what he does (Friday)."
Ford said Page participated in an individual workout Thursday and didn't look good.
The shame of that is Page practiced at such a high level in preseason that he seemed poised for a breakout year. Ford, asked what kind of sophomore season he was expecting from Page, said, "Big time. I am as high on him as any player on our team. I think he has improved as much as anybody on our team -- and this is somebody I don't compliment a lot. I'm hard on Keiton, but he knows I love him and have high expectations for him. I think he'll be fine, but he was playing at an extremely high level before he got hurt."
Page became a starter late in his freshman season, but Ford said Page added "a little bit of swagger" to his game this season. He also said, believe it or not, that the undersized Page might have been OSU's best perimeter defender in preseason "because he understands it and he's gotten quicker."
Ford said Page has never been injured before, so getting past an injury is uncharted territory for Page.
"We are having to push him a little bit," Ford said. "That's typical. Guys that haven't been injured, especially ankles, they don't understand. You have to just play through it. The pain will work itself out. He's taking it a little slow at this point."
Written by
Jimmie Tramel
Sports Writer
