OSU hoops: Mystery player and league schedule
Published: 8/4/2011 8:02 PM
Last Modified: 8/4/2011 8:02 PM
Is a mystery basketball player bound for Oklahoma State?
I hadn’t given much thought to college basketball since the temperature was a lot cooler, so I needed my memory refreshed on how many newcomers OSU had signed. “Three, right?” I asked Travis Ford the other day.
And this was Ford’s response: “Three, right now.” He smiled when he said it.
Read between the lines and it could mean that Ford -- who hasn’t maxed out on scholarships -- could sneak in some last-minute help.
Who is the mystery man? We’ll know more later, perhaps.
In the meanwhile, the Big 12 released its 18-game, round-robin conference basketball schedule Thursday. Some observations:
--OSU opens league play at home against Texas Tech, led by new head coach Billy Gillispie. This seems normal. It will be the fourth time since 2004 that the Cowboys faced the Red Raiders in a league opener.
--OSU’s first road trip will be to Texas. The Longhorns give the Cowboys more trouble than any Big 12 opponent. The Horns have won 10 of 12 meetings since the famous Kevin Durant-Mario Boggan triple-overtime duel.
--Three of the first five games are on the road. All things being equal, three of the final five games are at home.
--Guys trying to beat deadline (and fans who like to get home at a decent hour) should love the schedule. As of now, only three OSU league games will tip off after 7 p.m. There are two TBAs. Cross your fingers regarding the TBAs.
--OSU plays at Texas Tech on a Tuesday. That’s not normal. The Cowboys played Saturday games in Lubbock seven of the previous eight years. I have a good reason for knowing this, but you wouldn't be interested in hearing the reason unless you are my belly.
--For fans who enjoy Saturday home games, there are four of them. All things being equal, there are also four Saturday road games.
--Brace for a heavy dose of Kansas at the end of the season. OSU closes with a home game against Kansas and a road game against Kansas State. The Cowboys face the Jayhawks twice in the final seven games.
--Bedlams are spaced out nicely. Bedlam I occurs in the third game of the conference season and Bedlam II is scheduled four games from the end of the regular season.
--Is there a particularly difficult stretch? Honestly, the whole thing looks difficult. Dare you to find many guaranteed wins for OSU or anybody else in a grueling new Big 12 that replaced games against Colorado and Nebraska with double doses of every remaining school.
OSU’s Big 12 schedule
Wednesday, Jan. 4 vs. Texas Tech TBA
Saturday, Jan 7 at Texas TBA
Monday, Jan. 9 vs. Oklahoma 6 p.m.
Saturday, Jan. 14 at Baylor 2 p.m.
Wednesday, Jan. 18 at Iowa State 8 p.m.
Saturday, Jan. 21 vs. Kansas State 12:30 p.m.
Wednesday, Jan. 25 vs. Missouri 6:30 p.m.
Saturday, Jan. 28 at Texas A&M 3 p.m.
Tuesday, Jan. 31 at Texas Tech 7 p.m.
Saturday, Feb. 4 vs. Baylor 12:30 p.m.
Tuesday, Feb. 7 vs. Iowa State 6 p.m.
Saturday, Feb. 11 at Kansas 3 p.m.
Wednesday, Feb. 15 at Missouri 8 p.m.
Saturday, Feb. 18 vs. Texas 3 p.m.
Wednesday, Feb. 22 at Oklahoma 7 p.m.
Saturday, Feb. 25 vs. Texas A&M 1 p.m.
Monday, Feb. 27 vs. Kansas 8 p.m.
Saturday, March 3 at Kansas State 12:30 p.m.
Written by
Jimmie Tramel
Sports Writer
