OSU hoops topics: Polls, Stanford and investigation
Published: 12/20/2010 5:29 PM
Last Modified: 12/20/2010 5:29 PM
For the first time, the Big 12 has six teams ranked in both major college basketball polls. And Oklahoma State, which has a 10-1 record but lacks attention-getting wins, is not one of them.
OSU is the only Big 12 South team that has never been ranked during Travis Ford’s three seasons. But the Cowboys got two votes in the most recent AP poll and four votes in the coaches’ poll.
Ford was asked before a Monday practice if being ranked is the last thing on his mind right now.
“We have a long way to go,” he said. “We are glad we have 10 wins right now.... We will take them. But we preach to our team every day the hardest is yet to come.”
Ford then segued into the next opponent, Stanford, which will visit Stillwater for a Big 12/Pac-10 Hardwood Series game Tuesday night.
“The more film I watch on Stanford, the more I get impressed," he said. "I’m very impressed with their basketball team and some of the pieces they have. It’s one of the hardest teams we have figured out how to guard. It’s an interesting team.”
Stanford is 6-3 -- 5-0 at home and 1-3 away from home, including an 83-50 loss at Butler in the only true road game thus far. The Cardinal lost to two teams (Tulsa, Murray State) the Cowboys beat. But comparative scores mean nothing and match-ups mean everything.
Ford seems concerned about matching up with Stanford’s size. Stanford’s starting lineup has a 14-inch height advantage on OSU’s starting lineup.
And what about the elephant in the room?
Two OSU players are possible suspects in a sexual assault investigation. The players have not been identified because no charges have been filed.
Ford is referring questions about the investigation to OSU director of communications Gary Shutt, who said in a written statement Friday that OSU is cooperating fully with the Stillwater police department.
Shutt also said no disciplinary action has been taken. Translate that to mean the Cowboys are taking a business as usual approach until it is determined whether charges are merited. Every healthy OSU player suited up for a Saturday victory over Alabama in the All-College Classic.
--Jimmie Tramel.
Written by
Jimmie Tramel
Sports Writer
