Post-Williams, do Cowboys stay big or go small?
Published: 2/9/2011 12:36 PM
Last Modified: 2/9/2011 12:36 PM
Oklahoma State will play the final seven games of the regular season without Darrell Williams, whose preliminary hearing will be held two days before the start of the Big 12 Tournament.
What are the Cowboys’ personnel options as they try to finish strong and clinch an NCAA Tournament invitation?
1, Plug in Matt Pilgrim.
Pilgrim and Williams have been interchangeable post players in the starting lineup. Williams started the first seven games of the season. Pilgrim started the next 11. Williams started the next five.
Pilgrim played his best ball over the final seven games (including postseason contests) of last season, averaging 10.3 points and 4.8 rebounds. He is averaging 4.8 points and 4.6 rebounds this season.
“The last two or three games, Matt has picked up his efficiency, so obviously that’s one of the reasons our team has gotten better,” assistant coach Chris Ferguson said. “He has got to keep doing that and be consistent. Obviously Matt brings a lot to the table -- rebounding, athleticism, defensively. He may not be a great scorer, but he can contribute in a lot of different ways.”
The good news is OSU is sort of used to playing without Williams, never mind his recent streak of double-doubles. He has fouled out of five games and was one foul shy of being disqualified in four additional games, which explains why he is averaging only 21 minutes of court time.
2, Play small-ball, again.
During Travis Ford’s first two seasons, OSU employed one post player and four guards.
The Cowboys are using a more conventional lineup this season, but there was chatter even before Williams’ exile that Ford might tinker with moving 6-foot-5 guard Jean-Paul Olukemi to the four position.
This is an ideal time to experiment because OSU has a week to prepare for a Saturday game at Nebraska.
But if Olukemi switches to the four spot, who joins Keiton Page and Markel Brown in the backcourt? Ray Penn and Nick Sidorakis have starting experience.
Regardless of how the rotation changes, OSU needs Marshall Moses to return to early season form. Defenses are trying to limit the senior post player’s production. He was held to single-digit point totals in three of the last five games.
--Jimmie Tramel.
Written by
Jimmie Tramel
Sports Writer
