Tulsa World: Upgrade in rebounding

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Upgrade in rebounding
Area is a strength so far for Cowboys.

OSU's James Anderson shoots against Southern at Gallagher-Iba Arena, Wednesday, Nov. 18, 2009. STEPHEN HOLMAN / Tulsa World

By JIMMIE TRAMEL World Sports Writer
Published: 11/21/2009 2:20 AM
Last Modified: 11/21/2009 7:16 AM

STILLWATER — Oklahoma State basketball players James Anderson and Marshall Moses are averaging at least 12 rebounds each per game.

Matt Pilgrim averaged 12.5 rebounds in exhibitions.

Obi Muonelo led the Cowboys in rebounding last season and is the Big 12's fourth-leading returning rebounder.

Understand why OSU coach Travis Ford believes that rebounding could all of a sudden be a team strength?

The Cowboys started four guards last season and Ford said his team "just tried to hang in there" in the rebound department. OSU was eighth in the Big 12 and 238th nationally in rebound margin.

"Our goal last year wasn't to lead the league in rebounding," Ford said. "Our goal was to be competitive, try to make it as equal as possible and not get killed on the glass as we've done on a couple of occasions."

But Ford raised the bar this season. He challenged individuals to reach rebounding goals and he wants the Cowboys to be among the Big 12's best rebounding squads.

"We hope it can be an identity of our team because of the makeup of our team," he said. "We are more athletic and we are a little bit bigger and stronger. We hope that, at any given time, we can have four guys out there that are big-time rebounders if James, Obi, Marshall and Matt are there together."

The Cowboys will get a chance to show how far they have progressed as glass-cleaners during a 1 p.m. Saturday home game against North Texas.

OSU was embarrassed on the boards in a 100-88 victory over North Texas last season. UNT grabbed a season-high 57 rebounds, most by an opponent in the Ford era. The Mean Green converted 24 offensive rebounds into 33 second-chance points.

OSU is 16-2 when outrebounding opponents and 9-10 otherwise under Ford. The Cowboys' three-biggest rebounding deficits during that span? Minus-20 in a home loss to Oklahoma. Minus-20 in an NCAA Tournament loss to Pitt. And minus-14 against North Texas.

UNT junior forward George Odufuwa, a 6-foot-8 Arizona State transfer, collected 13 rebounds at Gallagher-Iba Arena last season. He's averaging 17.5 rebounds this season and snared a career-best 24 in an opener against Cameron.

No OSU player has averaged a double-double in points and rebounds since Bryant Reeves did it in 1992-93. Two Cowboys

e_SEmD

Anderson and Moses

e_SEmD

are averaging double-doubles now because they made rebounding a bigger priority.

Anderson, Moses and Muonelo got double-doubles in a season opener against Seattle University, giving the Cowboys three point-rebound double-doubles in a game for the first time since Fred Jonzen, Andre Williams and Maurice Baker did it in a 2001 victory over Texas A&M.

Jimmie Tramel 581-8389
jimmie.tramel@tulsaworld.com By JIMMIE TRAMEL World Sports Writer

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Phil in OKC, OklahomA cITY (11/21/2009 10:33:25 AM)

I am really looking forward to watching this team mature. After the Syracuse masacre of #4 NC, anything is possible this year.

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