Tulsa World: Byron Eaton: Big Dance dreams

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Byron Eaton: Big Dance dreams

Byron Eaton, shown during last season's Big 12 Tournament, had a breakthrough late last season. Stephen Pingry/Tulsa World

By JIMMIE TRAMEL World Sports Writer
Published: 11/2/2008 4:12 AM
Last Modified: 11/2/2008 5:06 AM

Byron Eaton is the first McDonald's All-America basketball player to come to Oklahoma State directly from high school. He was regarded as perhaps the nation's top point guard prospect when he was a senior at Lincoln High School in Dallas.

Weight-related issues and inexperienced supporting casts were factors in Eaton failing to lead the Cowboys to an NCAA Tournament appearance in his first three seasons, but he had a breakthrough stretch of games late last season and guided his team to a five-game winning streak, including a victory over eventual national champion Kansas.

During the Big 12's preseason basketball preview, KU coach Bill Self was asked if there was a point last season when Eaton was playing as well as anyone in the league. Said Self, "I thought that for one 40-minute period when he played Kansas. That's for sure, because he kicked us pretty good when we played at Oklahoma State last year."

How is Byron Eaton different now from the Byron Eaton of the past three seasons?

The main thing is I have grown up a lot more and I understand it's my last shot to get where I want to be. I understand things a lot more. I have been watching a lot of other guards to see what they do differently and how they do it. I have been watching Chris Paul and Deron Williams, seeing how they come off pick-and-rolls and the things that they do. Mainly it's just growing up, and I understand the game a lot more than I did when I was a freshman and sophomore and junior.

Your new coach, Travis Ford, believes you are an NBA player if you keep your weight down. What do you think?

I believe so, too. There are not going to be too many guys that can stay in front of me.

What happened during your hot stretch late last season when you were playing as well as anyone in the Big 12?

Just understanding ball screens a lot more, how to come off of it. I wasn't playing so great early on. People were slacking off of me. I just started playing and having fun. I started having a lot more fun, and that's the main thing. That's what I need to do throughout the whole year.

What is your desire level for reaching the NCAA Tournament this season?

That was one of the main things. I haven't ever been. That's one thing I haven't experienced. My cousin (a former college player) told me that something every college player should be able to experience is to go to the tournament. I want to get Oklahoma State back to where it was, at the top of where they used to be. Like Coach Ford said, we've got to get Oklahoma State back to where they used to be.

What is your gut feeling or mind-set about this team?

I have a feeling that we are going to be great. The only way we are going to do that is we all have to buy in. Not 10 of us or 11 of us. All 14 of us are going to have to buy in to what Coach Ford is saying and what he wants us to do.

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

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