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Ford's speedy ways become lifestyle

OSU's Terrel Harris attempts to shoot over Texas' Justin Mason during a game last season. Harris is back in the starting lineup for OSU this year. Stephen Pingry/Tulsa World file
 
By JIMMIE TRAMEL World Sports Writer
Published: 11/5/2008  2:11 AM
Last Modified: 11/5/2008  2:50 AM

 STILLWATER — New basketball coach Travis Ford is bringing a hurry-up style of play to Oklahoma State. Ford urges his players to go-go-go so often that it apparently impacts senior point guard Byron Eaton's tempo even when he's not at practice.

"Everything I do is at a fast pace," Eaton said during the Big 12's preseason media day. "If I'm just getting out of my bed going to the restroom at night, it's like I'm going to sprint because I am so used to sprinting in practice."

The Cowboys will test drive their new Speed Racer methodology for the first time Wednesday in an exhibition game against Rogers State.

Ford played for Rick Pitino at Kentucky and is bringing his rendition of Pitino ball to OSU. Last season, in Ford's final year as head coach at Massachusetts, the Minutemen ranked eighth nationally in scoring and 13th in 3-pointers per game.

"It's the way I like to play," said OSU's Obi Muonelo.

But one thing the Cowboys aren't doing at warp speed is adjusting. Ford said first years in a new system are never easy. He is striving to be patient and positive, which is difficult because he wants things to happen quickly. He has emphasized speeding up so much that X's and O's took a back seat.

But enough coaches were curious about the new system that Ford said 200 showed up to see "controlled chaos" at an OSU clinic.

Scouting report: Rogers State returns four starters from a 20-11 season and is ranked 20th in an NAIA preseason coaches' poll. The Hillcats have six Division I transfers and played OSU within 62-53 at Gallagher-Iba Arena last season.

In an exhibition debut under new coach Lloyd Williams, RSU beat Barclay College 104-38. Former OSU staffer Wren Baker was the Hillcats' head coach and athletic director last season, but relinquished coaching duties.

Getting chatty: James Anderson scored the second-most points (438) by a freshman in OSU history last season. Richard Dumas accumulated 521 as a freshman during the 1987-88 season.

How is Anderson different this year? "He's not in his little shell anymore. He kind of talks now," said senior guard Terrel Harris.

Who got Anderson to open up? "I did," Harris said. "I opened him up like a clam."

Ready to go?: Is Ford battling butterflies before his debut? "You can call them butterflies or you can call them whatever," he said before a Tuesday practice. "I am anxious. Like any coach, I worry about every single thing."

Ford said he is a little more nervous about this game "because we're not ready."



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

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Big K, (11/5/2008 10:47:41 AM)
Coach Ford,
Thanks for the heads up that we are going to suck this year it might make things a little easier to swallow. I just hope you can get enough fans in Gallagher-Iba to drown out the noise of Iba rolling around in his grave every time you walk out on the floor.
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Bullnose, Jay (11/5/2008 8:17:49 PM)
Big K, dude, give him and the team a chance.
 

 
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