Tulsa World: OSU post player doesn't make trip

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OSU post player doesn't make trip
Sources say Ibrahima Thomas left team Tuesday.

By JIMMIE TRAMEL World Sports Writer
Published: 12/4/2008 2:27 AM
Last Modified: 12/4/2008 3:48 AM

Because of Ibrahima Thomas' absence, Oklahoma State will be shorthanded and just plain short for a Thursday game at Washington, which leads the nation in rebounding margin.

Thomas, a 6-foot-11 starting post player, did not accompany the Cowboys to Seattle.

Sources close to the OSU basketball program indicated Thomas left the team Tuesday. Coach Travis Ford, asked Wednesday for a statement about Thomas' status, said only that he didn't elect to bring the player to Seattle, according to a sports information spokesperson.

Ford indicated senior forward Anthony Brown will start in Thomas' place. That means OSU, which uses a four-guard lineup, won't have a starter taller than 6-6 in the Big 12/Pac-10 Hardwood Series game.

The Cowboys will be matched against Washington 6-7 senior forward Jon Brockman who led the nation in rebounding last season. Brockman is averaging a double-double (17.2 points, 11.5 rebounds).

Thomas, who averages 8.3 points and 3.9 rebounds, was OSU's only eligible scholarship player over 6-8 until 6-11 freshman Teeng Akol received word Monday that he had been declared academically eligible by the NCAA.

Akol practiced for the first time Monday and is not yet in game shape. He also is learning Ford's system.

Ford said Monday he doesn't expect Akol to play Thursday, but OSU has some time to iron out frontcourt issues before playing its next game, Dec. 14 at Texas A&M-Corpus Christi.

Thomas started 27 games as a freshman last season,

when he averaged 6.0 points and 4.1 rebounds.

Thomas' pecking order in the offense remained virtually the same (he is sixth among OSU players in field goal attempts, just like last season) despite a regime change. But he is averaging more field goal attempts (7.0, up from 4.7) and more minutes per game (20.6, up from 17.4) than last season.

Thomas' court appearances have been abbreviated by foul trouble. He fouled out of one game and picked up four fouls in two other games at the Old Spice Classic in Orlando last week.

Minus Thomas (and with point guard Byron Eaton in a shooting slump), OSU will try to win a nonleague road game for the first time since Jan. 3, 2006, at Pepperdine.

After OSU beat Washington by 25 in Stillwater last season, Huskies coach Lorenzo Romar pointed out that his team fares much better at home. The Huskies are 32-9 at home and 6-24 on the road over the past three seasons.

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

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