Fresh-faced team prepares for exhibition game, new season

When Travis Ford met Keiton Page he didn’t expect anything from him but a cup of water.

On Saturday, little more than a year after being mistaken for a waterboy by his coach, Page will be the starting point guard in their first exhibition game of the season against the University of Central Oklahoma.

It will be the first game since OSU’s 84-76 loss to Pitt in the NCAA tournament last March. The Cowboys ended the season with a record of 23-12.

The game is the first of two exhibition games OSU will play as the team prepares for its second season under Ford.

Ford said the Cowboys have been working hard in the preseason but a combination of sickness, injuries and inexperience has made things difficult.

“Compared to a year ago, it’s completely different,” Ford said. “They’re very much behind on knowing the plays. We’re not ready.”
Page will help lead a Cowboys team that is the youngest in the Big 12 with seven newcomers, including six freshmen.

The sophomore guard said being a first-year player in Ford’s system can be a daunting task.

“They’re going through everything right now,” Page said. “Getting coach Ford’s offense down; his defense down. Press breakers, press defense. They’re learning what he likes and doesn’t like. It’s tough.”

Although Page will start the season at point guard, Ford said he would rather have him at shooting guard but freshmen Ray Penn and Fred Gulley aren’t ready to start yet at the point.

In the post, junior forward Marshall Moses will have to get used to playing with junior college transfer Matt Pilgrim.

Ford said not being the only true post player has been a tough transition for Moses but his cooperation with Pilgrim will be essential to the team.
“I don’t think it will be a problem,” Moses said. “He can play, I can play. You can put me on a team with anybody and I’ll play with them. It’s only going to help our team.”

Despite all of the changes and the slow start to the preseason so far, Ford said he is ready to see his team in action for the first time.

“I look at these games as experiments,” he said. “Winning and losing for me at this point is not even important. We just need to see where we’re at.”
 

1 comments

Elaine

Tue Nov 10 2009 21:33

Keiton's love of the game along with his skill and knowledge makes him a very important part of the OSU team.. His dad and mom along with his older brother have been great role model's for him and have helped him to become an outstanding young man. We are very Proud of him...GO OSU....

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