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Oklahoma State basketball coach Travis Ford is growing tired of playing in front of sparse crowds at Gallagher-Iba Arena.
The Cowboys have attracted an average of 8,618 fans this season. Not a terrible number given their sub-.500 record, but it’s disappointing to see so many empty orange seats at a place considered one of the nation’s rowdiest 10 years ago.
Ford would like to bring that type of atmosphere back to Stillwater. So much that he began listing reasons why fans should want to watch OSU following a loss to No. 22 Kansas State on Saturday.
The No. 1 reason: OSU’s senior point guard.
“Come watch one of the greatest players to ever play at Oklahoma State, Keiton Page,” Ford said. “For what he has done for us and what he does night in and night out, there’s not a better player.”
An interesting argument. At 5-foot-9, Page is one of the most recognizable players in the Big 12. He has played in 120 games and averaged 11.4 points over four seasons. He is at 14.9 points this season, and his quickness and long-range shooting ability helps him impact possessions.
He has fans.
“Keiton Page is one of my favorite all-time players in my 27 years of basketball,” K-State coach Frank Martin said. “I said the other day he might be the smallest starter in the Big 12 by stature, but he’s got the biggest heart — by far — of any kid I’ve seen in the Big 12. He keeps coming at you. He never gets rattled.”
That much was clear on Saturday, when, in the middle of a 4-of-17 shooting performance, he had the confidence to make a deep three-pointer that gave OSU a real shot at winning.
But he also has critics.
Page’s style is based on energy and grit more than talent. Nothing he does comes easy. As a role player next to James Anderson and other scorers, he exceeded expectations. As the main scorer on a rebuilding team, he takes the blame for OSU’s struggles.
He doesn’t have many games left. But there’s no telling how that will affect attendance at home games the rest of the way. Fair or not, Ford thinks Cowboys fans are missing out.
“I just don’t grasp why he doesn’t get the respect he deserves out there on the court, and I’m sick of it,” Ford said. “Everybody is just all over him. This kid is giving it everything he has got, and he can’t even walk the next day. I just don’t think he gets the respect that he deserves on that court. I don’t get it.”
Flex time
Monday’s game between No. 5 Kansas and struggling Texas A&M at Allen Fieldhouse was a perfect example of why the Big 12 — and college basketball in general — could use some form of “flex” scheduling for its marquee games. In the preseason, the Jayhawks and Aggies seemed like a must-see game. It turned out to be a matchup mismatch between a top-five team and one fortunate to make the NIT. Hardly deserving of the Big Monday time slot. Sometimes TV matchups are perfectly picked several months ahead, but in this case, ESPN would’ve looked at other Big 12 options had it been given two weeks, as in football.
Poor rebounders
The craziest thing about Baylor’s poor rebounding during losses to Kansas and Missouri last week is that six Bears stand 6-foot-7 taller. Despite being one of the tallest teams in the Big 12, Baylor has hit the glass like munchkins in big games. It snared 21 boards against Kansas and 24 against Missouri. That’s a problem that goes back to toughness. The Bears need to find some strength down low before playing the Jayhawks and Tigers in return games.
McGee on the rise
Tyrus McGee proved last week that Iowa State’s surprising 4-2 start to conference play is about more than the surprising Royce White. McGee paced the Cyclones in wins over Oklahoma State and Texas Tech by scoring 37 combined points. The junior-college transfer has made an immediate impact.
“Tyrus is playing with a lot of confidence,” Iowa State coach Fred Hoiberg said Saturday. “He has a lot of rhythm in his shot. He hit shots in the first half that many guys weren’t.”
Power rankings (before Monday’s game)
1. Kansas (17-3, 7-0) : Tyshawn Taylor is showing consistency
2. Missouri (18-1, 5-1): Showed toughness against Baylor
3. Baylor (17-2, 4-2): Showed lack of toughness against KU, Missouri
4. Iowa State (14-5, 4-2): Too early to talk NCAA Tournament?
5. Kansas State (14-4, 3-3): Already putting slow start behind it
6. Texas (12-7, 2-4): That close to being 4-2
7. Texas A&M (11-8, 2-5): Most disappointing team
8. Oklahoma State (9-10, 2-4): Too many struggles on offense
9. Oklahoma (12-6, 2-4): Improving under Lon Kruger
10. Texas Tech (7-11, 0-6): Will enjoy playing TCU twice next year
