OSU thumped Tech in Gallagher-Iba today to move to 2-2 in conference and 12-4 overall. The game wasn’t all that exciting but I have a bevy of videos, tweets, and thoughts to liven it up for you.
1. On Smart’s foul trouble in the past few games: what are the odds that I (or someone associated with me) have given money to members of the Big 12′s officiating group to get Smart out of these games so NBA GMs don’t get a good look at him? I mean, pretty absurd, but definitely not off the table, right?
2. This is, um, this is an issue. And I agree with Morris.
#OKState‘s half-court offense is solid until the entry pass is made into the block. Entire team stops and watches. Have to keep moving.
— Brendon Morris (@brendon_wm) January 19, 2013
3. Pretty subtle move by ESPN to show Keiton right after they did a 30-second promo for Hinkle Fieldhouse. #ollie.
4. A few things on Forte: I think he’s the third best player on this team right now, and I’m not even sure it’s that close. Obviously everyone is in love with his shot but he does so many little things as well.
Prime example: Marcus Smart had a fast-break layup in the second half which, being Marcus Smart, he’s going to make 999 times out of 1,000. Still, there was Forte sprinting to the other end in case he missed…which he did. Forte grabbed the board and got fouled. You can’t teach that stuff……………especially if you’re Travis Ford.
5. In conference play Le’Bryan Nash has 17 FG and 14 TO.
6. One of my favorite moments of the game was Smart on the bench after he picked up his second foul. He ran down the line and high fived every player, coach, and manager (and there are a lot of them). I think that’s that “bench leadership” Dave Armstrong and Reid Gettys were talking about last week.
7. My other favorite moment of the game was Cobbins shaking Forte’s hand for an absurd amount of time (video below)…
8. Franny had some jewels today but my favorite was “OSU is sneaky long.” How — and remember I am not a basketball analyst, nor do I fancy myself one — does one become “sneaky long”? Is this an Inspector Gadget reference? Does he mean OSU’s players have grown since the last time he saw them? Is there an “overtly long”? I have so many questions, Fran, SO MANY QUESTIONS!
9. Why doesn’t Phil Forte start right now? Now, I obviously know the answer to this question, but the fact that you also know the answer to this question should tell you a lot about Travis Ford, Le’Bryan Nash, and the state of OSU’s basketball program.
10. Totally agree with this, now let’s see it against a top 25 team.
Eight points and nine boards for Mike Cobbins. Six points and 11 boards from Phil Jurick. #OKstate got what it needed from the bigs.
— Anthony Slater (@anthonyVslater) January 19, 2013
11 (bonus). Here’s one of Texas Tech guards summing up their day in one word:
Baylor at 4:30 (?!) on Monday. ESPN.
Cobbins to Forte – hilarious!
Dusty Hannahs (Tech point guard) – I thought I was watching The Wonder Years for a sec!
OSU’s half court offense is never solid.
Forte is a great player and should probably be stating, but Smart is AMAZING. Best true freshman I’ve seen at OSU. Seeing Coach Sutton in the stands I couldn’t help but wonder how he would coach Smart and Forte. Would we know how good they are under Eddie? Coach always had a quick hook, especially with Freshmen.
Start Forte? he’s a 2 guard. Our starting 2 guard is a freaking stud. Forte doesn’t start. But if you’re referring to the fact that he should start over Nash – if you go by effort, intensity, drive, etc – the comparison isn’t even close. But I don’t like the idea of Smart, Brown, Forte starting together. What i DO like the idea of is Smart, Brown, Williams, Cobbins, Jurick as a starting 5.
I think we all know the best lineup is Smart, Brown, Forte, Jurick, Cobbins, in no particular order. Murphy has skill but no confidence.
If they would design plays for Nash to get the ball in the post rather than on the perimiter, he would have so much more success. His first step is so slow, but he is way stronger than the guys usually guarding him. The problem he has when he does get the ball in the post is that Jurick or one of the other big men are standing right next to him. The floor spacing on this team is absolutely horrendous.