Travis Ford's system takes a little while to implement, he said. Looking at his most recent stop, UMass, the first year he couldn't run as much as he wanted because he had to play two big men. By year three — this last year — his system was perfectly in place.
"With about eight minutes to go in every game we played, we were the team that looked like they were having the most fun and the other team was ready for the game to be over with,” Ford said. "That's how I like to play.”
Which brings us to Ford's system and the current Cowboys. How long will it take to implement Ford's frenetic pace, the multiple defenses, pressing and trapping? (Note to fans: remember not to call it run-and-gun. And another thing: If you think OSU shot too many 3s last season, prepare yourself. The Cowboys took 708 3-point attempts last season. Ford's Minutemen took 929 in three more games).
Former coach Sean Sutton talked about going to a faster offensive pace and pressing more last season.
Thanks largely to the point guard situation — recall that Obi Muonelo was often running the point early last season, and Byron Eaton was wildly inconsistent early on — OSU was constantly turning the ball over and taking bad shots. So Sutton reeled the Cowboys back in and by late December, OSU's offense was largely called plays — still lots of 3-pointers, but a slower, more deliberate pace.
Defensively, we didn't really see the press much until late in the Big 12 season, where it frustrated teams during that great five-game stretch.
When Ford looked at OSU's stats — late last week he hadn't watched film yet, but I'd bet he has by today — he saw the same opportunity Sutton saw before last season. He saw a bunch of good shooters and some great athletes who should be able to get out and run.
Just like last season, success will once again likely be determined by Eaton. The senior is going to have to keep the weight off this summer and be ready to run like crazy, because this is a system where point guard play is vital. It's nearly impossible to push the ball if the guy with the ball in his hands doesn't make good decisions. The second half of last season should give OSU fans faith that he can pull it off.
The new system should be music to the ears of incoming freshman Keiton Page. The system requires a backup point guard who plays some serious minutes, and a great 3-point shooter like Page will get his looks.
It should be similarly exciting to sophomore-to-be Ibrahima Thomas, a tall, skinny 7-footer who can get up and down the floor and loves to shoot the 3.
Terrel Harris, arguably the best athlete on the team, and James Anderson, the best shooter on the team, will be puzzle pieces as well. Muonelo has always liked to run and launch quick shots, so he should fit right in as well.
And if it takes awhile to completely play the way he wants, Ford says he's OK with that, too.
"I like to adapt my style to the personnel, so I'm anxious to get started with these players,” Ford said.
