12-10-2004, 05:03 PM
At least it wasn't the Alabama-Birmingham Dragons...
Cowboys look to 'run' past UAB Dragons
By Chris Leonard Daily O'Collegian
Stillwater, OK (U-WIRE) -- No. 5 Oklahoma State will attempt to get its seventh straight victory today when they hook up with the University of Alabama-Birmingham in Gallagher-Iba Arena at 9 p.m., for a game that looks to display lots of pressing, running and scoring.
The Blazers, who come in to the game with a 4-0 record, play an upbeat, full-press style of basketball that looks to ware down the opposition physically and make steals for easy buckets.
"We're going to have to execute our press offense," said Cowboy assistant coach Jimmy Williams. "We work on this almost everyday in practice. We haven't played anyone that presses like UAB, but we work on that stuff every day, and we feel our guys are going to be well prepared for it. The ease that they put in their press is just tremendous."
Senior forward Terrence Crawford said patience will be key against the vicious Blazer press.
Sports Illustrated
"We've got to go out, play our game and... not get in a rush whenever they come out pressing," Crawford said. "They like to speed the game, but we can't let them.
"When they press, we have to be patient. We just have to pick our spots."
All of the pressing the Blazers implement leads to large amounts of steals, a category UAB leads the nation in at 13.5 steals a game.
"They're really a very, very resourceful team at what they do," Williams said. "They really work hard. We're going to have to take care of the basketball because they've got quick hands. They get a lot of deflections. A lot of the time, they don't get the steal, but they'll knock the ball loose and cause problems that way."
OSU is coming off of a 74-70 victory over No. 4 Syracuse Tuesday in the Jimmy V Classic at Madison Square Garden in New York City. The 14-point victory was a display of a slow-paced game with two teams playing gritty, stingy defense.
Now, the Cowboys have to make a quick transition for possibly the fastest-paced game they will play all year. "We like to run, so we are going to be ready for running," said senior forward Ivan McFarlin. "And if they play zone, we'll do a lot of different things. We've just got to be ready for them to go at us."
Williams said OSU is well-suited for the quick change in styles of play.
"I think our guys like playing in this type of game," Williams said. "It's going to be an up and down game. They are going to press us, and I think our guys look forward to that. I think our guys are going to handle this pretty well.
"We have good athletes, we have good team speed. Its going to be a different kind of game then what we've played thus far. But I think our players are looking forward to it."
Most OSU fans are already aware of twin brothers Stephen and Joey Graham, who have made a big impact this season, contributing a combined 26.0 points and 11.0 rebounds a game thus far this season.
UAB, however, also has a pair of phenomenal twins. Senior guards Donnell Taylor and Ronell Taylor have combined to average 25.8 points and 8.1 rebounds in the first four games of their season.
"Donnell Taylor, he's their leading scorer, one of their best all-around players," Williams said. "He can shoot the three, he can drive the ball. He's very, very athletic. Very quick with the ball in transition, and he's going to be a handful. And he has a brother, a twin brother who also starts at one of the wing positions; he's a very good player."
The Taylor brothers helped UAB upset No. 1 seed Kentucky and advance to the Sweet Sixteen in last year's NCAA tournament, and Williams says the Blazer's are quite capable of being just as good this year.
"They've got good balance," Williams said. "Their starting five is very athletic. They've got three or four guys that come off the bench that are quality players as well.
"I think out of the teams we have played, this is the best team other than Syracuse."
OSU, meanwhile, is coming off a big win Tuesday night. Even with a high amount of emotion spent in the Tuesday's victory, Williams said he does not expect a letdown tonight.
"I don't think so," Williams said. "I think our kids are going to give UAB the respect they deserve.
"We think this is a quality opponent, and we're looking forward to the game."
© 2004 Daily O'Collegian via U-WIRE <a href='http://www.collegesports.com/sports/m-baskbl/uwire/121004aay.html' target='_blank'>link</a>
Cowboys look to 'run' past UAB Dragons
By Chris Leonard Daily O'Collegian
Stillwater, OK (U-WIRE) -- No. 5 Oklahoma State will attempt to get its seventh straight victory today when they hook up with the University of Alabama-Birmingham in Gallagher-Iba Arena at 9 p.m., for a game that looks to display lots of pressing, running and scoring.
The Blazers, who come in to the game with a 4-0 record, play an upbeat, full-press style of basketball that looks to ware down the opposition physically and make steals for easy buckets.
"We're going to have to execute our press offense," said Cowboy assistant coach Jimmy Williams. "We work on this almost everyday in practice. We haven't played anyone that presses like UAB, but we work on that stuff every day, and we feel our guys are going to be well prepared for it. The ease that they put in their press is just tremendous."
Senior forward Terrence Crawford said patience will be key against the vicious Blazer press.
Sports Illustrated
"We've got to go out, play our game and... not get in a rush whenever they come out pressing," Crawford said. "They like to speed the game, but we can't let them.
"When they press, we have to be patient. We just have to pick our spots."
All of the pressing the Blazers implement leads to large amounts of steals, a category UAB leads the nation in at 13.5 steals a game.
"They're really a very, very resourceful team at what they do," Williams said. "They really work hard. We're going to have to take care of the basketball because they've got quick hands. They get a lot of deflections. A lot of the time, they don't get the steal, but they'll knock the ball loose and cause problems that way."
OSU is coming off of a 74-70 victory over No. 4 Syracuse Tuesday in the Jimmy V Classic at Madison Square Garden in New York City. The 14-point victory was a display of a slow-paced game with two teams playing gritty, stingy defense.
Now, the Cowboys have to make a quick transition for possibly the fastest-paced game they will play all year. "We like to run, so we are going to be ready for running," said senior forward Ivan McFarlin. "And if they play zone, we'll do a lot of different things. We've just got to be ready for them to go at us."
Williams said OSU is well-suited for the quick change in styles of play.
"I think our guys like playing in this type of game," Williams said. "It's going to be an up and down game. They are going to press us, and I think our guys look forward to that. I think our guys are going to handle this pretty well.
"We have good athletes, we have good team speed. Its going to be a different kind of game then what we've played thus far. But I think our players are looking forward to it."
Most OSU fans are already aware of twin brothers Stephen and Joey Graham, who have made a big impact this season, contributing a combined 26.0 points and 11.0 rebounds a game thus far this season.
UAB, however, also has a pair of phenomenal twins. Senior guards Donnell Taylor and Ronell Taylor have combined to average 25.8 points and 8.1 rebounds in the first four games of their season.
"Donnell Taylor, he's their leading scorer, one of their best all-around players," Williams said. "He can shoot the three, he can drive the ball. He's very, very athletic. Very quick with the ball in transition, and he's going to be a handful. And he has a brother, a twin brother who also starts at one of the wing positions; he's a very good player."
The Taylor brothers helped UAB upset No. 1 seed Kentucky and advance to the Sweet Sixteen in last year's NCAA tournament, and Williams says the Blazer's are quite capable of being just as good this year.
"They've got good balance," Williams said. "Their starting five is very athletic. They've got three or four guys that come off the bench that are quality players as well.
"I think out of the teams we have played, this is the best team other than Syracuse."
OSU, meanwhile, is coming off a big win Tuesday night. Even with a high amount of emotion spent in the Tuesday's victory, Williams said he does not expect a letdown tonight.
"I don't think so," Williams said. "I think our kids are going to give UAB the respect they deserve.
"We think this is a quality opponent, and we're looking forward to the game."
© 2004 Daily O'Collegian via U-WIRE <a href='http://www.collegesports.com/sports/m-baskbl/uwire/121004aay.html' target='_blank'>link</a>