NBA Draft Prospects: James Anderson, Oklahoma State

Click here to find all of our 2010 NBA Draft prospect breakdowns.

Stats: 22.8 ppg, 5.8 rpg, 2.4 apg, 2.4 t/o's, 45.7% FG, 34.1% 3PT

Size:

• Listed: 6'6", 195 lb,
  
• Combine: 6'5 3/4" (with shoes), 208 lb, 6'8 1/2" (wingspan)

About Him: Heading into the season, the Big XII was loaded with top NBA Draft prospects and potential all-american candidates. Many people didn't pay attention to the sharpshooter in Stillwater in the preseason, and boy was that a mistake. Anderson made them look foolish, dropping over 22 a game while winning the conference player of the year award and putting himself firmly into first round contention.

Anderson's game center completely around his ability to shoot the ball. At just a shade under 6'6" in shoes, Anderson is tall enough that he can get his shot off against just about anyone, and if he is given space and time to get his feet set and his shoulders squared, he is automatic. His range extends out to about 30 feet (literally) and once he gets going, he is incredibly difficult to slow down. It seemed like once a week during this past season, Anderson would put up 20-25 points in one half. The 34.9% he shot from three as a junior his misleading, as many of those attempts came as forced, low-percentage threes from a player shouldering too much of the offensive load.

Oklahoma State ran Anderson off of screens on just about every possession in the half court. Downscreens, flair screens, staggered screens, ball screens. You name it, and the Cowboys did it to try and get Anderson a good look at the rim. Anderson isn't just a catch-and-shoot player, however. He's always been an effective shooter off the dribble and in the mid-range. He has a solid vertical, but he doesn't showcase it on pull-up jumpers, instead using his high-release point and a slight fade to create space.

As a slasher, he still has some room for improvement. He almost strictly goes left when he is taking the ball to the basket (according to Synergy Sports, 86% of his drives go to his left, and he is right-handed). He's a solid finisher around the rim, and he knows hw to draw fouls and get to the line. In general, when Anderson is putting the ball on the floor, he is doing so to score. He didn't have a great assist-to-turnover ratio (he averaged 2.4 assists and 2.4 turnovers), but given the need for Anderson to shoulder the scoring load and his incredibly high usage rate, this isn't necessarily a negative. In fact, 2.4 t/o's given his usage is a respectable amount.

The knock on Anderson is on the defensive end of the floor. He doesn't have overly impressive lateral quickness, he doesn't challenge jump shooters on the perimeter, he doesn't use his body or strength well defensively, and he got beat far too often by mediocre collegiate slashers. While some of this can be explained away by saying Anderson was saving his energy because of his workload on the offensive end, he's never been a great defender, which will be a cause for worry for NBA teams looking to draft him.

Comparison:

• Best Case Scenario: Somewhere between Richard Hamilton and Ray Allen. The may be a bit of a stretch for Anderson, but the way those two players read and run off of screens and their ability to score on the perimeter is very similar to the way Anderson was used in college. He likely will be less of a primary option than the two former Huskies. Marcus Thornton or Anthony Morrow may be a better comparison right now.
  
• Worst Case Scenario: A poor man's Quentin Richardson, or Q later in his career. A standstill shooter that is on the court to huck up some threes.
  

Outlook: Anderson probably won't be the focal point of an NBA offense, at least not early in his career. While there will undoubtedly be questions about his ability to defend on the perimeter, perhaps the bigger question will be can he adapt to being more of a floor-spacer, spot-up shooter? There's no questioning his shooting ability, but it will be interesting to see how if he can fit in as a role player. Putting him on a team with a penetrating point guard like a Steve Nash or a Jason Kidd could be scary.

Anderson was originally projected as a mid-first rounder, but his stock has been slipping due to some poor performances in workouts. The same thing happened to Thornton last year. Anderson is the kind of player that needs to be in a 5-on-5, organized setting to really be effective. Playing 2-on-2 or 3-on-3, where there is much more 1-on-1 stuff happening, is not the best way to showcase his talents. Teams likely will regret passing on Anderson. I don't necessarily see him as a futureall-star, but I don't think a few 15 ppg, 42%3 PT seasons are out of the question.

Highlights:









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The state of Oklahoma could lose quite a few players to the Draft

No matter the program, eventually early entry into the NBA Draft is going to catch up to you.

This week, its the Oklahoma schools catching the brunt of it.

First, Oklahoma State's James Anderson announced he was going pro. Its probably the correct decision for Anderson, this year's Big XII player of the year, to make. He's expected to go somewhere in the first round, maybe even as high as top 20, and is probably the second best shooting guard prospect on the board.

How good is Anderson going to be? Well, that's another question. There is no doubt he can score -- he averaged almost 23 ppg and anyone that saw him get hot an go for 25 in a half was likely convinced. Anderson's issue isn't the ability to score -- or, more specifically, shoot -- its the ability to get to the rim and to defend. Anderson goes almost exclusively left when he puts the ball on the floor, and he is a smooth, if not a bit underathletic, when getting to the rim. Defensively, he had a lot of question marks coming into this season, and he didn't exactly answer those.

Still, this is a relatively weak year for wing prospects, and Anderson is one of the best.

Everyone -- including Travis Ford -- probably expected Anderson to go pro at the end of the season. The same can't be said for some of Jeff Capel's guys.

Let's start with Tommy Mason-Griffin. TMG reportedly packed up his bags and left Oklahoma prior to Spring Break with no intention of returning to Norman, and it looks as if he is headed to the league. A 5'10" point that isn't overly athletic or quick, doesn't like being coached, can't get to or finish around the rim, and likes to shoot 30 footers doesn't exactly scream potential, which makes one wonder what exactly he is thinking?

TMG had a pretty nice set up at Oklahoma. If he had decided to come back, it would have been his team from the start of the season, and I'm willing to bet that the 14 point and 5 assist averages he posted could have been improved upon.

Why?

Because it seems very unlikely that either Willie Warren or Tiny Gallon will be returning. Reports surfaced late in the season that Gallon had received a bunch of money from an agent, and right before the NCAA Tournament started, new trickled out (from TMZ Sports, nonetheless) that it was actually $3,000 that he had given. Gallon had already said he was going to be returning to Norman for his sophomore season, but that was prior to the TMZ report coming out.

He may not have a choice anymore.

Warren seems all but a given to go. People were a bit inquisitive last year when he decided to return to school as he was projected to as high as a lottery pick. And this year, Warren did a whole lot of nothin', and, frankly, probably hurt his draft stock in the process. He was suspended early in the season by Jeff Capel -- apparently over leadership issues -- and spent the rest of his season battling inconsistency and focus before his season finally succumbed to a bum ankle and a bout of mono.

That said, Warren has quite a skill. He can score, he can shoot, he can finish with authority, and he can play either guard spot. If he can prove to scouts that he actually is not a head case, Warren should be a mid-first rounder.

Whatever happens, it looks like Jeff Capel will have his work cut out for him next season.
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2/22 - College Hoops Week in Review: Not all bubbles are bursting

What we learned this week: While most of the talk this week is going to be about teams playing themselves off of the bubble, it is worth noting that not everyone is doing so. Here are just a few of the teams playing themselves into the tournament:

• Oklahoma State Cowboys: As of today, the Pokes are probably going to be considered a tournament team as they went 2-0 this week and have three straight wins overall. The Pokes have three wins over RPI top 25 teams (at K-State, Texas A&M, Baylor) and nothing too disastrous in the loss column. The issue for OK-State is their remaining schedule - at Texas, Kansas, at Texas A&M, Nebraska. If they beat Nebraska and split against the Texas school, they should be in.

• Florida Gators: Prior to this week, the Gators had lost two straight games, falling at South Carolina before getting beat by Xavier at home. They rebounded this week with wins against Auburn and at Ole Miss, putting themselves in good position for the stretch run. Like the Pokes, Florida as a loaded schedule down the stretch - Tennessee, at Georgia, Vandy, at Kentucky. They probably need to win two of those games to feel comfortable heading into the SEC Tournament.


• Maryland Terrapins: The Terps probably should feel very good about their chances to earn a bid right now. They are 19-7 overall and 9-3 in the ACC, good for second place. With four games left on their schedule, Maryland should be ok so long as they don't lose out. Two wins, whether they come during the regular season or the ACC Tournament, will be enough for a bid. Maryland's biggest negative right now is a lack of great wins - none of their three top 50 wins are top 25.
  


• Louisville Cardinals: Louisville should have felt good about their chances to make the dance after beating Syracuse last Sunday. But with a lack of depth in their resume, the 'Ville needed to keep winning. While neither of them were pretty - they needed two OT's to beat Notre Dame without Harangody and only beat DePaul by nine - Louisville needed those wins as the last four games on their schedule are rough. If they can win two against Georgetown, at UConn, at Marquette, and Syracuse, they will get in. One win, and they are going to need to do some damage in the Big East tournament.


• UTEP Miners: UTEP is still a ways from an at-large bid, simply because they just don't have quality wins. They have just one top 50 win and have only played three top 50 games, which is part of the reason their RPI is so low. But the Miners have been on a tear lately, winning 10 straight games, including Saturday's W over Tulsa. UTEP can afford, at the most, just one more loss this season, although that could mean trouble if they also lose early in the C-USA tournament.


• UConn Huskies: UConn's win over Villanova put them in a good spot for getting a bid - win out, and you'll be in. Granted, that's easier said than done, but its necessary. There are five teams tied for eighth in the Big East at 6-8. After getting WVU and Louisville at home, UConn has to travel to Notre Dame and South Florida, two other 6-8 teams with the same winning-out-hopes that UConn has. If the Huskies win out and pick up a game in the Big East, they should be dancing.


• Marquette Golden Eagles: Marquette lost at Pitt on Thursday, which was costly but as you know there is no shame in losing at the Peterson Events Center. The Golden Eagles did pick up a huge bubble win over Cincinnati on the road on Sunday, however.


• Virginia Tech Hokies: Like Marquette, Virginia Tech lost a game on the road this week - to Duke - but it didn't hurt them. The game that mattered was Tech's win over Wake Forest, a win that put the Hokies into the tournament, at least for now.
  


• Minnesota Golden Gophers: With wins over Wisconsin and Indiana this week, Minnesota put themselves back into the conversation for a bid. They need to win out, as the Gophers overall resume lacks enough oomph up top with the losses the Gopher's have. That's not impossible, even with the roster issues Minnesota has had. A bit of team bonding - everyone shaving their head to support a teammate's sister that has cancer - could be the spark to a great finish to the season.


• San Diego State Aztecs: After beating TCU and Utah this week, the Aztecs are officially back in the thick of the bubble. But with just three games left - two bottom feeders in the MWC and at BYU - it is unlikely that SDSU will significantly improve their profile. A trip to the MWC finals will be needed if BYU wins.


• Utah State Aggies: The Aggies picked up two big wins this week, beating Louisiana Tech and Wichita State at home. USU has a very good RPI, and after dropping roadies to NMSU and La Tech to open WAC play, the Aggies have won 12 straight. If they don't win the WAC Tournament, it will be interesting to see where the Aggies end up. Their win over BYU will probably be very important.
  

GAME OF THE WEEK: Maryland 76, Georgia Tech 74

What a finish out in College Park on Saturday afternoon. After a sluggish start, especially on the defensive glass, Maryland seemingly took control against Tech towards the end of the first half and early in the second half. But as Greivis Vasquez struggled with his shot, the Yellow Jackets made a run, outscoring Maryland 12-2 over a four minutes stretch as the Terps simply couldn't get a stop to go up 65-60 with 4:59 left.

The Terps wouldn't go away, as Eric Hayes would score five straight points to give them a 71-68 leadwith 1:24 on the clock. Derrick Favors would answer with a tip-in 30 seconds later, setting up a furious final minute. After Dino Gregory missed a lay-up, Georgia Tech called a time out, isolating DeAndre Bell, who drove to the rim and scored. But at the other end, Vasquez drove down the middle and hit a floater to take the lead back at 73-72. The rest, well, I'll let youtube explain it:



Vasquez struggled a bit in this one, finished with 18 points, 8 assists, and 5 boards, but hitting just 5-16 from the floor. Derrick Favors made NBA scouts drool as he went for 21 points and 18 boards, nine offensive.

Maryland is now in second place in the ACC, but they have a fatal flaw - a lack of an interior presence. A week after Brian Zoubek torched them inside, Favors overmatched Jordan Williams and Gregory (who, to their credit, put up an admirable fight).


PLAYER OF THE WEEK: James Anderson, Oklahoma State

Anderson may end up winning Big XII player of the year this year, and performances like the one he had against Baylor on Saturday is why. Anderson went for 31 points and 12 boards, his third double-double of the season, as the Pokes knocked off Baylor at home to solidify, for now, an at-large berth.

James Anderson had 31 and 12 in a win over Baylor.
(photo credit: Austin American-Statesmen)

Anderson also had 20 points and 8 boards on Wednesday against Iowa State. For the week, he averaged 26.5 ppg, 10.0 rpg, and shot 50% from the floor and 9-15 from three. If OK State is to make the tournament, they are going to need more of those performances from Anderson. Their next three games are at Texas, home against Kansas, and at Texas A&M.

They were good too

• Greivis Vasquez, Maryland: Vasquez was fantastic in three games this week as the Terps went undefeated and remained just a game back in the loss column from Duke. In wins over Georgia Tech, Virginia, and NC State, Vasquez averaged 24.7 ppg, 5.7 rpg, and 6.3 apg. He may have had his best game of the season against UVa on Monday, going for 30 points, 8 boards, and 5 assists with no turnovers and 12-19 shooting.
• Randy Culpepper, UTEP: Fresh off of a 45 point game last Saturday, Culpepper went for 29 points as the Miners extended their winning streak to 10 games with a win at Tulsa. UTEP has an easy finish to the C-USA season, and are firmly in the driver's seat as we hit the stretch run in C-USA.
• Ali Faroukmanesh, Northern Iowa: With Jordan Eglseder suspended, someone was going to have to step up for UNI if they were to beat Creighton and Old Dominion, and Faroukmanesh was that guy. He had 17 in the win over Creighton, then dropped 23 on Friday night as the Panthers knocked off Old Dominion.
• Kemba Walker, UConn: Kemba averaged 22.5 ppg and 6.5 rpg as the Huskies went 2-0 this week, keeping their tourney hopes alive. The big win came Monday night, as UConn went into Philly and knocked off Villanova. Walker had 29 points and 9 boards in that game, outplaying everyone in Nova's vaunted backcourt.

TEAM OF THE WEEK: Purdue Boilermakers

The Boilermakers extended their winning streak to nine games this week by knocking off both Illinois and Ohio State. They were both big wins, as the Illini and the Buckeyes are two of the five teams battling for the Big Ten title. Purdue has now swept Illinois and split with Ohio State.

But that was far from the only good news Purdue got this week. On Sunday, that same Ohio State team went into East Lansing and knocked off Michigan State, which put Purdue in the driver's seat for the Big Ten title. They are all alone in first place with four games left, sitting a game in front of both Michigan State and Ohio State in the loss column.

Will Purdue be a #1 seed?
(photo credit: NBC Sports)

That wasn't all. Villanova also lost on Sunday, which means that Purdue is probably sitting as the fourth No. 1 seed if they season were to end today. Not a bad way to finish the week.

They were good too

• Kentucky Wildcats: Its too bad that Purdue had the week they did, because Kentucky was as deserving as anyone to win team of the week this past week. On Tuesday, Kentucky went into Starkville and knocked off Mississippi State in overtime despite being down 67-60 with three minutes left. Then on Saturday, Kentucky picked up their best win of the season, as they went into Nashville and took down a scrappy Vanderbilt team despite, once again, trailing late in the game. For those scoring at home, that's two comeback wins against tough teams on the road in conference play. For some, that was enough to officially make them a believer.
• Pitt Panthers: Pitt had a bit of a swoon midway through the season as they lost four of five games, but the Panthers have responded, as they have now won five straight, including two this week. Pitt picked up a win at Marquette on Thursday before knocking off Villanova at home on Sunday. The Panthers are currently tied with West Virginia for third in the league, but with their relatively easy schedule down the stretch combined with the difficult schedules of Villanova and WVU, don't be surprised if Pitt finishes second in the Big East.
  
• Maryland Terrapins: Once you get past the holiday tournaments, it is very rare to see a team play three games in a week, let alone four in eight days. But that's exactly when Maryland did, and they won all three this week, culminating in a thriller with two buzzer beaters to beat Georgia Tech. Maryland is once again all alone in second place in the ACC.
• Oklahoma State Cowboys: The Cowboys picked up two big wins this week, beating Iowa State on the road and knocking off Baylor at home, as they now seem to be in good position to earn the Big XII's seventh bid.
• Florida Gators: Florida, like OK State, picked up two big wins this week, including a nailbiter at Ole Miss, as they shored up their tourney hopes.
• Cornell Big Red: Cornell went 2-0 this week, picking up a big win at Harvard, which combined with Princeton's loss to Penn but Cornell in a commanding spot in the Ivy. If they beat Princeton on Friday, the race for the Ivy League's auto bid is all but over.
  

MATCHUPS OF THE WEEK

• 2/23 - 9:00 pm: Tennessee @ Florida
• 2/24 - 6:30 pm: Dayton @ Temple
• 2/24 - 9:00 pm: San Diego State @ BYU
• 2/24 - 9:00 pm: Texas A&M @ Baylor
• 2/24 - 9:00 pm: Oklahoma State @ Texas
• 2/26 - 12:00 pm: Kentucky @ Tennessee
• 2/26 - 2:00 pm: Texas @ Texas A&M
  
• 2/26 - 4:00 pm: Kansas @ Oklahoma State
• 2/26 - 4:00 pm: New Mexico @ BYU
• 2/26 - 4:00 pm: Maryland @ Virginia Tech
  
• 2/26 - 8:00 pm: Missouri @ Kansas State
  
• 2/26 - 9:00 pm: Villanova @ Syracuse
• 2/27 - 1:00 pm: Richmond @ Xavier
  
• 2/27 - 4:00 pm: Michigan State @ Purdue
  

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2009-2010 College Basketball Season Preview: Shooting Guards

The season is fast approaching. The first games are on Nov. 9th, and the BIAH live blog during ESPN's season kickoff is just two weeks away. So with just a week until actual games are played, we figured the best way to finish up our 2008-2009 season previews is to give you our Top 10 players at each position. You know how much we love a good Top 10 list here.

A few caveats. First, we're talking about how good these guys are as college players, not how well they project as a pro. Second, while it may be too much power for me, I am making the executive decision on what "position" a player is (and it may not necessarily be what he is listed as on a roster). Third, I am not putting the freshman in the list. As much as I've read about these guys and as many Youtube clips as I have watched, I have yet to see many of them play a real game (the all-star games don't count), and I don't think that I could give an accurate assessment until I see them play. Lastly, I love me a good argument, so if you think someone is too low or too high or the wrong position, leave a comment and let me hear about it.

Here are the point guards.
These are the shooting guards.

Best Freshman:

• Avery Bradley, Texas
• Kenny Boynton, Florida
• Xavier Henry, Kansas
• Lance Stephenson, Cincinnati

Best of the Rest:

• Elliot Williams, Memphis
• Jeremy Hazell, Seton Hall
• Osiris Eldridge, Illinois State
• William Buford, Ohio State
• Steven Gray, Gonzaga
• Denis Clemente, Kansas State
  

Top 10

• 10. Tyshawn Taylor, Kansas: Taylor is not on this list for the numbers he is going to put up. That would be impossible playing on a team as talented as Kansas this year. But Taylor may be the best team player in the country. He's no stranger to talented teams - his St. Anthony's High School team sent seven kids to D1 schools. Taylor's biggest strength is his intelligence on the court. He makes good decisions with the ball, is an excellent passer (especially feeding the post), and is as good of a defender as you will find at the position. Offensively, he has yet to really show the country what he can do. He picks his spots well, so don't be surprised if Taylor has a couple games where he goes for 25 this year.
  


• 9. Deonta Vaughn, Cincinnati: At 6'1", 195 lb, Vaughn is built like a running back, but it isn't his physical tools that make him special. Vaughn can flat out score the ball. He is a streaky shooter, but when he gets hot he can go for 30 on a given night. Vaughn also has the quickness and the handle to put the ball on the floor and get to the rim. Simply put, Vaughn has all the skills you could ask for in a scoring guard. The problem the last two seasons has been his supporting cast, as Vaughn was not only asked to be the team's point guard, but to also be the team's only true perimeter threat. With Cashmere Wright back from injury and Lance Stephenson joining the team, he now has that. Don't expect Vaughn's scoring numbers to shoot through the roof, as the addition of Wright and Stephenson will reduce his shots, but do expect to see a better Cincinnati team and a much more efficient Deonta Vaughn.
  


• 8. Jerome Dyson, UConn: Dyson was the overlooked guy on the UConn Huskies last season. With Jeff Adrien and Hasheem Thabeet inside, and AJ Price running the show, people forgot about Dyson. It didn't help that he missed the end of the season with a knee injury either. But Dyson is a star in the making. With athleticism to burn, Dyson is at his best when he is slashing to the rim and making plays in the full court. He can knock down a three when he is left open, but his slow release makes it difficult for him to get his shot off at times. The faster tempo that UConn is going to play at this season will fit in perfectly with Dyson's skill set as he is a terror in the passing lanes and always a threat to posterize a defender on a break.

Jerome Dyson will make quite a few posters this season.
(photo credit: daylife)

• 7. E'Twaun Moore, Purdue: Moore isn't a flashy player. He isn't going to wow you with cross overs or dunks. He isn't going to take over games on the offensive end. What Moore does is play a very controlled game. He isn't going to blow by his defender every time down court, but when it is there he can get to the rim. He isn't a gunner, but he is a good enough shooter that you have to contest it (although his shooting numbers dipped quite a bit last season). He's a good passer, a good rebounder, and a very good defender. And to top it off, he has led Purdue in scoring in his first two seasons. He may not be the most athletically gifted at the position, but you would be hard-pressed to find a two guard in the country better suited for the system they play in.
  


• 6. Matt Bouldin, Gonzaga: I love Matt Bouldin's game. He is such a heady, fundamental player. Playing on Gonzaga's most talented team last season, Bouldin was forced into a bit of a complimentary role. But that was more of a result of his all-around ability than a lack of ability. Bouldin can shoot, he can handle the ball, he can penetrate and kick, he can defend - there really isn't a weakness to his game, except for maybe a lack of ideal explosiveness out of a two guard. We shall see this season if he can develop into a star. If he does, don't be surprised if he wins a WCC player of the year award and Gonzaga makes another NCAA Tournament.
  


• 5. Terrico White, Ole Miss: The Rebels caught a devastating case of the injury bug last season, as they had three back court guys go down early with season ending knee injuries. While it put quite a damper on their season, the blessing in disguise was it allowed Andy Kennedy to see what he had in freshman Terrico White. White is an athlete, but he relied a bit too much on that athleticism a year ago. He also had trouble with shot selection and decision making on the offensive end, but a big reason for that was the fact he was forced to play a lot of minutes in a de facto lead guard role with Chris Warren out. Now that Warren is healthy, White will be able to move off the ball, where he shined this summer with the U19 team.
  


• 4. Malcolm Delaney, Virginia Tech: Delaney has put up impressive numbers during his first two seasons with the Hokies, but playing behind guys like AD Vassallo and Deron Washington kept his profile to a minimum. Don't doubt him though, because Delaney can play. He will likely handle the ball quite a bit this year for Seth Greenburg, but Delaney's at his best when he is looking to score. He is a dead eye three point shooter when he is open, but he has a tendency to force it a bit, although some of that is a result of Tech having a limited number of playmakers. If he can mature a bit in his decision making and shot selection, Delaney has the potential to be a lethal scorer this year.

Malcolm Delaney is a name you will hear a lot of this season.
(photo credit: flickr)

• 3. Isaiah Thomas, Washington: Thomas played a lot of minutes as Washington's point guard last season, but with the addition of Abdul Gaddy to run the show, Thomas will slide over to the off guard spot. Off the ball is where Thomas should be more effective as he is a natural scorer. He is at his best when he is using the bounce to penetrate. He has a tight handle and a tremendous first step, which makes him a nightmare to try and defend. That ability will be magnified as he will be playing in a Washington system that will allow him countless opportunities in the open court. Thomas's diminutive size is his biggest weakness. Standing just 5'9", he was inconsistent as a perimeter shooter when he had a hand in his face, but in the lane it is less of an issue as he has an advanced in-between game - he has an excellent floater and knows how to uses body contact to create space between himself and his defender.
  


• 2. James Anderson, Oklahoma State: Anderson is first and foremost a shooter. His entire offensive repertoire is based on his catch and shoot ability from deep. An excellent athlete, Anderson is also able to use one or two dribbles and elevate over defenders in the mid-range. Where he struggles is with his ball-handling. He is very much a straight line dribbler without the ability to change direction or change speed. While it may be tough to top the 18.2 ppg he posted last season, if he improved this aspect of his game in the off-season, Anderson will be a much more complete player.

Willie Warren and James Anderson will compete for the Big XII scoring crown.
(photo credit: kfor.com)

• 1. Willie Warren, Oklahoma: Warren struggled at the beginning of his freshman campaign, but by the end of the year many considered him a lottery pick. Warren is a fantastic athlete, but what makes him so dangerous is his exceptional scoring instincts. With a quick first step, the ability the change gears and change directions, great body control in the lane, and the explosiveness to finish above the rim, it isn't hard to see that Warren was built to score. The fact that he can handle the ball (he played a lot of point last season for the Sooners) and shoot it from deep (he struggled to start the year, but shot 38% in Big XII play) only makes him more dangerous. With Tommy Mason-Griffin headed to Norman, Warren will be allowed to move off the ball where he can focus on, what else, scoring.
  

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No. 22: 2009-2010 Team Preview: Oklahoma State Cowboys

2008-2009 Record:

Key Losses: Byron Eaton (14.3 ppg, 5.7 apg), Terrell Harris (13.9 ppg, 4.8 rpg)

Key Returners: James Anderson (18.2 ppg, 5.7 rpg), Obi Muonelo (12.7 ppg, 7.2 rpg), Marshall Moses (7.0 ppg, 6.1 rpg)

Newcomers: Jarred Shaw, Reger Dowell, Torin Walker, Ray Penn, Fred Gulley, Roger Franklin, Matt Pilgrim

James Anderson is one of the best scorer's in the country.
(photo credit: NBC Sports)

Oklahoma State lost a lot more than many of the teams in the top 25 during the off-season. Gone is starting point guard and leader Byron Eaton. Gone is wing Terrell Harris. But there are two reasons to believe that Oklahoma State will be able to compete in the loaded Big XII: the Cowboys bring in a bunch of talented freshmen, and James Anderson.

Let's start with Anderson, a junior. In a league full of big time scorers and future first round picks, Anderson may be the most dangerous. Anderson's game is based on his ability to shoot - he hit 41% from deep even though he took almost six per game. He has excellent size for a wing (6'6", 210 lb), which saved the Pokes at times last season as they were devoid of size on the interior. Already an excellent defender that will hit the glass hard, especially on the offensive end, for Anderson to become more than just an elite shooter at this level, he is going to need to improve his ability to get to the rim. Right now, he basically relies on his superior size, quickness, and leaping ability to get by his defender and finish inside, but if he can improve his ability to change direction with the bounce, lead the break, and create off the dribble, Anderson could average 20 plus this year.

Joining Anderson on the perimeter is senior Obi Muonelo. Muonelo, like Anderson, was forced to play a lot of minutes out of position last year. There were time when Muonelo and Anderson were the two biggest players on the floor for Travis Ford's team. Muonelo is excellent athlete, checking in at a muscular 6'5", 220 lb, which allowed him to compete inside (his 7.2 rpg was fourth in the league). On the offensive end, Muonelo is a shooter, taking almost 60% of his shots from deep. He doesn't get to the rim much, but I would expect Muonelo to have an expanded role on the offensive end this season as he slides over to the wing spot vacated by Harris.

While OK State may have the best wing duo in the Big XII, the question mark is going to be at the point, where Eaton's graduation left a huge hole. Ford brought in three kids who will compete for the starting job. Raymond Penn is probably the early leader to fill that hole. Penn is a lightening quick, 5'9" point guard out of Texas that loves to get out and run the floor, which will fit perfectly with the uptempo style Ford likes to play. Penn is an excellent penetrator, getting into the paint almost at will, especially when leading the break. He was able to finish in the lane at the high school level, but playing against bigger competition in the Big XII he will have to rely on his ability to draw defenders and kick out to the shooters the Pokes will have outside. Fellow freshmen Fred Gulley and Reger Dowell should also see time at the lead guard spot.

OK State will have some depth in their back court. 5'9" Keiton Page was one of the most prolific high school scorers ever, boasting a career average of 33.4 ppg (44.4 ppg as a senior). He is a lights out shooter with range out to about 27 feet. The only problem is his size - at 5'9", he is not the best ball handler and sometimes struggles to get his shot off against bigger defenders. Nick Sidorakis is a bigger guard off the bench, but he struggled to find his range last season, which is a problem for a kid that took 29 of his 33 shot from deep. Also expect freshman Roger Franklin to see some minutes. Franklin will bring a change of pace to the Cowboys perimeter as he is much less of a jump shooter. Franklin is a strong, 6'4" wing that likes to go to the rim. He can rebound and finish in transition.

The big question mark is going to be up front. The Cowboys were thin there last season before 6'11" Ibrahima Thomas left the team. But Ford found 6'7" Marshall Moses on his bench. Moses, who was outsized by just about every opponent last season, moved into a starting spot midway through the year and played his best basketball down the stretch. With Moses, it is all about hustle. He is going to defend, rebound, set screens, and run the floor. While there are very few people who Moses will out talent during the year, there are even fewer players who will out work him.

Most likely, Moses is going to be playing many more minutes at the four this season. The most likely candidate to step in and play at center is Matt Pilgrim. Pilgrim, who spent his freshman season at Hampton before redshirting last season at Kentucky, will be eligible to play right away for Ford. Pilgrim is a big, strong, 6'8" body inside. While his offense is fairly limited at this point in his career, Pilgrim is not going to be depended on for scoring as much as he will be simply for his size and strength. Jarred Shaw and Torin Francis, two freshman, should also see some time this year. Shaw is very raw right now. At a long 6'11", Shaw is still not much of an offensive player, but has shown signs of being able to be a force on the defensive end (although, there are some questions about his effort level at this end). His ability to run the floor in transition will be a key for the Cowboys. Walker is not as tall as Shaw, but he isn't as strong as Pilgrim. While he is a bit farther along in terms of offensive ability and, given his 225 lb frame, a bit closer to being ready to handle some consistent minutes inside than Shaw, he doesn't have quite the upside.

Outlook: OK State will, once again, be a team that looks to run the floor and score a lot of points. The scoring ability is going to be there on the perimeter, especially with Anderson. There will be three keys to the Oklahoma State season. Can Raymond Penn fill in for Eaton, both in his ability to lead the transition game and break down defenders in the half court? Will someone be able to step up and be a second and third scoring option for the Pokes, taking the pressure off of Anderson? Will the three newcomers inside be able to handle the rigors of the Big XII? While I don't think the Cowboys are going to finish in the top two in the league (Kansas and Texas are just too good), they should compete with Oklahoma and Kansas State for the third spot in a very good Big XII.
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