Oklahoma State University Athletics
Cowboys React To 27th NCAA Tournament Bid
March 15, 2015 | Cowboy Basketball
STILLWATER - The Oklahoma State men's basketball team earned its third straight NCAA tournament bid and its fifth in seven years under coach Travis Ford, it was announced today. The No. 9 seed in the West region, the Cowboys will face eighth-seeded Oregon Friday in Omaha. The winner faces the winner of No. 1 Wisconsin vs. No. 16 Coastal Carolina.
Reaction from Ford, forward Le'Bryan Nash and guard Anthony Hickey on earning a spot in the NCAA field:
Head Coach Travis Ford
On if he knew that the team was in the NCAA Tournament beforehand:
"I did. I felt pretty confident about it for a while, really, based on what the committee looks at. For us, we got in for what we did accomplish, not what we didn't. We won a lot of big games against some great opponents and played in the best league in America. We've played a very difficult schedule, and we were rewarded for that as far as getting into the NCAA Tournament. That's a great achievement for our team. I don't remember anybody predicting us (to miss the tournament), other than everybody predicting we would not make the NCAA Tournament prior to this season. I'm proud that we're in it, and now we've got to figure out how to beat a very good basketball team."
On playing Oregon in the NCAA Tournament for the second time in three years:
"We're different. I don't know a whole lot about their team quite yet, but I don't think there are a lot of players left from their team (from two years ago). We have three or four guys that played on that team. Kind of like the last time, I know they're hot right now. They played in the Pac 12 Tournament finals, no different than the last time we played them. They're playing really good basketball. I know they've got one of the top players in the country in Joseph Young, who is averaging over 20 points a game and is an extremely talented player. They have other great players. Oregon itself has great basketball tradition and is a great school. Dana Altman is a great coach. We know each other from the names of the schools. I'm sure when we popped up and they saw us, they were like "Hey, we remember them." They probably have a little better taste in their mouth than we do from that game, but obviously we're familiar with each other as far as names."
On Anthony Hickey making his first NCAA Tournament:
"It was kind of like my first year here with Byron Eaton. All he talked about was that he had never made an NCAA Tournament, and the expectations for him for four years. He felt like he let so many people down and all these different things, so I sat beside him on that Selection Sunday. I did the same thing with Anthony Hickey because that's something we talked about when he got here. He had not been to an NCAA Tournament and played on some pretty good teams. I told him that he has an opportunity to lead a team that no one expects to get there. Everybody played us for dead. No one believed in this team whatsoever, until we started winning some games and everybody acted like they did believe in the team. We talked a lot about him. He has a chance to help lead this team, and he has great players around him like (Le'Bryan) Nash, (Michael) Cobbins, (Phil) Forte and so forth. I'm excited for him. I'm excited for Nash and Cobbins in their senior years, and (Christien) Sager, (Marek) Soucek, (Alex) Budke and those guys. It's always exciting. You look at Nash and Cobbins, and they've gone to three-straight NCAA Tournaments. We've made three. Now we need to try to stay a little bit longer than we have in the past."
On what he told the team after being selected:
"First, I congratulated them and told them `We've played in the best conference in America and every single style of basketball imaginable. We made the NCAA Tournament because of what we did, not what we didn't do. From this point on, we've just got to believe in who we are and our identity. When we won big games, we played to our identity. Believe and trust in who we are, and believe in themselves. Have fun and enjoy this time...It's been a long season. It's grueling. People don't understand what we've been through is grueling. To be rewarded with a nine seed is exciting. We wish it could've been better. It could've been worse, you never know, but we're excited to be in the tournament. Also I told them that it's a fresh start for everybody. It doesn't matter how you made the NCAA Tournament. There are only a few teams coming into the NCAA Tournament that won their last game. About 80-90 percent of the (tournament field) lost their last game going into the tournament. It doesn't matter how you got there. You're in it now. It's a great accomplishment from what everybody expected, but now let's focus in and try to play well on Friday.
Forward Le'Bryan Nash
On if he was nervous before the team was selected:
"No, I wasn't. I woke up this morning confident in our team. When the Kentucky game was going on, I looked at the bottom and Joe Lunardi had us locked in. I had confidence in our resume. We're ready. That's all I can say."
On if he was surprised the team would be facing Oregon again:
"No, it's a great story. It's a chance. It's another opportunity to redeem ourselves from two years ago. It's a blessing being in the tournament. There are 68 great teams out there, and it feels good to be one of them."
On if he watched Oregon play Arizona in the Pac-12 title game:
"Yeah, I did. They have an explosive guard that I think won Pac-12 Conference Player of the Year in Joseph Young. I'm friends with him from back in Texas. It's going to be a good game. They have a good team. We've got to play to our identity, play to our strengths and we'll be good."
Guard Anthony Hickey
On his emotions when he learned that the team would be in the NCAA Tournament:
"I had to walk around a little bit. The waiting is the worst part about it, seeing other teams' names called. When your name gets called, it's a relief. I couldn't stop smiling. I'm just happy it's finally here. I get to go to the tournament."
On what he knows about Oregon:
"They have nice guards. I know they play fast tempo, and they'll slow it up a little bit. They shoot the ball pretty well. It's all about defending and hustle plays. It doesn't matter about made shots or missed shots. We've just got to defend and make the hustle plays."
