Rush The Court

This team preview is part of the RTC Big 12 microsite’s preseason coverage.

Burning Question: Will Travis Ford still coach Oklahoma State a year from now?

The year 2000 was solid, by most accounts. Y2K was overrated; civilization moved on. Al Gore was about to rock America’s world as the 43rd president. Supercompanies America Online and Time Warner, merged to form a global Internet partnership that would most definitely last for decades. Oklahoma State basketball was in pretty good shape as well. Eddie Sutton began his 11th season at his alma mater with little to complain about. The Cowboys had reached eight NCAA Tournaments in Sutton’s first 10 seasons in Stillwater, a run that had included a Final Four, two Elite Eights and four Sweet Sixteens. Sutton’s success would continue into the early 2000s, where he would guide the Cowboys to five more Tournaments, the most memorable of which would end in the 2004 Final Four. But all of this success occurred before the night of February 10, 2006 — perhaps the date at which Oklahoma State basketball started heading south.

That was the night when Sutton was arrested and charged for driving under the influence. With a blood alcohol level (0.22) nearly three times the legal limit in Oklahoma, Sutton drove his SUV “across four lanes of traffic, slammed into the back of another car and then crashed into a tree.” Three days later, the university named Eddie’s son, Sean Sutton, as his interim replacement. Four months after that, as the Hall of Famer sought treatment for alcohol abuse, the younger Sutton was named his father’s permanent replacement. Sean Sutton lasted less than two full years as the head man in Stillwater, with the school forcing his resignation in April 2008 after two subpar seasons that ended in the first round of the NIT. On April 17 of that same year, Oklahoma State hired a new head coach that did not include the last name Sutton: UMass’ Travis Ford.

What makes Ford a fascinating case study is not only his team’s uneven performances through the years, but also the politics of collegiate athletics that factor into his job security. At many other high-major institutions, Ford’s accomplishment of five NCAA Tournaments in seven years would be considered great success. However, when you coach the program Eddie Sutton rebuilt (and win only one game in those five NCAA Tournaments), pressure to come close to replicating past successes will always be present. From 2000-05, Sutton led the Cowboys to a top five finish in the Big 12 every year (remember, the league actually had 12 teams then). In the nine seasons since his exit, the Cowboys have finished seventh or worse in the Big 12 eight times and finished in the top five just once. If there is any one statistic that could serve as a snapshot of Ford’s tenure with the Cowboys, his perfectly even career Big 12 record of 60-60 might be it.

At a power five institution like Oklahoma State, there are other important numbers at play too, most notably Ford’s contract. After reaching the Round of 32 in 2009, Oklahoma State athletic director Mike Holder gave Ford a 10-year contract extension with an escalating annual salary. He said to The Oklahoman at the time, “This contract rewards [Ford] for the job he has done and demonstrates OSU’s commitment to him. We consider Travis a rising star in the coaching profession.” Five disappointing seasons later, Holder’s tone had changed. He told the same publication, “In retrospect, it [the extension] wasn’t good for him or us.”

Not only was the contract a heavy weight for Ford to carry, it was bad for the school’s men’s basketball budget. As Kyle Porter of Pistols Firing Blog notes, Oklahoma State had more expenses in men’s basketball in 2013-14 ($11,054,815) than it had in program revenue ($10,920,836). So, if the administration wanted to fire Ford at the end of last season, for example, it would not only have to pay the balance of what it contractually owes to Ford, but it would also have to spend some serious money to hire a splashy new basketball coach. A deep hole would only grow deeper for the program’s budget, and all of this in a post-realignment world where costs are already rising for athletic departments.

With three senior starters and 52 percent of the team’s scoring departed, the preseason narrative surrounding this year’s group of Cowboys is all about whether Ford can get his team to gel. Phil Forte III, who should make a push for All-Big 12 first team honors, is still around. Ford also welcomes a stud freshman point guard in Jawun Evans, a player about whom Forte recently said is “already better than me.” The head coach told The Daily Collegian three weeks ago that he is still unsure who will start alongside Forte, but Evans seems like a good bet to join him in a small but dynamic backcourt. Elsewhere, players like Leyton Hammonds, Jeff Newberry and Mitchell Solomon will play bigger roles in the offense and are expected to contribute significantly more than their combined 10.2 points per game last season. Defense may again be a team strength, as Oklahoma State brings in more size and rebounding with the additions of graduate transfer Chris Olivier (5.3 RPG at Eastern Illinois in 2014-15) and JuCo transfer Igor Ibaka (17 double-doubles in 2013-14). Davon Dillard could be another freshman who finds some playing time, particularly if his athleticism and offensive versatility come as well as advertised. But regardless of who’s on the floor, it will take an inspired and improved effort across the board to ensure that this season isn’t Travis Ford’s last hurrah in Stillwater.