Travis Ford fires shot at Andrew Wiggins

Kansas and Oklahoma State are set to compete for the Big 12 basketball title this year and expectations have never been higher in Stillwater. Despite that, it was a little surprising to see Oklahoma State head coach Travis Ford take a shot at an 18-year-old.

Ford on Kansas: “Wiggins is, from what I understand, the best player to ever play.”

— Pistols Firing (@pistolsguy) October 15, 2013

The quote is from Monday when Oklahoma State held their first press conference of the year. Some Cowboys fans have taken exception to Andrew Wiggins getting an SI cover before Marcus Smart this year.

Whether Ford was being sarcastic or just being salty, the quote says a lot about who Travis Ford is. Could you imagine Bill Self saying that about an opponent? He would never do that. It’s important to point out that Ford did play a year at Missouri before finishing his college career at the University of Kentucky.

Maybe it is just that Tiger jealously breaking through… Or maybe Ford is jealous of Bill Self, who is most likely still more loved at Oklahoma State than Travis Ford.

Either way, it is an interesting strategy for Ford. I really doubt Andrew Wiggins will forget what Ford said by the time conference play comes around. Why give the nine-straight Big 12 champs bulletin board material?