Travis Ford has a dilemma.
McDonald's All-American LeBryan Nash arrives on campus as the highest-profile recruit yet in Ford's four years as Oklahoma State's coach. But where to put him?
Nash comes into perhaps the most loaded part of the Cowboys' arsenal, joining the likes of Jean-Paul Olukemi, Keiton Page and Markel Brown on the wings. The rules only allow Ford to put five players on the court, so he's got some decisions to make.
''We've got three guys on our team - between J.P., Markel and LeBryan Nash - who I think could be three of the better players in this league,'' Ford said. ''We've got to figure out how to get them on the court at the same time.''
Ford already has Page, the team's top returning scorer, penciled in as his starting shooting guard, but the rest of his starting lineup is up in the air as the Cowboys approach their Nov. 11 season opener.
Nash can score but Ford also considers him a strong enough passer and ball-handler that he'd consider putting the 6-foot-7 freshman at the point at times. Page could play there, too, if it makes for the best lineup with Olukemi - who averaged a team-best 14.9 points at home but only 7.7 elsewhere last season - and Brown, who might be the most-improved player on the roster.
''It definitely is a good problem to have, and it's not just the wings,'' Page said. ''We have multiple guys that can play multiple positions, which - with the way we're going to play - I think that's going to benefit us even more.''
The point guard spot isn't barren either. Fred Gulley is back again after missing most of last season following shoulder surgery, and Reger Dowell is back after filling in as the starter and proving he can be a slasher who gets to the basket.
What's missing is an inside presence. Top scorer Marshall Moses and frontcourt mate Matt Pilgrim are both gone from last year's roster, and Darrell Williams remains suspended indefinitely while he awaits trial on five felony charges.
Ford has brought in 7-footer Marek Soucek from the Czech Republic and Philip Jurick, a 6-foot-11 junior college transfer who once signed with Tennessee, to try and fill that gap. But he's also brought up the possibility of playing with five guards at times.
''We're excited about this year. We're going to play a little bit different than we did last year, try to play a little bit faster, and this year I think we've got the players and the keys to do that,'' Page said.
''With the new guys that we have coming in, I don't know - I think we could be a really tough team this year in the Big 12.''
The league's coaches picked Oklahoma State to finish seventh in the 10-team league.
''That's not a bad thing. It gives you motivation,'' Page said. ''It gives you something to go out there and prove. Everybody on this team knows that we believe that we're better than seventh in the Big 12.''
After Ford took the Cowboys to the NCAA tournament his first two seasons, last year was a step back. They finished ninth out of 12 teams in the Big 12 last season and went to the NIT, losing to Washington State in the second round.
The schedule only gets tougher this season. The nonconference slate features games against Pittsburgh, Alabama, and Virginia Tech, and the possibility of facing Stanford and Syracuse in the NIT Season Tip-Off. Only five of OSU's 12 nonconference games will be at Gallagher-Iba Arena.
''It's unbelievable really, the schedule,'' Ford said. ''I'm excited about it. I enjoy playing that schedule. Is this team going to be ready for it? ... Are we going to be able to survive it, and with a young basketball team? My initial thoughts are, `Yeah, I think it could be good for us.' We'll take our lumps but I think we might be able to win some of them.''
