Bobcat basketball’s star of the season pushes team to early success

With nearly half of the Big Sky Conference regular season under their belts and a record of 5-3 in conference play, one thing has become abundantly clear about this year’s iteration of MSU men’s basketball — Robert Ford III is this team’s engine on both the offensive and defensive ends of the floor. His impact cannot be understated.

The six-foot senior guard from Portland, Oregon has seen his usage skyrocket under new Head Coach Matt Logie. Last season, he averaged just under 21 minutes per game and only started in two of the 35 games he appeared in. His playing time has jumped this season to 33 minutes per game, and he has started all 19 games. His other stats paint the picture that is obvious to everyone who watches him — not one of those minutes played is wasted or taken for granted.

His effort and skill on the defensive end always stand out. He leads the team and the Big Sky with 2.9 steals per game, pestering opposing guards up and down the floor while jumping passing lanes regularly. Ford is 11 steals ahead of the next closest player in the Big Sky, Maleek Arington from Idaho State. Across all of Division 1 men’s basketball, he is fourth in steals per game, according to the NCAA.

The steals are an obvious way to measure his impact on the defensive end, but what is less appreciated is the outstanding rebounding season he is having. Rebounding is important for ending possessions on the defensive end of the court and giving your team a second chance on the offensive end. Few players do it better than Ford, and pound for pound, no one else comes close to matching his value in that category. He pulls in an average of 8 rebounds per game, a remarkable number for a guard his size. He leads the team in rebounding, as well as being third in the Big Sky. He is the only guard in the conference to be in the top 15 in rebounding as of Jan. 26, according to the Big Sky Conference.

The offensive end of the court has been the site of Ford's largest improvement from last season. His shooting percentages have spiked compared to last season. His field goal percentage is up to 48%, a stark contrast to his 28% shooting from the floor last season. His three-point percentage has seen a similar uptick, going from 26% last season to 44% this season. This increased efficiency has led to Ford averaging 14.5 points per game.

Looking ahead, MSU will need Ford to keep powering the team through the second half of the conference season. The ‘Cats are fourth in the standings as of Jan. 28 and will look to maintain or improve that standing as they prepare for the conference tournament. 

Winning the conference tournament would be a large victory in Logie’s first year in charge and a clear sign that the program is still headed in the right direction. Ford’s elevated play this season will give the Bobcats a real chance at making that happen.