A few thoughts after last night’s loss to Texas A&M. I think there are some bigger issues worth discussing with Oklahoma State basketball, and I’m genuinely curious how other Cowboy fans feel.
First off, I’m not campaigning for anyone to get fired. I was excited about the Steve Lutz hire. The Texas connections, defensive mentality, fast-paced style, and coaching experience all made sense. I still believe he can coach, but we’re in year three and the progress feels underwhelming. I haven’t given up on this team, but if we miss the tournament again, something has to give. This program desperately needs momentum.
I’ve always believed OSU’s biggest mistake was prioritizing football at the expense of basketball. Mike Holder deserves some responsibility here. Investing in Gundy and Boone Pickens Stadium did wonders for the university’s brand, but somewhere along the way, basketball lost its identity.
Let’s be real. OSU has a much more realistic path to winning national championships in men’s and women’s basketball than competing with the likes of OU and Georgia in football. The financial disadvantages, recruiting challenges, and politics of the CFP make football an uphill battle. Basketball is different. JUST MAKE THE DANG TOURNAMENT! That’s the beauty of March Madness. Smaller schools (Like Gonzaga) can compete with national powerhouses when the coaching, talent, and investment are there.
And OSU already has the foundation. Henry Iba, Eddie Sutton, Gallagher-Iba Arena, and decades of tradition. Why not lean into that? I’ve always thought OSU should remain competitive in football while making a serious push to dominate basketball, baseball, and softball. I respect wrestling and its history, but from a national branding standpoint, March Madness and the CFP offer far greater exposure.
Then there’s the athletic department. I like Chad Weiberg, but what’s the plan? He was deputy AD at Texas Tech when Chris Beard arrived and that program started turning around. Why has rebuilding basketball been such a struggle in Stillwater? And what’s the latest on his job status and the rumored interest in Wren Baker?
I’ve also questioned OSU’s tendency to hire “OSU guys.” Loyalty is great, but sometimes we need proven outsiders with fresh ideas instead of continually recycling the same small-town good ol’ boys club mentality.
And what exactly are we getting out of Nike? Schools like Duke and Ohio State receive enormous attention and support, while OSU feels like another number. Would New Balance or ASICS offer a more personal partnership and better marketing opportunities? Nike hasn’t exactly been thriving financially, either.
While we’re at it, our basketball uniforms are just…meh. They look like generic Nike templates with no consistent identity. Compare them to Kansas’ circus font, Iowa State’s clean home and away sets, or Kansas State’s lavender throwbacks. Our previous white cursive Cowboys and black ’90s-style uniforms were much better. Give us an orange version of the black and call it a day. And please, retire those awful gray “Pokes” alternates.
As for NIL, I think basketball needs to become a major priority next offseason. Rick Sosa and Loyal & True seem to be making strides, although I don’t claim to understand the budget. With Eric Morris and Drew Mestemaker bringing renewed excitement and national attention to football, why not capitalize on that momentum? Go all-in on landing a top-three to top-five basketball transfer portal class. Give fans something to get excited about.
And finally, the curtain at Gallagher-Iba is downright depressing. Empty seats, a declining atmosphere, and so many games on ESPN+ are painful reminders of how far this program has fallen. We don’t need to be Duke or Kansas. We just need to consistently make the NCAA Tournament and give people a reason to show up. I’d hate to see GIA permanently lose more seating to suites or lounges because we couldn’t figure out how to fill the place.
I enrolled at OSU during the transition from Sean Sutton to Travis Ford, when Byron Eaton was running point, so I was fortunate enough to experience the tail end of GIA’s glory days. I know what that building can be, and it’s frustrating watching a historically proud program struggle to regain its identity.
Anyway, sorry for the rant. Last night’s loss felt like another missed opportunity to build momentum and get people talking about OSU basketball nationally. I’m not expecting overnight success, but I want to see a real plan.
What do other Cowboy fans think? What’s realistically holding this program back, and what needs to change to make OSU competitive again and get Gallagher-Iba packed and rocking like it used to be?
Go Pokes!