Oklahoma State coach Steve Lutz says reaching the NCAA Tournament is the clear goal in his third season, and he believes the Cowboys have the talent to get there. To make it happen, OSU must improve in Big 12 play and commit to defense; a revamped, better-funded roster gives Lutz reason for optimism.

By the Numbers
  • Lutz is 37-33 entering his third season at Oklahoma State.
  • The Cowboys went 7-13 in Big 12 play in his first season and 6-12 last season.
  • OSU has made the NCAA Tournament 7 times since Eddie Sutton left in 2006; its last appearance was in 2021.
  • The roster features 10 new players, and the tournament field is expanding to 76 teams.
Yes, But

Field expansion could give Oklahoma State another path to the tournament, but Lutz says the team shouldn’t rely on extra spots. The Cowboys’ biggest challenge is winning more games in a strong Big 12 and improving on both ends of the floor.

What's Next

OSU’s season will test whether its new roster can deliver stronger conference results and the defensive consistency Lutz says was missing last year. The stated target is an NCAA Tournament berth—and a run once there.

Bottom Line

For Lutz, Year 3 is about turning the tournament goal into results: Oklahoma State needs to defend better and win in the Big 12, not count on an expanded field to get it dancing.