Can Oklahoma State Make a Tournament Run? Steve Lutz Thinks So

Oklahoma State men's basketball coach Steve Lutz welcomed this year's team to Stillwater with a bold message.

"We have enough to make a tournament run and win the Big 12," Lutz told his players in a hype video posted on Oklahoma State men's basketball social media.

"A lot of talent in this room right here," Lutz said. "That should be your goal: make a run in the tournament and win the Big 12."

The NCAA Tournament goal feels realistic. Oklahoma State showed flashes during Lutz's first season despite finishing with just six conference wins. The Cowboys were competitive throughout Big 12 play, including two narrow losses to TCU and a seven-point defeat against Houston. They also picked up home wins over NCAA Tournament teams BYU and UCF.

Winning the Big 12, however, is a different challenge altogether.

The conference has become one of the deepest leagues in college basketball. Houston has established itself as a national contender since joining the conference, while programs such as Kansas, BYU, Arizona, Iowa State, and Texas Tech continue to recruit and spend at a high level. There are few easy nights on the schedule, making a conference title one of the toughest accomplishments in the sport.

Still, there is reason for optimism in Stillwater.

The Cowboys must replace significant production after losing Anthony Roy, who averaged 17 points per game, and Parsa Fallah, who contributed nearly 16 points per contest. But Oklahoma State returns key pieces, including guard Kanye Clary, who averaged 10 points and five assists per game while serving as one of the team's primary playmakers.

The frontcourt also brings back promising young talent in Ben Ahmed and Mekhi Ragland, both of whom enter their sophomore seasons with valuable experience under their belts.

Perhaps the biggest offseason addition is former UCF standout Jordan Burks. Burks gives the Cowboys another proven Big 12 player and could help offset some of the scoring and perimeter shooting lost from last year's roster while adding defensive versatility on the wing.

In today's transfer portal era, roster turnover is expected, and successful programs often look dramatically different from one season to the next. Oklahoma State appears to have assembled a blend of returning contributors and experienced newcomers capable of taking a step forward in Lutz's second season.

Whether that translates into a Big 12 title remains to be seen. But if the Cowboys can continue protecting home court at Gallagher-Iba Arena and find consistency in conference play, an NCAA Tournament berth appears to be a realistic expectation.

The non-conference schedule has yet to be announced, but it should provide a clearer picture of where Oklahoma State stands entering the 2026-27 season.