Oklahoma State Women's Basketball Coach Jacie Hoyt Reveals Audi Crooks' Role

When Oklahoma State landed Audi Crooks out of the transfer portal, it wasn’t just another addition for Jacie Hoyt and the Cowgirls.

It was arguably the biggest portal commitment in program history.

Now comes the obvious question everyone has been asking since Crooks announced she was headed to Stillwater:

How exactly does a dominant back-to-the-basket center fit in one of the fastest-paced offenses in women’s college basketball?

According to Hoyt, the answer is simple.

Perfectly.

Speaking with TuneIn Big 12 Radio, Hoyt pushed back on the idea that Oklahoma State’s style somehow clashes with Crooks’ game and instead explained why the pairing makes too much sense to fail.

“Well I think that a player like Audi in the post, they dream about being surrounded by shooters right?” Hoyt said.

“Because then you can’t have the double teams, and the specialized defenses, and those things.”

That’s really where this entire conversation starts.

For years, Crooks has been one of the toughest matchups in women’s basketball because of what she can do with her back to the basket. Defenses know what’s coming and still struggle to stop it.

Now imagine trying to stop that while also defending an Oklahoma State offense that wants to spread the floor, shoot threes, and play fast.

That becomes a nightmare.

“And then on the flip side,” Hoyt continued, “shooters ya know, love having a post presence that people can’t, ya know cheat off of them.”

That relationship between Crooks and OSU’s guards could become the biggest storyline of the season.

Hoyt’s offense has always been built around pace, spacing, and guard play. Now add a dominant low-post scorer into the mix and suddenly defenses have to pick their poison.

Double Crooks?

The shooters get open looks.

Stay home on shooters?

Good luck stopping Crooks one-on-one.

“So, I think it’s really actually not that hard,” Hoyt said. “I think a lot of people ya know maybe question that with the style that we play, but I think it’s the perfect match.”

The interesting part here isn’t simply whether Crooks fits.

It’s that Crooks actively wanted this challenge.

“And you know for Audi to be honest,” Hoyt said, “she wants to grow. She wants to be in a system that’s gonna challenge her to play at a faster pace, come out of the paint a little bit more, because she does want to play at the next level, and she’s been very very clear about that.”

That’s the part people shouldn’t ignore.

Crooks isn’t coming to Stillwater asking Oklahoma State to change who they are.

Oklahoma State isn’t changing either.

“We’re not going to change the way we play fast and shoot threes,” Hoyt said. “There’s no changing that, and Audi’s excited to grow and be in a new system.”

That matters because if Crooks wants to prove she belongs at the next level, there are fair questions she has to answer.

Can she consistently play faster?

Can she operate more outside the paint?

Can she thrive in ball screen action?

Can she keep up in transition?

Hoyt believes this system gives Crooks exactly what she needs.

“But I think she was looking for a bit of a different style,” Hoyt said, “ya know being involved a bit more in ball screens, which we do a ton of. That’s kind of our bread and butter in the halfcourt.”

That may ultimately be what makes this move so fascinating.

This isn’t simply Oklahoma State getting a star player.

This is a star player willingly stepping outside her comfort zone.

If this works the way Hoyt believes it can, Oklahoma State gets one of the most dangerous offensive weapons in the country.

And Crooks gets something equally valuable.

Proof.

Proof she can play fast.

Proof she can thrive in multiple systems.

Proof that her game translates.

“I’m really grateful that she’s entrusted us to help her get there,” Hoyt said.

For Oklahoma State, expectations are now sky high.

For Audi Crooks, the mission feels pretty clear.

Come to Stillwater.

Adapt.

Win.

And prove you belong in the WNBA.