Oklahoma State's Non-Conference Schedule Leaves No Excuses

When Steve Lutz first started piecing together Oklahoma State's non-conference schedule, I wrote that he was scheduling the Cowboys exactly how he should.

Now that the full slate has reportedly been revealed, one thing stands out even more.

This schedule leaves no excuses.

It's challenging enough to build an NCAA Tournament résumé but balanced enough to give Oklahoma State every opportunity to succeed before Big 12 play begins.

If the Cowboys are dancing in March, this schedule will have helped them get there.

If they're not, it won't be because they lacked opportunities.

The non-conference schedule isn't overloaded with easy wins.

It's filled with meaningful tests.

Texas A&M brings an SEC challenge.

Saint Mary's has become one of the most consistently successful mid-major programs in the country.

Grand Canyon has proven it can compete with anyone in March.

The Charleston Classic guarantees multiple quality opponents in a tournament environment.

Then there's Bedlam in Oklahoma City and a neutral-site matchup with Northwestern.

Every one of those games has value.

Not just because they're difficult, but because they're the type of wins the NCAA Tournament committee notices.

Some coaches try to prove too much in November.

Others schedule so cautiously that their résumé lacks quality opportunities.

Steve Lutz found the middle ground.

Oklahoma State reportedly has nine home games to build confidence and consistency while still facing enough quality opponents to prepare for Big 12 play.

That's smart scheduling.

You don't need to play a gauntlet before conference season when you're already about to enter arguably the toughest basketball conference in America.

You simply need enough opportunities to prove you're capable of competing at an NCAA Tournament level.

This schedule does exactly that.

By the time conference play begins, there shouldn't be many unanswered questions.

The Cowboys will have faced SEC athleticism.

They'll have battled one of the nation's most disciplined programs in Saint Mary's.

They'll have experienced the pressure of a rivalry game against Oklahoma.

They'll have played in a neutral-site tournament setting.

They'll have been tested in different environments against different styles of play.

That's exactly what a good non-conference schedule is supposed to accomplish.

It isn't just about wins and losses.

It's about preparing a team for what comes next.

The schedule can only do so much.

Steve Lutz has given this team opportunities.

Now the Cowboys have to capitalize.

A few marquee wins before January could dramatically improve Oklahoma State's NCAA Tournament outlook before Big 12 play even tips off.

Those opportunities are there.

The schedule isn't holding this team back.

If anything, it's setting the Cowboys up for success.

Good schedules don't guarantee winning seasons.

They create opportunities.

Looking at Oklahoma State's completed non-conference slate, I don't see a coach trying to protect his team.

I see a coach who believes his team is ready to compete.

That's exactly the mindset Oklahoma State should have entering Year 2 under Steve Lutz.

Steve Lutz has done his job by giving Oklahoma State every opportunity to build a tournament résumé.

Now it's up to the Cowboys to make the most of it.