Steve Lutz already sees a different Oklahoma State team entering Year 3. With improved ball movement, more length and athleticism and a stronger team-first mentality, Lutz believes the Cowboys are further along than either of his first two teams in Stillwater.
STILLWATER — Steve Lutz isn't waiting until November to acknowledge what he sees from his third Oklahoma State team.
The Cowboys officially began preseason practice this week, but after a summer that included 10 practices and three games during a trip to Puerto Rico, Lutz believes this group is already noticeably ahead of his first two teams in Stillwater.
“These guys are so much further along than any other team we’ve had here,” Lutz said Tuesday.
It's an encouraging early assessment for a program entering an important third season under Lutz, especially considering Oklahoma State again underwent significant roster turnover.
The Cowboys return only five players while welcoming 10 newcomers. But unlike previous seasons, Lutz doesn't feel as though he's spending September trying to teach his roster how to function together.
“They move the ball so much better,” Lutz said. “There’s less animosity. There’s less selfishness. They’re just a better team at this point thus far.”
More Balance After Two Very Different Teams
Lutz's first two Oklahoma State teams had almost opposite problems. His first roster was assembled quickly after he was hired following the opening of the transfer portal. The Cowboys showed promise defensively but struggled offensively.
Last season flipped the script. Oklahoma State averaged 83.7 points per game, second in the Big 12, but allowed 84.2 per game, the worst mark in the conference. Lutz believes this roster has a chance to finally combine the two.
“I think that we have a better combination of both,” Lutz said. “We certainly have more length and more athleticism as a general rule, just from top to bottom.”
Lutz still considers the Cowboys a team built to score, but he believes their ceiling will ultimately depend on their willingness to defend.
“If we decide that we’re gonna be a great defensive team, then I think we have a fantastic season,” Lutz said.
Talent Level Has Increased
The optimism comes after Oklahoma State upgraded its roster through both the transfer portal and high school recruiting.
OSU's transfer class ranked No. 12 nationally by Rivals and No. 30 by 247Sports adding Jordan Burks, Julius Halaifonua, Luka Bogavac, Andrija Grbovic and Kashie Natt who were each rated as four-star transfers.
The Cowboys also brought in four four-star freshmen, with their high school class ranking inside the national top 10 by both 247Sports and Rivals.
Lutz acknowledged increased NIL resources allowed Oklahoma State to become more selective during that roster construction. But talent isn't the only difference he's noticed.
Winning Over Individual Numbers
Lutz hasn't felt the need to establish rigid roles yet because he believes this roster already has a better understanding of how individual success can follow team success.
That mentality could be particularly important for a roster filled with newcomers trying to establish themselves in the Big 12.
Lutz's message is simple: producing big numbers on a losing team isn't necessarily going to create professional opportunities. Winning can.
“There’s not a single one of you that’s going to get drafted because you scored 20 points and we go 8-22,” Lutz said. “Now, we go 22-8, you score 15, 18 points, the whole world is gonna know who you are just because of the success of the program and us making a run in the NCAA Tournament.”
There is still plenty of time before Oklahoma State gets the opportunity to prove Lutz's early confidence justified.
But after two seasons in which one side of the floor consistently held the Cowboys back, Lutz believes he has assembled something different entering Year 3.
More length. More athleticism. More balance. And, perhaps most importantly, a roster that already seems to understand that its individual goals are much easier to reach if Oklahoma State starts winning.
