A spirited run in the NIT this postseason ended for first-year head coach Steve Lutz and the Oklahoma State Cowboys (17-18, 7-13 Big 12) with a narrow two-point loss in the quarterfinals against the North Texas Mean Green, 61-59 this past Tuesday.
This wasn't the result the Pokes were looking for after some big upset wins over Quad 1 and 2 opponents in the Big 12 this past regular season, including a huge late-season upset win at home over the No. 9 Iowa State Cyclones in late February.
Lutz helped Oklahoma State to a five-win improvement year-over-year in the season that was. Oklahoma State specifically improved the results in Big 12 conference play and on its home court at Gallagher-Iba Arena in Stillwater this past regular season. The Pokes not only won more games during the 2024-25 campaign in the regular season, but also won the most home games (a dozen) in the past decade.
There are many reasons to believe Oklahoma State is trending in a positive direction after Lutz started to establish the foundation of his program culture over the past year since he was hired last offseason.
With the spring transfer portal window opening this past Monday (March 24), Lutz and the Pokes have some important starters and key contributors to replace on the roster for the upcoming 2025-26 season in the Big 12.
Bryce Thompson, G
As one of the great scorers in recent history for the Oklahoma State hoops program, senior guard Bryce Thompson led the Pokes' scoring offense for nearly five dozen games in Stillwater over the past four campaigns at GIA.
Thompson ended his collegiate career in Stillwater with three classic performances from him on the offensive end of the floor, scoring over 15 points in every one of the three NIT games for the Pokes this postseason.
This past season, Thompson became the first Oklahoma State player with over 1,200 points in the past half-decade (since Cameron McGriff in 2019).
Abou Ousmane, F
Super senior big man Abou Ousmane started all but one games for the Pokes that he played in the season that was for Lutz and Co. Ousmane was a valuable two-way contributor who did a lot of different things well on both ends for the Pokes in the 2024-25 campaign.
You could argue Ousmane was Oklahoma State's most valuable player for the first half of Big 12 conference play for the Pokes. He scored over 16 points in each of Oklahoma State's last three Quad 1 and 2 wins in Big 12 conference play this past regular season.
Ousmane's floor-spacing, rebounding, rim protection, and interior scoring ability around the paint will be difficult to replace for the Pokes and Lutz early this offseason.
Khalil Brantley, G*
Former La Salle three-year transfer and senior guard Khalil Brantley exhausted his eligibility following the conclusion of the 2024-25 season for the Pokes.
The reason Brantley has an asterisk next to his name on this list is the fact that he started roughly only half of the games he played for the Pokes this past campaign in 2024-25.
Brantley had key big contributions coming off the bench in multiple games down the stretch in the regular season and the postseason for Oklahoma State. He scored in double figures in wins over the UCF Knights in Big 12 conference play and the NIT opening round win over the Wichita State Shockers.