Conversations in recent years about the combined strength of the Big 12 haven’t really included Oklahoma State, as the Cowboys have appeared just once in the NCAA Tournament over the last nine years. That team, led by current NBA great Cade Cunningham, is long in the rearview mirror, leaving Steve Lutz and his staff entering year three still trying to replicate some form of success.
The Cowboys are coming off a season that had some good moments even if it wasn’t quite that breakthrough. Oklahoma State won 20 games and made the NIT, unfortunately tying for just 13th in the Big 12 with a 6-12 record. Winning in that league is no joke and the Cowboys couldn’t really find their footing again but there’s plenty of reason for optimism moving forward.
This season will look quite a bit different from last, but an argument can easily be made that Oklahoma State got even more talented in the offseason. Anthony Roy and Christian Coleman are among the biggest departures, though the Cowboys added a ton of talent in the transfer portal and should have a more complete roster this year.
Lutz engineered turnarounds in his first two head coaching jobs rather quickly and just might be on the precipice of something special in Stillwater. The lineup might not jump off the page and you won’t find household names here, but this rotation could be among the deepest in the Big 12. If everything goes according to plan, you’ll hear Oklahoma State’s name called out on Selection Sunday, and not just because of the expanded field.
Projected Starters
Guard – Kanye Clary (Senior)
The starting lineup’s lone returner from last season, Clary is an athletic point guard who previously spent time at Penn State and Mississippi State before settling in with the Cowboys. He put up 10.6 points and 4.6 assists per game in his most productive season to date, though many believe with the talent on this roster that Clary could further evolve as a facilitator.
Guard – Luka Bogavac (Senior)
An intriguing new weapon in this backcourt, Bogavac is a 6-6 guard from Montenegro who comes via North Carolina, where he spent his first collegiate campaign. Bogavac started a majority of the games for the Tar Heels, averaging 9.8 points per game. His shooting numbers disappointed last season but that’s a part of his game that the Cowboys are really excited to see turn around this year.
Forward – Jordan Burks (Senior)
It’s been one school after another for Burks, first at the high school level and now at his fourth college. He was a bench piece at Kentucky, a solid weapon at Georgetown, and a starting forward with UCF, averaging 13.3 points and 4.8 rebounds for the Knights last season. Oklahoma State throws a reliable and experience player into a frontcourt with plenty of moving pieces and are hoping his game can continue to grow.
Forward – Latrell Allmond (Freshman)
One of the jewels of this recruiting class, Allmond is a Top 40 prospect who we figure will be a major playmaker for the Cowboys right from the jump. This 4-star athlete has great size and strength and despite his inexperience could become one of this team’s best rim scorers and rebounders in his freshman season.
Center – Julius Halaifonua (Junior)
A 7-footer originally from New Zealand, Halaifonua slides into what should be a major role at the back end for Oklahoma State. He spent two seasons at Georgetown, barely seeing the floor as a freshman before emerging with 9.5 points and 4.4 rebounds per game last season. We’re hoping to see him on the court even more, while further developing his rebounding ability and outside shot.
Key Reserves
Guard – Anthony Felesi (Freshman)
Another standout addition from the recruiting class, Felesi is another Top 40 prospect who figures to get plenty of looks in this backcourt. A 6-5 shooting guard from Utah, he’s a versatile athlete who’s not just great attacking on offense but also brings energy in rebounding and on defense. The Cowboys likely ease him in behind these veteran guards but there’s a major role for him here.
Guard – Kashie Natt (Senior)
Ruled eligible several weeks ago, Natt adds an important defensive piece to this Oklahoma State backcourt. He spent several seasons playing JUCO and non-D1 basketball before shining with Sam Houston last year, putting up 10.8 points, 8.2 rebounds, and 2.0 blocks per game. Natt was named Conference USA Defensive Player of the Year and the Cowboys really hope for that intensity when he’s on the floor in these Big 12 games.
Guard – Parker Robinson (Freshman)
Robinson is a 3-star shooting guard out of Maryland who might be a bit further down on the depth chart this season but still has real potential. Last season saw him really emerge while playing for Overtime Elite, with his athleticism and shooting ability on display. If he can quickly adjust to the college game, he might be a handy sharpshooter as a freshman for the Cowboys.
Guard – Jalen Montonati (Freshman)
Some of the recruiting sites are higher on him than others, but Montonati is a 4-star wing with great potential buried in this lineup. He’s another young weapon that can shoot the cover off the ball. Despite our previous statements, he might be the best pure shooter among the freshman while also being a physical creator and facilitator.
Forward – Andrija Grbovic (Senior)
Last year was a great first step for Grbovic at the college level at Arizona State, though he’s hoping for even more success with the Cowboys. A 6-11 big from Montenegro, he averaged 6.8 points and 2.9 rebounds and started most games for the Sun Devils last year. He’s got Big 12 experience and adds another physical weapon in this new-look frontcourt.
Forward – Parsa Fallah (Senior)
Time will tell how things change, but Fallah was recently ruled eligible and will return for a fifth season of college basketball. The big man from Iran was previously at Southern Utah and Oregon State before averaging 14.7 points and 6.0 rebounds in a massive role for the Cowboys last season. He’s likely a starter again if the courts keep ruling in his favor, bringing valuable experience and strength to a mostly rebuilt frontcourt.
Forward – Benjamin Ahmed (Sophomore)
Another notable big man back in Stillwater, Ahmed was considered a Top 100 recruit last season but didn’t really get his chance to shine. The Nigerian frontcourt piece averaged just 4.9 points and 3.6 rebounds with a few starts but will get a chance to prove his worth this season. This staff is still expecting big things from Ahmed and a big step forward in year two could be on the horizon.
Guard – Ryan Crotty (Sophomore)
Crotty is yet another returning player who didn’t get a ton of run last season but is part of that valuable depth on this roster. He actually started ten games as a freshman with the Cowboys, putting up 2.5 points and 1.5 rebounds during very limited minutes last season. Still, Crotty was regarded as an elite shooter and we’ll have to see if he can be more explosive in year two.
Guard – Jacob Walker (Sophomore)
There’s one more transfer worth mentioning in Walker, a guard from Memphis who spent last season at Sam Houston. His freshman year showed significant potential, averaging 11.5 points and 2.5 assists while largely coming off the bench, earning Conference USA Sixth Man of the Year honors. He’ll serve a similar role, albeit likely with fewer minutes, while hoping to further develop his game in a major conference.
Schedule Outlook
Once again, it’s not exactly the toughest schedule for the Cowboys, but there’s an early challenge waiting for them. After two early home games, they’ll head to College Station for a tough road matchup at Texas A&M. Just over a week later, the Cowboys will participate in the Charleston Classic and get games against Minnesota and Virginia Tech.
There’s a solid run of home games following that trip to Charleston, but let’s not pretend it’s all easy from here. Oklahoma State opens December against two of the better mid-major programs, hosting Grand Canyon on the 2nd and Saint Mary’s on the 5th.
Exactly one week later, the Cowboys have their rivalry matchup with Oklahoma over in Oklahoma City and you know plenty of people will have that circled on the calendar. There are a few more home games but the last major challenge in nonconference is a battle in Tulsa against Northwestern on December 20.
Big 12 play gives the Cowboys two looks each at Iowa State, TCU, and Utah and you could certainly argue that’s a pretty solid break. Every road game is a real challenge in this league, and unfortunately they’ll only see Kansas, Houston, and BYU on the road, with those last two coming in the closing weeks of the season. Still, there are winnable stretches leading up to Senior Night against Arizona State.
Season Outlook
When you consider the talent in the Big 12, it’s very easy for a team like Oklahoma State to slip through the cracks, especially when we’re talking about national attention. After all, the Cowboys have yet to finish higher than 12th since the league increased to 16 teams. Regardless, Lutz and his staff believe that they have the pieces to be a more competitive and deep team this season.
We mentioned a lot more notable players than we will for most of these previews and none of these are slouches. Oklahoma State already knows what Clary brings at the point, but Bogavac and Natt are reliable new pieces that they’ll really need to perform. When you throw in those talented freshmen like Felesi and Montonati, this team should have no shortage of guard play.
Many changes in the frontcourt leave questions, and the first is obviously if Fallah will truly be available for his fifth season of college ball. Even without him, Oklahoma State loves the athlete they have in Allmond at the 4 and should get contributions from newcomers Halaifonua and Grbovic as well.
Everything doesn’t have to be perfect for Oklahoma State to succeed this year, but it depends on how you define success. With this flurry of depth, the Cowboys certainly have the pieces and talent to get back into the Big Dance for the first time in more than half a decade. How some of these players develop will quickly tell us if this team can be a surprise and actually escape the bottom half of the Big 12 standings.
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