‘They Deserve to Have an Opportunity to Play Postseason’: Lutz, Cowboys Ready for NIT

STILLWATER — Despite the team’s future being a little uncertain, the Cowboys have been working just in case they had the opportunity to play more basketball, and they do.

Oklahoma State was one of 32 teams selected to take part in the 2025 NIT. The Cowboys will host Wichita State at 8 p.m. Tuesday in Gallagher-Iba Arena. There was a chance the Cowboys’ season ended last Tuesday when they bowed out of the Big 12 tournament. With spring break starting this week, it wouldn’t have been too crazy for the Cowboys to start to disperse after that loss in Kansas City, but they’ve been in the gym.

“They came back on Tuesday night, and they had Wednesday and Thursday off,” Lutz said. “Then we did a bunch of individual work on Friday. We practiced on Saturday. Practiced on Sunday. But Sunday, by that time, you have a little more clear idea if you’re in or out. I know that I read some of the accounts about Wichita State, which is interesting to me, but I thought we had a pretty good chance of getting in. So Sunday was a much more directed practice, if you will. Then obviously we’re gonna practice here in a few minutes (on Monday).”

Those Wichita State accounts Lutz is referring to came via Taylor Eldridge at The Wichita Eagle. Eldridge reports the Shockers were … well, shocked to be included in the NIT field. Wichita State lost in the quarterfinals of the American tournament and sit at No. 134 in the NET. The Shockers thought their season was over, so much so that players had their exit interviews and started to leave town. According to Eldridge, Wichita State coach Paul Mills hoped to reassemble the players Monday in Wichita before taking a bus down I-35 to Stillwater.

Although the Cowboys were more prepared to play in this tournament than the Shockers, the Pokes also didn’t have a typical weekend. Wild fires burned across the state Friday, with Stillwater being one of the places that got hit the worst. Lutz said they put together a plan should players need to evacuate where they were. Unfortunately, Lutz said Scott Sutton lost his home to the fires.

In hosting this game, OSU is trying to help in any ways it can. Bins are going to be placed around the arena to collect bottled water, Gatorade, Liquid IV, packaged food and snacks, pet food, paper products, personal care items, feminine products and trash bags. First responders can attend Tuesday’s game for free by presenting their badge at the will call window on game day.

Lutz said the Cowboys have practiced well despite any potential uncertainty if the season was going to continue. He said his guys have a bad taste in their mouths for how they performed in that 87-68 loss to Cincinnati in Kansas City. Although it isn’t the NCAA Tournament, where Lutz said they need to make sure they’re playing moving forward, the nine seniors on OSU’s roster have the opportunity to end their college careers on a win and with some hardware.

“I think it’d be great for them,” Lutz said. “They’ve come a long way. We’re not a polished product all nights and at all times, but I think these guys have competed at a high level for most of the nights, especially in Gallagher-Iba.

“They deserve to have an opportunity to play postseason. Some of these guys have never played in the postseason, whether it’s NCAA, NIT or whatever. So this’ll be their first opportunity to do so, and they’re excited about it.”