How Good Is Oklahoma State In Gallagher-Iba Arena?

Despite all the twists and turns of the last decade of Oklahoma State basketball, one thing has remained constant. One thing has stood the test of time and provided a stronghold when there seemingly was none for Oklahoma State basketball.

Gallagher-Iba Arena.

As a new hoops season dawns, I thought it would be fun to look back on Oklahoma State’s record in GIA and how each of its last few coaches performed there. GIA is (obviously) one of the greatest advantages a coach can have.

Even when it’s empty, it’s still a difficult place to play. Here is Oklahoma State’s record since it opened in the late 1930s as well as the last three coaches.

• Oklahoma State in GIA (overall): 773-217 (79.6 percent)
• Eddie Sutton in GIA: 231-26 (88.7 percent)
• Sean Sutton in GIA: 28-6 (82.4 percent)
• Travis Ford in GIA: 128-26 (79.7 percent)

It’s crazy to me that Travis Ford and Eddie Sutton both accumulated the same number of losses in that building. Underwood will have his work cut out for him, for sure, but it’s clear he is intent on protecting the house that Iba built. Of all of Underwood’s tasks, this one might be the easiest.

“When this building is full, it’s the best there is in college basketball,” Underwood said earlier this fall. “I believe that. I’ve been doing this for 30 years and I’ve seen a lot of them. We put people in this building, we can elevate this program, not just to the status we all want. We should be there. We are an elite program and we should act like that.

“We need to believe we are that. And to do that, it is putting people in seats and I know our players appreciate that and we can make this program the great basketball program it is.”