Boynton: ‘Excitement in Stillwater Now About Basketball and What the Program Can Be Again’

Mike Boynton spoke at basketball’s Big 12 Media Day this week, and it flew a little under the radar with Homecoming, Texas and those unis on deck. But Boynton was great as usual, and the headline quote referenced the old days. The Sutton days. It was also full of a warning I’ve been thinking about.

“Now we have had some transition,” said Boynton. “Not only did we lose four guys who would have been very strong contributors, but we had two late transfers from our team, guys who probably could have helped a lot this year. That’s okay, I don’t begrudge those kids at all, I wish them well.

“At the same time we’re into a new (believe he said vogue) now in our program and there is excitement in Stillwater now about basketball and what the program can be again as it once was under Coach Sutton.

“We’re excited about the opportunity to build it again and reinvigorate our fan base and they are excited about coming back into GIA, and it’s a fairly young team. We feel like we have good enough talent that as long as those kids keep working hard, which they have since June, they will continue to get better. I don’t know what that looks like as far as wins and losses but we feel good about the direction we’re headed.”

First, the excitement is oozing from the white maple. On the recruiting trail and in the win-loss column, Boynton has been an unmitigated success. Boynton hits all the notes, knows all the rhythms and honestly displays a feel for the program uncommon for someone of his age and experience.

However, what he said at the end — I don’t know what that looks like as far as wins and losses — is something that’s been on my mind. I’m concerned about this season. The Pokes have 22 points per game worth of their roster coming back, and while I’m excited about Isaac Likekele and Michael Weathers (if he plays), I’m also dubious that Boynton can flip them into Jeffrey Carroll and Kendall Smith over the next five months.

Michael Weathers just posted this on his Instagram story… ? #okstate pic.twitter.com/kmTnvF48Wx

— Cowboys Fright For Treats (@CowboysRFF) October 24, 2018

“We’ve got a couple of guys who haven’t played yet but have been in our program that we feel can make big-time contributions to us,” said Boynton. “I know that’s not a lot of outside expectations as there weren’t last year, but the work that our guys have put in and continue to do … starting in June, we went on a foreign trip. We feel like we’re a step ahead of what we possibly could have been otherwise and we look forward to getting out there and competing.”

Of course, being wrong about that wouldn’t be my first time when it comes to Boynton. For all I know they’ll finish fifth in the league and make it to the Sweet 16. But this is the year that concerns me. Last year was great. Next year projects to rock with what will eventually probably be a top 20 class coming in. And beyond that is something you can dream on. I hope this year is seen for what it is — a bridge between where OSU hoops has been and where it’s going — and that OSU (and Boynton) can keep the momentum moving in the right direction.