Brad Underwood ‘Ecstatic’ to Be Done With Big 12 Play

Brad Underwood has coached seven conference tournament games in his career and he lost his first one on Thursday.

As the first-year head coach sat behind a podium in Kansas City absorbing his team’s 9-point loss, he tried to look at the bright side.

“I’m ecstatic, looking forward to postseason play,” said Underwood. “And I’m ecstatic to get away from Big 12 teams because this league is so good. I look forward to that opportunity next week.”

His point is well taken. The Big 12 has more teams in KenPom’s top 30 (seven) than any other conference. The top-heavy ACC only has five. The Big 12 is also ranked first in average adjusted offensive efficiency and adjusted defensive efficiency according to the KenPom.

The fact that Oklahoma State plays in what Underwood calls the best league in the country should prepare them for whoever they might face.

“I can promise you we’re not going to see better point guards than what we’ve seen night-in and night-out in this league,” said Underwood. A sentiment Leyton Hammonds shared with his ball coach.

“I’m excited to play against somebody else,” said Hammonds “I mean, because it’s kinda going to be different. We’ve never played against these teams before. It’s a different league, and it’s going to be exciting.”

That meat grinder that is Big 12 conference play saw the team with the nation’s most efficient offense per KenPom finish 9-9 in league play.

After captaining the Oklahoma State ship from a 0-6 Big 12 start to an 11-1 stretch, his team has dropped three straight. But Underwood wants his players to be focused on the positive.

“I think the silver lining in losing is you get [to] kind of freshen up mentally and physically a little bit. Recharge. We don’t know who we will play, but I think there’s a certain level of excitement about going to the tournament. It’s so special.

“I want our guys to enjoy that moment, never take that moment for granted, have that experience, have that moment and then you have to play well.”

Hammonds is just glad to be in this position again after his Cowboys missed the Tournament his junior year.

“I’m very excited,” said Hammonds. “This is the best time of the year. I’m blessed I get to play in this tournament again, and like Coach says, we put ourselves in a place to play in this tournament and hopefully get a good seed.”

ESPN bracketologist Joe Lunardi currently has the Cowboys as a 7-seed facing Marquette in the first round. We’ll know for sure on Sunday when the official bracket is announced.