Daily Bullets (February 14)

Pull Up a Chair

The 2017-2018 Oklahoma State Basketball team was not expected to have a place at the table – but Mike Boynton has found a way into the conversation.

It would’ve been easy, and was expected. for Oklahoma State to cave in and become a doormat in the Big 12, for Boynton to face-plant after all he was presented with. Boynton almost certainly won’t win coach of the year in the Big 12 (Texas Tech’s Chris Beard probably has that locked up), but few in the sport have made bigger strides, all things considered, than him.

In college basketball, success for first-year coaches can be gauged in different ways. Oklahoma State qualifies as a success in more ways than not. Boynton’s not a big name in coaching yet, but if he’s doing this well despite all that was tossed at him in his first year on the job, think of what could come when the waters lose their chop. [CBS Sports]

Making the tournament with this team would qualify as wildly overachieving – winning in Lawrence and Morgantown merit any first-year coach a passing grade.

(Not) A Flatland Traveler

In his summary from the weekend in college basketball, Kyle Boone gives the marching orders for the Cowboy Basketball team for the rest of the spring.

OSU’s an enigma this season. It has beat Kansas, Florida State and West Virginia on the road, but has played uninspiring ball at home. Still yet, the Pokes have a strange, interesting résumé that could land them on the cusp of the bubble if they continue their late-season trend of knocking off top teams within the league.

They’ve just got to cut out the extreme valleys in between the highs. [CBS Sports]

You have to think they’ve nailed enough signature wins – now it’s just for avoiding bad losses and inching closer to that 20 win number.

Blind resume test via ESPN!!!

Team A: 2-4 vs. RPI top 50, best win vs. No. 27, five top 100 wins

Team B: 5-7 vs. RPI top 50, three wins vs. teams better than 35th, seven top 100 wins

———————————————
Team A: USC (Last Team In)
Team B: OK State (not on bubble)

— Sean Bennett (@Broadcaster005) February 12, 2018

OSU and NCAA Notes

Glenn Spencer landed a job on the East Coast….College football saw largest attendance drop since ’83 this year….Berry Tramel expounds on OSU’s tourney chances….Love Mason Rudolph and James Washington’s spots in this CBS mock draft….Recruiting is getting (even more) top heavy

Two groups of transfers are emerging as socially acceptable via the committee:

We could be inching closer to some transfer reform.

Under consideration:

– Players who meet "specific high-achieving academic benchmarks" could play immediately after transferring.

– Immediate eligibility for players who sign an NLI but want to transfer after their HC leaves https://t.co/lntBn5NjnB

— Dr. Saturday (@YahooDrSaturday) February 13, 2018

College basketball is so much fun – anybody can enjoy the last two minutes of a close game.

?Bison BUZZER BEATER ?@Bucknell_MBB with an incredible 10 POINT final minute comeback victory over Colgate! pic.twitter.com/RjgyFDvx30

— NCAA March Madness (@marchmadness) February 13, 2018

If you’re interested in hearing No. 2 before he takes off for the League, here’s your chance.

Come join us and share with others! pic.twitter.com/V4p6SjFVGn

— john talley (@talleytime57) February 13, 2018

Five dollar tickets and Gundy saxin’ it up – sounds like a win to me.

The goals haven’t changed. We’re about March. #letswork #okstate

2 ? for $10 with promo code: VALENTINE

➡️ https://t.co/DquLrGabda pic.twitter.com/EW1wvQyi1G

— Cowboy Basketball (@OSUMBB) February 13, 2018

What You Missed on PFB

• So Mike Gundy played the saxophone to get everyone to GIA tonight
• The football spring game date and time has been set
• Thoughts on how Jalen McCleskey fits into 2018
• Boone hosts the Rivals guy for OSU on the latest podcast
• Is Mike Boynton doing more with less?

Other Stuff I’m Reading

• Jason Kottke Q&A on blogs is great
• If it’s important, learn it repeatedly
• Halfway through this book by Chip Gaines (of HGTV stardom) – good read for entrepreneur/driven folks