Daily Bullets (March 28)

Superstar

Interesting comment thrown out during the interview process.

“I don’t know, but we had one guy on the committee (one of the regents) and he looked at him (during the interview) and said, ‘You’re a superstar,'” athletic director Mike Holder said in discussing the interview that the panel had with Boynton.

Told it was not scandalous, Holder still wouldn’t reveal which of the four Regents as Doug Burns was the leader of the Regents on the panel, Calvin Anthony, Joe Hall, and Rick Davis. “I know it’s not (scandalous), I was shocked by that but I agreed with him. He was hearing the same music that I was hearing.” [GoPokes $$$]

All I could think of was one of the regents breaking out an old SNL character bit when I heard this:

A few days into this thing and that comment is rushed and out of place on most anybody’s account. Superstars get dudes, make the second (or third) weekend of the tourney consistently and medal in conference play. But for a Brooklyn guy, he’s seeming more and more a fit for Stillwater. Not all coaches are relational but he seems to be.

He’ll live in Stillwater but the dudes he’ll work with are from Dallas, Chicago, Tulsa, OKC and Miami. Says he’s defense first, a good thing. Some coaches are more animated and get after you, but Boynton seems like more good cop than bad cop. It’ll be interesting to see how players respond to that.

Big Brother

The first branch of Underwood’s coaching tree appears to be a different type of guy.

“There’s a lot of phonies in the world,” Holder said. “What you saw there is a real man.”

The genuine side of Boynton was evident to many inside the basketball program this past season. He worked tirelessly. He looked for ways to fix what was broken and improve upon what was succeeding. But as much as anything, he connected with players, pushing and cajoling when they needed it but joking and laughing when they needed it, too.

After practice, guys would stick around.

“And cling to him,” said Lamont Evans, the assistant who Boynton has retained as his associate head coach. “That’s huge. It’s genuine, how he was and how he is.” [NewsOK]

Underwood’s hard charging style got results but Boynton at first glance appears to be much more of a players’ coach. Underwood was the dad and Boynton appears to have been your decade older big brother that smoothed things over (likely a legit number for Forte last year).

Going the young assistant route is a decided zig where the other Big 12 teams are zagging with mostly older, experienced vets. Having Lamont Evans will really help, let’s see if the Board’s gamble pays off.

Henson’s Homecoming

Two homecomings this spring would have been fun, but this one will have an impact.

The former Oklahoma State offensive analyst was hired as the Sun Devils’ assistant head coach/offensive line coach and run game coordinator in January, and suddenly, Henson’s former boss in Stillwater provided a February counter-offer.

Greg Adkins had been dismissed as offensive line coach at OSU. Henson was Mike Gundy’s first pick as a replacement. It provided a lower salary than offered at ASU. Fewer coaching responsibilities, too.

“I hated the timing of it,” Henson said.

But the former Cowboy offensive lineman (1993-1997) who walked-on from Tuttle didn’t give it a second thought.

“This is my home, this is where I’m from, this is where I want to be,” Henson said. [NewsOK]

That an experienced, impressive offensive line coach took a pay cut to come coach in Stillwater is just incredible. He could be a solid option for an offensive coordinator if Mike Y. decides to make a move next spring as well.

Oklahoma State is a special place to some people and you can’t debate that Josh Henson is one of those people.

OSU and NCAA Notes

The two most stacked Big 12 QB depth charts of the future per ESPN….Kentucky’s John Calipari has a social media empire….Georgetown hiring Patrick Ewing would be intimidating but not exactly with the times….Jawun checking in at no. 26 to the Nets in the latest Draft Express….PFF breaks down Vincent Taylor’s draft profile

Mercy. In 2015-2016 the Boynton’s made 7 percent of what they’ll gross in 2017-2018.

Mike Boynton's salary.

2014 at SFA: $70,000 a year
2017 at OSU: $83,000 a month

— Pistols Firing (@pistolsguys) March 27, 2017

The definition of a student–athlete.

UNC's Luke Maye attended his 8 am class today ? (via @JackSewell_) pic.twitter.com/VJa8SMTAOv

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) March 27, 2017

Dude tipped off against Kentucky at 4:05 p.m., hit the game winner and made it to his 8 a.m. class.

Pokes take on Wichita State in baseball tonight. Winner gets Gregg Marshall?

The Cowboys are back home Tuesday night – here's what ya need to know: https://t.co/MGRu2NmSsS #MeetMeAtAllieP #GoPokes pic.twitter.com/WmxoPXWzGF

— Cowboy Baseball (@OSUBaseball) March 27, 2017

Unexpected Reports on PFB

• Holder could be retiring….Soon?
• Holder was alone on Gottlieb Island (in hiring room)
• Lamont Evans: associate head coach

Boynton Presser Coverage from PFB

• Cursive Cowboys are coming back
• Boynton on his relationship with Evans
• Social media reactions to the press conference
• Notebook on the press conference from Porter
• Approximate Boynton contract details
• Don’t forget about Phil

Other Stuff I’m Reading

Why Serge didn’t work out for the Magic (Orlando got Presti’d)….Key to success: being lazy….Super awkward: Raiders are moving to Vegas sometime in the next four years but will play in Oakland til then?….Pretty interesting on how Netflix is affecting Hollywood

Not a super hero guy but I’m confused about Aquaman’s utility outside of water.