Five Best Moments from Oklahoma State’s Basketball Season

Oklahoma State was picked to finish last in the Big 12 this season. And while an eighth place regular season finish and NIT appearance won’t knock your socks off, wins over the likes of KU (twice), OU (twice), West Virginia and many others made the season one I won’t quickly forget.

With the season now in the books, let’s take a look back at the five best moments from Mike Boynton’s inaugural season.

1. OSU beats Kansas in Lawrence

This is number one for me. There were so many moments from this game I loved — McGriff’s insane putback slam, Kendall Smith’s ice-cold clutch gene down the stretch — but the overarching moment of beating Kansas in Lawrence is the memory I choose to reflect on.

That team is a 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament! And OSU took them down not only on their home floor, but in one of the most disruptive home venues in all of college basketball!

2. Kendall’s Bedlam tying 3-pointer

The term mega-clutch is synonymous with Kendall Smith, OSU’s one-and-done grad transfer who transformed into its go-to crunch time option. That’s the rules now. Sorry.

There are a number of examples to point to his clutch factor throughout the season, but perhaps none bigger than the “OMG I STILL CAN’T BELIEVE THAT WENT IN” shot from Bedlam. I still can’t believe that went in!

If Smith clanks off the front iron, OU wins and sweeps the Cowboys in the regular season, Young becomes an Oklahoma legend for going for nearly 50, and the air inside GIA gets sucked into a vacuum.

Instead, OSU takes it to OT, wins it 83-81, and so began the Trae Young backlash that is still whipping around like a flag in the wind.

3. Mike Boynton Bedlam floor slappage

Bedlam in Stillwater was an all-timer, because three of the season’s top five moments came from that game. Mike Boynton slapping the floor and demanding effort on defense was definitely up there for me.

I think he was telling his team, "#LetsWork": Mike Boynton slaps the floor with 30 seconds left in OT. #Bedlam #okstate pic.twitter.com/5RTuLmVRBW

— Carson Cunningham (@KOCOCarson) January 20, 2018

Boynton slapping the floor was great in itself, but I thought this felt like the moment OSU fans officially bought stock in their head coach.

Everyone thought he was a great coach who did some nice things prior to this moment, although nothing special. But he fully immersed himself in the Cowboy culture with a slap of the Eddie Sutton hardwood, and he hasn’t been anything other than an OSU darling since.

 4. Oklahoma State beats Texas in final seconds

Oklahoma State trailed by 12 points with 5:55 remaining against Texas back in January, but a fast and furious comeback had the Cowboys and Longhorns exchanging blows down the stretch in what turned out to be one of the more exciting games of the season.

With only six seconds remaining, Oklahoma State tapped in a go-ahead layup credited to Tavarius Shine that put OSU up 65-64 — which would go on to be the final of the game.

#okstate wins. Unreal finish in GIA. pic.twitter.com/4gaxUlXdhq

— Pistols Firing (@pistolsguys) January 14, 2018

5. Mitch Solomon beats Trae Young for hustle play

Mitch Solomon out-hustling Trae Young for a loose ball during Bedlam in Stillwater was an all-timer. ALL-TIMER. While Young promptly signaled for a travel, Solomon gathered the ball, dished to Shine, and OSU scored a quick 2.

It was the perfect encapsulation of Solomon’s value to the team, and the same for Young who took up the postgame complaining about the sequence.