Mike Boynton on Bedlam Blowout: ‘We Got Our Tails Kicked’

There are innumerable reasons to like Mike Boynton, and one of them is clearly that he’s not reticent to plainly express his thoughts. The reason that’s an endearing quality is because he seems to see the things fans see and understand where they’re coming from.

One example of this is that after the West Virginia game he actually replied to a fan on Twitter asking why Yankuba Sima was not put in the game after Mitchell Solomon fouled out. This is a real thing that happened!

Down 9 at the time… thought we need more of a perimeter attack offensively and pressing lineup defensively. Will watch the film to see of the other option would have been better.

— Mike Boynton (@thacoachmike) December 30, 2017

So that’s pretty cool. And after the OU game in Norman on Wednesday when the only thing all of us were thinking was, “wow, OSU got their asses kicked tonight by a really good point guard and a really good team,” Boynton said the same.

“They’re a really good team. We got our tails kicked,” said Boynton. “We competed a little bit to start the first half. We kind of made a run at the end of the first half. They jumped out on us in the second half, and we really didn’t respond. That’s discouraging.

“I was discouraged that we didn’t play with enough pride. That’s something we’re always going to do in this program as long as I’m the leader here. We’re going to play with a great amount of pride and aggression. We played on our heels way too much … You have to give them credit … We gave in a little too much.

“Proud is easy. That starts with you. It’s inside of you. Because it means enough to you, you play the right way and compete as hard as you can, you play with courage and the will to win. We didn’t have that tonight and it’s something we need to work on.”

? The thoughts of @thacoachmike following last night's #Bedlam game in Norman. The Cowboys return to the GIA practice court today. #letswork #okstate pic.twitter.com/4NxEY8yWPD

— Cowboy Basketball (@OSUMBB) January 4, 2018

Pretty great stuff, and I think it resonates with both players and fans because it seems genuine. Is it genuine? I have no idea. I’ve had two interactions with Boynton. I don’t know him. But I do know that multiple people outside the program who have no incentive to talk him up have done so, both as a human being and as a coach.

He’s right, too. OSU folded in the second half in Norman, and that’s going to lead to a lot of Ls in the next few months if it keeps happening. Boynton and Co. have their third shot at their first Big 12 win on Saturday in GIA where they’ll likely be a home favorite over Iowa State.