Mike Gundy Says Eddie Sutton ‘Should Have Been’ in HOF 10 Years Ago

You know it, I know it, and Mike Gundy knows it: Eddie Sutton should have been in the Naismith Memorial Hall of Fame years and years ago.

In a conference call with reporters on Tuesday, Gundy acknowledged Sutton’s nod to get into the Hall over the weekend, saying what every follower of college hoops has been slamming their fist on the table for years at.

“He should have been in it 10 years ago,” said Gundy. “We all know that. It’s something that needed to be done a long time ago, so I was thrilled for him.”

Mike Gundy on Eddie Sutton’s HoF induction: “He should have been in it 10 years ago. We all know that. … It’s something that needed to be done a long time ago, so I was thrilled for him.” #OKState

— Hallie Hart (@halliehart) April 7, 2020

Sutton was inducted into the College Basketball Hall of Fame nearly 10 years ago, in 2011. But the Naismith dragged its feet, denying him six times before eventually voting him in with the 2020 class. He’ll be enshrined this summer along with Kobe Bryant and Tim Duncan, among others.

Gundy has long been a proponent of Sutton’s when it comes to the Hall, calling for transparency in an anonymous voting process that often leaves candidates in a state of confusion. Just last year he called for transparency in the process and claimed his time at Kentucky was unfairly being held over his head.

“We need to know who voted,” Gundy said. “We’re trying to get the Mueller Report. We got a subpoena to get that. Why don’t we know who the 24 people are that voted?”

He later added: “I think it’s a buncha bull*** to be honest with you.”

Sutton took OSU to two Final Fours during his time in Stillwater and was a two-time AP College Coach of the Year during his illustrious coaching career.