Notes on Mike Boynton’s Press Conference Following the Kansas Win

Mike Boynton talked on Saturday afternoon about how monumental OSU’s win over Kansas was for the Cowboys’ program in both a press conference and an interview posted by @OSUMBB on Twitter. Here are some notes from both.

• Great college basketball game. Another terrific Saturday in the Big 12. OSU has been in a lot of these games that are really competitive. Really proud for showing fight and competitive spirit based on how last week has gone.

• Been a lot of outside noise and distraction, and kids have “been resilient through it all.” Really proud of them to play the way they did.

• He’s been baffeled by the fact that OSU hasn’t shot better from 3-point range. “I want those guys to always play with confidence, no matter what the numbers are saying.” Can’t have success without confidence in the Big 12.

• Deferred on comparing end of this year to end of last year. But thinks this group “can compete with anybody.”

• Like to think OSU can play for a long time (this season) but wants team to enjoy this win because there aren’t many teams that come into AFH and walk away with a W.

• Offensive boards were a big emphasis because KU plays four guards for basically the whole game. Proud of guys for following the game plan and being aggressive on the boards.

• “I don’t know if I want to be trying to say that I’m anything better than (Coach Sutton) at all (after being told Sutton never won at KU). I have a long way to go. I’m at 14 wins. He’s at 800-something. He’s won a lot more places than I have.”

• Wasn’t thinking about getting first win in AFH. Just trying to enjoy the moment for his team. The win gives you a chance to continue to be competitive and right the drift.

• Haven’t won back-to-back games in league play. Good opportunity to do so next week against Baylor. Also mentioned going to recruit (he was in Virgina on Saturday night).

• “You need some validation sometimes to keep believing you can do it.”

• Special to beat a HOF coach in that gym in this league.

• “That’s who Cam is,” Boynton said of his performance. When he’s his best, he’s the hardest-playing guy on the court. Performs that way in practice. Sometimes gets caught up in games doing other things that aren’t necessarily best for OSU’s team.

• Didn’t know OSU wasn’t going to be able to play two bigs together.

• “Today was the first time in a long time we played a complete 40 minutes. That’s totally about those kids. They worked their tails off to come out here and get this win. I’m really happy for them.”

• “Our kids had a little bit more fight today (than KU’s did).” Keys were limiting their fast-break points and crashing the boards. Said OSU played with a lot of toughness and courage. “Cam McGriff was off the charts. Kendall Smith made some really big plays.”

• Called Cam a “blue collar guy.” Said he played the second half with one eye open after he got poked in the first half.

• Said OSU sustained KU’s runs because they maintained a sense of urgency and played with aggression.

• Took the timeout at the end to tell the team what to do after Smith made his free throws. Said his players weren’t fazed by the moment or the noise. They were committed to competing and rebounding the ball.

• Wants his team to maximize the opportunity they have the rest of the year.

• “I’m going to get really high in the air and get on an airplane and go recruiting. Make sure people understand this is a great program and is one we want to continue to build.”

? "We played with a lot of toughness, a lot of courage. Cam McGriff was off the charts today." – @thacoachmike. #letswork #okstate pic.twitter.com/g1V1GeQjGJ

— Cowboy Basketball (@OSUMBB) February 3, 2018