OSU Seniors Reflect Ahead of Final Regular-Season Home Game: Mitchell Solomon

For everything Mitchell Solomon isn’t, you have to give him credit for what he is: a fan-favorite, scrappy, fundamentally sound player who makes the most out of his minutes on the floor.

Unless OSU makes its way to the NIT, Saturday’s game against No. 6 Kansas will mark the final time Solomon has an opportunity to dive and slide on the white maple of Gallagher-Iba Arena for a loose ball.

Solomon wants to save the reminiscing for the conclusion of the season, but he said there’s a lot on his mind as his final game in GIA approaches.

As far as what it’ll take to defeat KU, Solomon said the Cowboys must capitalize on things they’ve preached all season: focusing and playing hard.

“If we play the right way and do the little things, we have a chance to beat anybody,” he said.

If anybody plays the right way and does the little things, it’s Solomon. Perhaps one reason for his great basketball IQ is the fact that he has played under three coaches and numerous assistants during his OSU tenure.

Solomon said you can never say one coach is better than another (though some beg to differ), but had positive things to say about Mike Boynton after one year under his wing.

“He’s almost a different person,” Solomon said of Boynton. “It’s interesting to see him develop as a head coach. Naturally he’s a pretty stubborn person. You have to be (stubborn) to get where he’s gotten this early in his career … It’s really been fun to see him grow as a coach and as a person.”

Solomon will have plenty to look back on at the conclusion of his career. But his last victory might have led to his most impressive feat as a Cowboy. OSU’s triumph against Iowa State marked a special feat for Solomon and Jeffrey Carrol, who have won in every Big 12 venue. That hadn’t been accomplished since 1954.

“There’s a lot of things I’ll be proud of about my career that I’ll be able to tell my grandkids about,” Solomon said. “And that’s definitely probably at the top of the list. The arenas that I’ve won in, that I’ve been able to play in, have been legendary arenas. It’s definitely special, and I’m honored to be a part of the legacy we have.”