Portal Primer: Lutz Gears Up for Roster Decisions as Cowboys Target NCAA Berth

STILLWATER — Year 2 is over, and now within the next month Steve Lutz will be tasked with putting together his team for Year 3.

Oklahoma State has gone 37-33 in two years under Lutz. This past season was a step forward from Year 1, as OSU’s season-ending loss to Wichita State in the NIT meant Lutz’s Cowboys finished 20-15. OSU finished 74th in the NET this year after finishing 92nd the year before. OSU is 76th in RPI after being 136th last year.

Despite the improvement, Lutz is well aware that the goal isn’t to continue playing in the NIT.

“We gotta look in the mirror,” Lutz said. “We gotta figure out who wants to return, who we want to return, and then let’s go get a team that’s gonna get us to the NCAA Tournament and that’s gonna play the right way and be physical and tough and defend and rebound every single night next year. That’s the job moving forward.”

The transfer portal opens April 7 — the day after the national title game — and will be open until April 21.

After Sunday’s game, Lutz said he’ll give a little time to decompress before meeting with each player before the portal opens. Lutz also noted that he’s not so naive to think that some of the wheels of the portal aren’t already starting to spin.

“The crazy thing about this world, guys, is we talk to agents all day long,” Lutz said. “Some of those agents are talking about this kid at that school. Well, some of those agents are dropping our players’ names. That’s just the world we live in, and that’s not to say that these guys didn’t try and give their best and all that kind of stuff. But we’ll sort it out. I never know what’s coming across the wire.”

Last year, Lutz just about built his entire roster through the portal, having only three returners — only one of whom who played regularly in Robert Jennings II.

It sounds as if Lutz doesn’t want to have to dive as deeply into the portal this offseason, but it’s a two-way street in that the guys he wants to return also have to want to come back and at the price that Lutz and OSU can provide financially. It’s hard to predict portal season.

“We’re not gonna have the same money that some of the other Big 12 programs are gonna have, and that’s not an excuse — that’s the facts,” Lutz said. “And we’ve gotta figure out a way to spend our money wisely to get the right people, get the right players and then do more with less. That’s what the Cowboy Code says. We’re not gonna complain. We’re gonna go out and do our jobs, but all of that will evolve in the next week to 10 days.

“You guys just don’t understand it. There’s no way for me to forecast what’s about to happen here in the next week to 10 days.”

Who can come back? Who is gone?

Out of eligibility (4): Christian Coleman, Kirk Cole, Anthony Roy, Parsa Fallah

Gone (1): Lefteris Mantzoukas

Available to return (10): Robert Jennings II, Jaylen Curry, Kanye Clary, Isaiah Coleman, Vyctorius Miller, Andrija Vukovic, Daniel Guetta, Mekhi Ragland, Benjamin Ahmed, Ryan Crotty

Incoming freshmen (3): Latrell Allmond, Jalen Montonati, Parker Robinson

College basketball rosters have 15 spots available. Given what has gone out and what’s coming in, OSU will for sure have two spots available, and then Lutz and Co. will have to replace anyone else who goes out during the portal.

What could OSU be after?

Who exits via the portal will obviously determine this further, but from a position aspect of what we know now, size will likely be something OSU is interested in.

The only true power forwards who would be available are Robert Jennings, who missed all but three games this year with a hip injury, and Latrell Allmond, an incoming McDonald’s All-American. Both of those guys are capable contributors but one injury there puts you in a tough spot as it pertains to versatile length.

The center position is an interesting one, as I’d imagine a lot of Cowboy fans are excited to see the further development of Benjamin Ahmed, Andrija Vukovic and Mekhi Ragland, as all showed flashes of what they can be this past season. But it would be a little scary going into next season without a guy who has proven he can do it for a full year at this level.

Then the obvious thing that OSU needs to get better at in 2026-27 is defense — particularly on the perimeter. The Cowboys allowed more made 3s this year than they ever have before. Finding the right balance of getting some bulldog defenders while not sacrificing too much on the offensive end will be a big key to the Cowboys’ success this roster-building season.