‘We Need to Take Care of Our Own’: Steve Lutz on Hosting Doug Gottlieb, Green Bay for Season Opener

STILLWATER — The first Cowboy basketball game of the Steve Lutz era will be against an alum who hasn’t been shy in his pursuit of the job Lutz holds.

It’s a risk, but it’s also an opportunity. Oklahoma State will host Green Bay at 8 p.m. Monday in Gallagher-Iba Arena. Both schools have new coaches in town with Lutz coaching the Cowboys and Doug Gottlieb, OSU’s all-time leader in assists, starting his college coaching career with the Phoenix.

“Doug is relentless in a lot of ways, and he was very aggressive in pursuing the game,” Lutz said. “With that being said, I also believe that being the head coach and the CEO of this basketball program, in order for us to have a great program, we need to take care of our own. This is Doug’s first head coaching opportunity. His university needs funds. If we’re gonna buy a team, or if we’re gonna give a team money to a university, it might as well be one of our own. I think, obviously, that’s part of the Cowboy code: we take care of one another.

“From the other side of the coin, it’s a little bit risky. Doug played here. He was a good player here. He’s voiced his opinion in wanting to be the head coach here. But the program is bigger than one game. That’s ultimately why I decided we’d go ahead and do this.”

With all the turnover at both programs, it’s tough to say with any certainty what either will look like Monday night. Lutz has brought in 10 new scholarship players to the roster with the only returners being Bryce Thompson, Jamyron Keller and Connor Dow. Gottlieb has had similar levels of turnover by brining in eight freshman and five transfers.

The Cowboys were picked 14th in the Big 12’s preseason poll; Green Bay was picked eighth in the 11-team Horizon League. KenPom has the Cowboys as the No. 89 team in the country entering the year, whereas the Phoenix are down at No. 309 (of 364).

Under normal circumstances, a game between OSU and Green Bay in early November wouldn’t raise a lot of eyebrows. But given the unique scenario of an alum/national radio host coaching the Phoenix, this game should attract more eyeballs than if the Cowboys brought in some other program from the Horizon League. Apparently, Gottlieb promised 13,611 people would be in attendance.

“To be very frank and honest with you, Doug promised us a sellout,” said Lutz lightheartedly. “So if it’s not a sellout, it’s on Doug’s shoulders. That was part of his ploy and part of his wanting to come here. He promised a sellout. So we’re gonna see if he can produce on Monday.”

Although it could be considered a risk bringing in a guy who has said in the past he wants the job Lutz currently holds, Lutz also pointed to the opportunity that those extra eyeballs could provide.

“The more we can gather interest in our basketball program and we can get people in the building, I truly believe they will like the product that’s on the floor, and they will want to come back to see them again,” Lutz said. “If we have to do it by bringing Doug in or whoever, then let’s do it. Then it’s our job to play the right way and to have those people feel attached to the program and to the team and want to come back. That’s our job. We’ve done our part on the front end. Now we’ve got to execute on Monday.”