College Basketball Analyst Assesses Oklahoma State's Needs For Next Season
The Oklahoma State basketball program is not in a good spot right now. They've been able to bring in all the talent needed to make real noise in the Big 12 -- despite it being the best conference across college basketball -- though they've been unsuccessful in doing so.
So, where do the Cowboys go from here? Isaac Trotter broke down every top basketball program's needs ahead of the next college basketball season.
"Jarius Hicklen and John-Michael Wright will graduate, and Oklahoma State has numerous other backcourt pieces that have interesting decisions on the docket. But guard play is everything in the Big 12, and Oklahoma State needs more difference-makers," Trotter wrote.
Evidently, the Cowboys are going to need strong guard play if they want to have a smooth-functioning offense. Playing against so many stout defenses and high-powered offenses, the Cowboys will need a good engine for their own offense.
"Mike Boynton opted to go young with a five-man 2023 recruiting class. Can it also get old?" Trotter wrote.
As things stand now, the Cowboys are an incredibly young team, and that has shown in clutch situations. This team could improve tremendously over time, but how patient can the program be with Boynton and his inability to make any noise with his rosters?
Boynton's run as a head coach was extended because of Cade Cunningham and the success his program had that season. If the players stay and develop well under the system, the current team, mixed in with more talent as recruits and the transfer portal, could have a high ceiling, but that will take time.
It seems the Cowboys do need a point guard to set their guys up in their spots, which someone like Eric Dailey could really benefit from. It'll be interesting to see where the Cowboys' basketball program goes from here, whether it be with this squad or a fresh-look squad with a new head coach.
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Kade has been covering a wide variety of teams ranging from the NFL to the NBA and college athletics since joining Sports Illustrated's On SI in 2022