Mike Boynton Shares Thoughts on Big 12 Basketball Depth

The Big 12 is arguably the top conference across all of college basketball, with plenty of talent at the top combined with depth.

Mike Boynton, along with Bryce Thompson and John Michael-Wright, represented Oklahoma State's basketball team and traveled to Kansas City for the Big 12 Tipoff. Boynton has spent time preparing his team for an incredibly tough season coming in the Big 12 and now has had the opportunity to share his thoughts on the conference. 

At the Big 12 Tipoff, Boynton was asked about the depth of the conference and the new additions. 

"It's crazy to think that I'm doing this for the seventh time as a head coach," Boynton said to start his answer. "It seems like time has really flown by.  I've enjoyed every minute of it, but the competition is a real thing."

While Boynton has recruited some incredible classes in Stillwater, he's been unable to capture a conference championship in his six years as the head coach. It's no easy feat, as the Big 12 holds incredible competition each and every year.

"It's been baptism by fire for me as a head coach in my first head coaching job when I was 35-years-old. The league continues to get better," Boynton continued. "The new teams, all four this year and then the ones we have moving forward will continue to elevate this conference above what I ever imagined one conference's strength."

This season, the Big 12 had added BYU, Houston, Cincinnati and UCF to the conference, all solid basketball additions. Next season, Colorado, Arizona, Arizona State and Utah. Even more good basketball additions, as well as solid depth to the football landscape.

This is where Boynton's ability to recruit comes into play. The Cowboys are going to continually have recruiting classes and talent to compete with each and every one of these schools. 

With so much talent across a conference comes parity, which is a good thing, because even the top teams in the league can't take a game off.

"The league is going to be as strong as it's ever been. I think this year you'll come in and not really know who is going to finish [at the top]," Boynton said. "I think we all have assumptions of what the order of finish is, I saw the predictions out. 

"I think it's less predictable now in college sports than ever because of the roster turnover everywhere, but the league in particular is going to be really good as its always been."

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