The wait is over for Oklahoma State basketball fans. The Cowboys will tip off their 117th men’s basketball season and the second year under head coach Steve Lutz on Tuesday night inside Gallagher-Iba Arena, opening the 2025 campaign against the Oral Roberts Golden Eagles.
This season marks a fresh chapter for Oklahoma State: one filled with new faces, high hopes, and the determination to prove the doubters wrong.
A New Look for Year Two of the Steve Lutz Era
After guiding the Cowboys to the NIT quarterfinals last season, Lutz enters his second year in Stillwater with a completely revamped roster. Only Robert Jennings II returns as a rotation player from last year’s squad, the junior forward who started all 35 games and brings much-needed leadership and stability to a group full of newcomers.
In total, 12 new players join the program this season, including seven Division I transfers who combined to average more than 94 points per game at their previous schools. That scoring punch could give OSU one of the deepest offensive units it’s had in recent memory and a core that can show flexibility in scoring many different ways.
Among the most notable additions is Green Bay transfer Anthony Roy, who was recently named to the Jerry West Award preseason watch list, recognizing the nation’s top shooting guards. Roy’s combination of size, athleticism, and scoring ability could make him the focal point of Oklahoma State’s offense early in the season.
Strong Preseason Signs and Lessons Learned
The Cowboys have already shown flashes of their potential during their October exhibition slate. They opened with an eye-catching 97–95 overtime win at No. 20 Auburn, before dropping an 86–71 decision at SMU.
The exhibitions offered a glimpse into what the rotation could look like, including two freshmen Lefteris Mantzoukas and Ryan Crotty. Crotty, in particular, has drawn attention for his maturity and on-court composure, earning early minutes as he continues to develop both physically and mentally at the college level.
Despite the ups and downs of the preseason, Coach Lutz remains encouraged by how quickly this new group has come together.
Opening Night History
Oklahoma State has traditionally been strong in season openers, holding a 90–26 all-time record and winning 28 of the last 30. Tuesday will mark the 27th meeting between the Cowboys and Oral Roberts and the third time they’ve met in a season opener. OSU won both previous openers, tipping off victorious in 1980–81 and 2019–20.
The Cowboys even earned a vote in the USA Today Coaches Poll, their first appearance in any major poll since February 2023, a small but meaningful nod to the program’s potential resurgence.
What to Expect
Fans can anticipate an energetic atmosphere inside Gallagher-Iba Arena, with excitement high for this new-look squad. Oral Roberts will present an early test, but Oklahoma State’s mix of veteran transfers and eager freshmen will look to set the tone for the season.
For Coach Lutz and the Cowboys, this opener isn’t just another game, it’s the first step toward redefining the program’s direction.
The Steve Lutz era officially enters year two Tuesday night in Stillwater and with so many fresh faces and renewed energy, Oklahoma State basketball is ready to show it’s moving forward.