In a tough conference, Oklahoma State basketball looks to return to the NCAA Tournament for the first time under Steve Lutz.
When Steve Lutz joined the Oklahoma State program, he was seen as someone who could win no matter where he went. In two years at Texas A&M CC, he took them to back-to-back tournament appearances. Then, he spent a year at Western Kentucky, where he immediately took them there. He joined an Oklahoma State program hungry for success after an overall disappointing Mike Boynton tenure.
Things have not gone to plan so far. In year one, they went 17-18, finishing 12th in conference play. Last year, it looked like they’d finally cracked the code, starting 9-0, but once conference play came around, they couldn’t compete, finishing 13th in conference play. Hot seat probably isn’t the right word, but the pressure is on for Lutz to perform in year three.
He’ll get a couple of guys back from last year’s team. It starts with Kanye Clary, who led the team in assists per game and will be the floor general once again. As of now, it seems like they’ll also be joined by Parsa Fallah, who was given a temporary restraining order that deems him eligible to return. There are still definite doubts as to whether he’ll still be eligible on Nov. 1, but he is more protected than many other players looking for the same.
They add two key transfers who can shoot the lights out: Luka Bogavac and Jordan Burks. Both shot nearly five a game, and when they’re hot, they can be gamebreakers. From a depth standpoint, they add two Sam Houston State teammates, including Kashie Natt, who is one of the most athletic defenders in college basketball. Watch out for the two freshmen as well, who are both high four-stars who can make an immediate impact for this Oklahoma State basketball team.
They build a non-conference schedule of teams that are on equal standing to them, so this could be a great resume boost if they can win more often than not. We know the Big 12 is going to be a challenge, and hopefully they’re more prepared than ever and fight their way for a spot in the NCAA Tournament.
The tradition continues! It’s another year of our countdown of the top 100 preseason teams in college basketball until the start of the season. Each day, we will reveal the next team until we reach the team slotted at number one. Up next: Oklahoma State basketball.
Head coach: Steve Lutz (6th season overall, 3rd at Oklahoma State)
2025-26 record: 20-15 (6-12)
2026 postseason finish: Lost to Wichita State (96-70) in the second round of the NIT
Notable departures:
- Anthony Roy (16.9 PPG, 4.1 RPG, 1.3 APG)
- Vyctorius Miller (10.8 PPG, 2.7 RPG, 1.8 APG)
- Christian Coleman (10.3 PPG, 5.6 RPG, 1.0 APG)
- Jaylen Curry (10.1 PPG, 3.2 RPG, 3.5 APG)
Notable non-conference games:
- at Texas A&M (Nov. 12)
- Charleston Classic (Nov. 20-22)
- vs. Grand Canyon (Dec. 2)
- vs. Saint Mary’s (Dec. 5)
- vs. Oklahoma (Dec. 12)
- vs. Northwestern (Dec. 20)
Projected Rotation
PG: Kanye Clary (6-0, Sr.)
2025-26 stats: 10.6 PPG, 2.9 RPG, 4.6 APG, 1.2 SPG, 38.5 FG%, 35.5 3PT%, 80.7 FT%
SG: Luka Bogavac (6-6, Sr.)
2025-26 stats: 9.8 PPG, 2.5 RPG, 2.2 APG, 0.4 SPG, 40.2 FG%, 34.9 3P%, 73.6 FT% (UNC)
SF: Jordan Burks (6-9, Sr.)
2025-26 stats: 13.3 PPG, 4.8 RPG, 0.7 APG, 1.0 SPG, 0.5 BPG, 45.5 FG%, 37.3 3P%, 78.2 FT% (UCF)
PF: Andrija Grbovic (6-11, Sr.)
2025-26 stats: 6.8 PPG, 2.9 RPG, 0.4 APG, 0.5 SPG, 40.4 FG%, 35.0 3P%, 78.9 FT% (Arizona State)
C: Parsa Fallah (6-10, Sr.)
2025-26 stats: 14.7 PPG, 6.0 RPG, 0.8 APG, 1.2 SPG, 0.5 BPG, 59.8 FG%, 40.0 3P%, 68.0 FT%
*Eligibility pending
6: Julius Halaifonua (7-0, Jr.)
2025-26 stats: 9.5 PPG, 4.4 RPG, 1.3 APG, 0.7 BPG, 60.8 FG%, 74.7 FT% (Georgetown)
7: Kashie Natt (6-3, Sr.)
2025-26 stats: 10.8 PPG, 8.2 RPG, 2.4 APG, 2.0 SPG, 0.5 BPG, 43.0 FG%, 38.3 3P%, 78.0 FT% (Sam Houston State)
8: Jacob Walker (6-1, So.)
2025-26 stats: 11.5 PPG, 2.2 RPG, 2.5 APG, 0.9 SPG, 43.7 FG%, 35.8 3P%, 74.8 FT% (Sam Houston State)
9: Latrell Allmond (6-8, Fr.)
247Sports Composite No. 37 ranked recruit
10: Anthony Felesi (6-5, Fr.)
247Sports Composite No. 40 ranked recruit
Oklahoma State basketball team MVP: Parsa Fallah
Again, his eligibility is in doubt, and if he isn’t eligible, then Kanye Clary gets the nod, but if he’s eligible then he’s the clear MVP. The Oregon State transfer started a bit slow, but towards the end of conference play he really figured it out. He scored 27 points against TCU, 21 against Kansas, and then 14 against Colorado and 18 against TCU.
Unfortunately, he suffered a season-ending injury, but he and Lutz figured out together the best way to use him and make the team better. On a team without a clear first option, they’ll most likely build the offense around him in the post, and as long as he can be healthy, he’ll be a high-impact player for this Oklahoma State basketball team
Oklahoma State basketball make-or-break player: Luka Bogavac
Bogavac had a solid freshman season for UNC, averaging just under 10 points a game. He had some ups, like when he scored 20 points and made six threes against Clemson, and some lows, like when he shot 1-for-7 and scored three points against Duke. We know that at his best, he can be an elite three-point shooter, and at 6-foot-6, he’s a tall guard who can be a matchup mismatch.
It’s all about consistency with him. If he can hit those three-pointers at a higher rate, and maybe even make more of a complete game as a scorer, then he can be a dangerous player for this Oklahoma State basketball team. If it’s more of the same, he’ll get his minutes and have a few games where he makes a ton of threes, but could also see himself sitting on the bench for long periods of time in place of the Sam Houston guards or the freshmen.
Key statistic: Tempo
Like Ricky Bobby, Steve Lutz likes to go fast. In his lone season at Western Kentucky, he finished #1 in college basketball in tempo per KenPom. In the last two years at Oklahoma State, he finished 12th and 9th in the category. Expect the Cowboys to run and try to score as often as possible.
With Clary and Fallah back, that’ll be the same, and with two guys who are catch-and-shoot three-point takers, it could be a perfect fit. Will the result be different this year? We’ll find out very soon.
Oklahoma State basketball 2026-27 projections
Projected conference finish: 13th in the Big 12
Projected postseason ceiling: NCAA Tournament first round exit