Arizona's upcoming clash with Oklahoma State on Saturday just got a whole lot more compelling-and not just because it’s sandwiched between marquee matchups. The Cowboys are coming off a statement win over BYU, and it’s clear they’re starting to find their stride under head coach Steve Lutz.
“They’re trending in the right direction,” Arizona head coach Tommy Lloyd said this week. “They had a good start, hit some bumps when Big 12 play began-which is normal once the road games and tougher competition kick in-but it looks like they’re settling in now.”
That win over BYU wasn’t just another W-it was arguably the biggest moment of Lutz’s tenure so far in Stillwater. It gave Oklahoma State a jolt of confidence and, more importantly, kept their NCAA Tournament hopes alive. With that kind of momentum, expect a fired-up Cowboys squad to walk into Tucson looking to make some noise.
What makes Oklahoma State particularly tricky is how Lutz lets his guys play. There’s structure, sure, but there’s also freedom-and that combination creates a team that’s tough to scout and even tougher to contain.
“They’re handsy,” Lloyd said. “They make the game frenetic.
They play with pace, energy, and confidence. There’s enough system in place that you have to respect their sets, but they’ve also got the green light to make plays on their own.
That makes them dangerous.”
That defensive chaos was on full display early against BYU, when the Cougars coughed up six or seven turnovers in the first five minutes. It’s the kind of pressure that can flip a game before you even settle in.
Talent-wise, this isn’t the same Cowboys team from a season ago. Lutz has retooled the roster, and it’s paying off. The new-look lineup features three dynamic left-handed guards-an unusual and tough-to-prepare-for wrinkle-plus a strong frontcourt and a high-scoring wing in Vyctorius Miller, who’s already shown he can fill it up.
“They’ve brought in high-level guys,” Lloyd said. “Some of the actions are the same, but the personnel is new and legit.
Those guards are unique, the bigs bring size and strength, and Miller is a bucket-getter. They’ve done a great job rebuilding.”
But if there’s one name Arizona fans should circle, it’s Anthony Roy. The Oklahoma State wing has emerged as one of the Big 12’s most lethal scorers, and he’s the kind of player who can shift a game with just a few possessions.
“He can really, really shoot,” Lloyd said. “From deep, too.
Normally you might say, ‘If he’s pulling from that far and we’ve got a hand up, we’ll live with it.’ I don’t know if that applies to him.
And if you close out too hard, he’s strong enough to put it on the deck and get to the rim. He’s going to be at the top of every scouting report.”
Yes, Arizona has a big one on deck with Kansas looming Monday-but don’t expect the Wildcats to look past this matchup. Lloyd is confident his group is locked in on the task at hand.
“Our guys love a challenge,” he said. “They love to compete.
I think they’re mature enough to understand Oklahoma State is coming in here ready to go, and we’ll need to play really well to get the win. We haven’t even talked about Kansas.
This week has been about getting better in practice, and now it’s about finishing the week strong.”
Saturday’s matchup isn’t just another game on the schedule-it’s a test of focus, maturity, and execution. And if Oklahoma State keeps building on what they showed against BYU, Arizona could be in for a dogfight.