Injury-Riddled Cowboys Still Finding Ways to Win, But Big 12 Test Looms
Right now, if Oklahoma State head coach Steve Lutz could ask Santa for anything, it wouldn’t be a new whiteboard or more shooting drills - it’d be a healthy roster. And honestly, who could blame him?
The Cowboys haven’t just been bitten by the injury bug this season - they’ve been swarmed. Through 12 games, Lutz has had to shuffle his lineup like a Vegas blackjack dealer, rolling out nine different starting fives.
In fact, it wasn’t until the Dec. 2 matchup against Sam Houston that he was finally able to repeat a starting group. That’s not ideal, especially when you're trying to build chemistry and consistency heading into one of the toughest conferences in college basketball.
“I was listening to Matt Painter the other day,” Lutz said, referencing the Purdue coach. “He said for Christmas he wants his guys to be able to contain the dribble - well, I’ll take that, but I want to get healthy.”
And he’s not exaggerating. Of the 15 players on OSU’s roster, only Christian Coleman and Andrija Vukovic have suited up for every game so far.
Everyone else? Banged up, sick, or sidelined for one reason or another.
Among the Cowboys averaging five or more points per game, nearly all have missed time. Anthony Roy dealt with a groin injury.
Vyctorius Miller has been out with a foot or ankle issue. Jaylen Curry missed time with the flu.
Parsa Fallah’s been battling a back injury. Kanye Clary has a leg injury.
Isaiah Coleman was suspended for the opener due to a team rules violation. Benjamin Ahmed didn’t see the floor for the first nine games because of a foot injury.
Lefteris Mantzoukas has been out with an undisclosed issue.
That’s a lot of moving pieces. And for a coach trying to establish reliable rotations, it’s been a challenge.
“What rotations do we have?” Lutz said, half-joking.
“I try to put the five best players on the floor at the time that are playing well and keep them fresh and get the other guys in and spell them minutes. And when those other guys come in and play well, I try to roll with them.”
It’s a juggling act, and Lutz is doing it with one hand tied behind his back. But credit where it’s due: despite the chaos, Oklahoma State is 11-1 heading into their final nonconference game against Bethune Cookman. That’s not just surviving - that’s thriving.
The offense, in particular, has been humming. The Cowboys are averaging 90.3 points per game, which puts them at 18th nationally.
In the Big 12, only Baylor (93) and Iowa State (90.5) are scoring more. No matter who’s been available, OSU has found ways to put the ball in the basket.
But on the other end of the floor? That’s where the cracks start to show.
The Cowboys are ranked 301st in points allowed per game. Some of that is a byproduct of pace - OSU plays fast, which naturally leads to more possessions and more scoring opportunities for opponents.
But even when adjusting for tempo, the defense isn’t where it needs to be. According to KenPom, OSU ranks 93rd in adjusted defensive efficiency, which places them in the bottom half of the Big 12 - ahead of only five teams in the league.
That’s a concern, especially heading into conference play where defense is king. The Big 12 boasts five of the top 10 defenses in the country, per KenPom: Iowa State, Arizona, Kansas, Houston, and Cincinnati. If you’re not locked in defensively, you’re going to get exposed - fast.
Lutz knows it. That’s why he and his staff have been digging into lineup combinations, trying to figure out what’s working and what’s not.
“I’ve really tried to put a lot of emphasis on trying to figure out, is it the combinations? Or is it just we’re coming to the bench and we’re coming back into the game and we’re not ready to play?” he said.
One issue he’s noticed is players overthinking things after sitting on the bench - watching others succeed, then feeling pressure to make something happen when they check back in. That kind of mindset can lead to forced shots, missed assignments, and a lack of cohesion on defense.
“That’s gotta stop,” Lutz said. “But again, we’re playing some really different lineups because we’re without three starters.”
And that’s the tricky part. Accountability is important, but so is availability.
As legendary coach Bob Knight once said, “The best cure for selfishness and not playing hard and not doing your job is the bench.” But you need bodies to make that work.
Right now, Lutz is short on options.
Still, the Cowboys are finding ways to win - and that’s no small feat. If they can get healthy, and if Lutz can find a defensive identity to match their offensive firepower, this team has a chance to make real noise in the Big 12.
But it all starts with getting guys back on the floor.
So yes, health is at the top of Lutz’s Christmas list - and for good reason. Because if this team can finally get right physically, they might just be getting started.