Why Oklahoma State’s Matchup with Sam Houston Could Matter More Than You Think
STILLWATER - On paper, it might look like just another non-conference game in early December. But when Oklahoma State hosts Sam Houston on Tuesday night, there’s more at play than just protecting home court. This one could quietly carry some weight when Selection Sunday rolls around - and not just because of what the Bearkats have done so far.
Sam Houston debuted at No. 79 in the initial NCAA NET rankings - a spot that puts them ahead of five Big 12 teams. That’s a surprising stat, especially for a Conference USA squad, and while the rankings are still stabilizing with a small early-season sample size, it’s a number that jumps off the page.
For context, Northwestern - a team OSU just beat in Chicago - sits six spots ahead of the unbeaten Cowboys. So yes, this game might feel like a routine December matchup, but it could end up being a sneaky boost to the Cowboys’ tournament resume.
And in today’s college basketball landscape, where metrics matter and margins are razor-thin, every bit of resume polish counts.
The Art (and Gamble) of Scheduling
Scheduling in college hoops has become part science, part educated guesswork, and part poker face. Coaches are constantly trying to forecast which teams will help - or hurt - their postseason standing, and that’s never been trickier than in the transfer portal era. Rosters flip overnight, and a team that looked like a soft spot on the schedule in July could turn into a landmine by January.
That’s exactly what OSU associate head coach Janes Miller pointed to when explaining why the Cowboys added Sam Houston to the slate.
“When we scheduled the Sam Houston game, we knew they were going to lose the majority of their team,” Miller said. “But at the same time, their coaching staff, their culture, the success they’ve had since Coach [Chris] Mudge took over - and even before that with Coach [Jason] Hooten - they’ve always had a strong program.”
Translation: OSU didn’t know exactly who they’d be facing come December 2, but they knew what kind of program they’d be facing - one with a track record of competing and winning.
“They’re going to win a lot of league games when they get into Conference USA play,” Miller added. “So it’s about understanding who the coach is, what kind of success they’ve had, and also trying to avoid an opponent that doesn’t make sense from a numbers standpoint. We’re trying to position ourselves for an at-large bid come March.”
A Brand-New Bearkats Squad
That Sam Houston team OSU will see on Tuesday? It doesn’t look much like last year’s version.
The Bearkats lost their top nine scorers from a squad that finished 13-19. But they didn’t just reload - they retooled.
Seven players are currently averaging 8.9 points per game or more, signaling a balanced attack and a team that’s already found some chemistry despite the overhaul.
And it’s not like they’ve been beating up on low-majors. Their only two losses this season came against Big 12 competition - a 98-77 defeat to Texas Tech and an 85-79 battle with Utah.
That’s not the résumé of a pushover. According to KenPom, Sam Houston has better than a 50% chance to win 16 of its 20 C-USA games this season - a remarkable turnaround for a program that went just 6-12 in league play a year ago.
OSU’s Own Rebuild
The Cowboys aren’t exactly strangers to roster turnover, either. Only three players returned from last year’s NIT squad, and just one - Robert Jennings II - saw regular minutes. That kind of reset makes these early-season games even more important, both for building chemistry and for stacking wins that matter.
Head coach Steve Lutz knows it. For him, scheduling is right up there with recruiting when it comes to building a successful program.
“Recruiting is number one - it’s 1A - and scheduling is 1B,” Lutz said. “Those two things, by and large, are going to determine the lion’s share of your success. We take it extremely seriously and put a lot of time and effort into it.”
Why This Game Matters
Let’s be clear: Big 12 play will ultimately decide Oklahoma State’s fate in March. That’s where the real résumé-building happens. But games like this one - against a quietly solid mid-major with a rising NET ranking - can help fill in the gaps.
There’s always a balancing act when it comes to non-conference scheduling. Go too soft, and your wins don’t move the needle.
Go too tough, and you risk taking hits that could derail momentum. That’s the tightrope OSU is trying to walk.
“There’s a fine line about playing too hard of a schedule,” Miller said. “Where are we at in the progression of the program?
Who do we have coming back, who do we have coming in? It’s a little bit of a coin flip at times because you’re banking on certain teams to be good, and then sometimes they don’t pan out the way you expect.”
That’s why OSU aimed for a mix - five or six strong opportunities, plus some lower-tier opponents at home. So far, that strategy seems to be working.
“Hopefully we continue to have some success,” Miller added. “And then we need those teams to continue to win some games as they get into their league. Scheduling is talked about almost as frequently as recruiting around here.”
Bottom Line
Tuesday night’s game against Sam Houston might not have the glitz of a Big 12 showdown, but it’s far from meaningless. In a sport where every game can shift the narrative, this is one of those under-the-radar matchups that could carry real value down the line.
Handle business, and it’s another step forward. Slip up, and it’s the kind of loss that sticks around longer than you'd like. Either way, the Cowboys know exactly what’s at stake.