Oklahoma State University Athletics
Cowboy Quotables: Lutz looking forward to first official practice
September 22, 2025 | Cowboy Basketball
Oklahoma State head coach Steve Lutz expects to see the ball go through the net with much more consistency this season. Meeting with reporters Monday afternoon, Lutz offered a preview of the 2025-26 campaign as the Cowboys prepare for their first official practice on Tuesday. Here are a few highlights from that session:
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Head coach Steve Lutz on...
... His outlook on the eve of the first official practice of the 2025-26 preseason:
"Obviously, it's an exciting time of year for us. College basketball practice starts tomorrow for us. And going into year two -- number one -- you're a lot more comfortable. You're not as rushed. And I think that we've had an opportunity to build a team that probably fits the way I'd like to play a little bit better... I think, at times, we were really strapped last year in terms of being able to score. If we didn't score in transition, if we didn't get to the free throw line, we had a hard time scoring baskets. And this team... has shown the ability to put the ball in the basket. So I feel comfortable with the fact that I think we'll be able to still play at the same pace. But hopefully, when we pass the ball and somebody is wide open in the corner, we'll have an opportunity to make it. Sometimes last year, we were more concerned with getting the offensive rebound than making the three. So I'm excited about that part. I think we've got a good group of guys. I like them all. And I think that our biggest area
... The benefits of more time and a larger budget on 2025 recruiting:
My staff and I, we work really, really hard at fundraising. And luckily, we had some people step up this year. And we had an opportunity. We called it the "golden window"... basically, you could recruit before July 1, from the end of the season or from the portal date to July 1. If you had money to spend, you could spend it then. And then when July 1 kicked in, your revenue sharing kicked in. So really, you had another pot of money. And like I said, we had one individual, who's a great friend, in particular, that jumped in and jumped in with both feet. And then we had a lot of people that built off that and helped pile on top of that. So we had more. It's plain and simple. We had more. But we also had more time to recruit. The entire year was going on. And you're hearing about people in the portal. Well, last year when I was hearing about people in the portal, I was at Western Kentucky. And Coach (James) Miller was at Mississippi State. And this guy was at that school. So now you're at Oklahoma State. And you have an opportunity to evaluate people before they hit the portal. So yeah, a combination of those two things. But the money certainly helped, and the support certainly helped. And I think that last year's team helped that, right? Because they did play the right way. They did play hard. And I think that people, especially the Oklahoma State faithful, that's what they want to see. And therefore, they rewarded us for it.
... Whether there was any one particular moment this summer when he realized this team had a much higher ceiling offensively:
No, we went into the recruiting process knowing that we needed to be better offensively. We knew that. And so we tried to remain cognizant of that. And we passed on some good players that maybe offensively just weren't what I wanted. I've always said that I'd like to have four players on the floor at all times, one through four, that can pass, handle, and shoot. And we didn't always have that (last season). I mean, there were times when certain players on the floor would have the ball at the three-point line and (the other team would) guard them at the elbow. And I don't think that that's going to be the case nearly as much this year. We even have a chance to put five people on the floor that can spread the floor and shoot the three. We'd be a little bit smaller, but it's a fun way to play. So, I guess, to answer the question -- no, there was no light bulb moment. But I mean, watching practices, you just know that, hey, the ball goes in the hole a lot more. Now -- with that being said -- you also know that I
... The ideal point distribution:
"I think if this team is going to be good, we're not going to have a 25-point-a-game scorer. We're going to have a bunch of guys (average) anywhere from 10 to 15, 16 points. Maybe somebody will surprise me. But I think that it's really hard to do that when you play at the pace that we do, number one. And then if we're going to be unselfish, which that's something that we've got to get better at in between now and the start of the season, we're not going to have somebody that shoots the bulk of the shots. It's going to be a committee. "
... New assistant coaches Dana Valentine and Lou Gudino:
"Dana and Lou I've known for a while, and both of them have good basketball acumens. They've got great energy. And they're good people. So you just want to keep having people that are like-minded on your staff that work really, really hard and are about the right things and have the right character and are good mentors for these kids and those sorts of things."
... The challenge of getting international student-athletes to the U.S. after foreign policy changes:
"Lefteris (Mantzoukas) was stuck probably in Greece for three weeks. I mean, we had to elicit the support of our senators, which those guys were fantastic. And they helped us a bunch. But yeah, I mean, nobody knew that Trump was going to put a ban on these student athletes. So it threw us for a loop. And the same with Dan(iel Guetta). Dan didn't make it here until August. But nonetheless, I mean, they're here. And they all speak pretty good English. And there's not a huge learning curve there. I've been very pleased with that part of it."
.... Whether that experience will give him pause about pursuing international players in the future:
"I would say this. The things that are beyond our control, with the administration and visas and those sorts of things, they don't worry me. I mean, you obviously have to be cognizant of them, but as long as the money is here, the international kids are going to continue to come over to the U.S. And, in a lot of instances, you can get a very similar player internationally. And he's going to (ask for) significantly less than an American player. So that's why you've seen such an influx of international players into college basketball. Plus, especially the European market, it seems to me that the European market's not nearly what it was for international players anymore. And I look at that just based upon our guys that are leaving Oklahoma State and going to play professionally. Their contracts aren't what they were 10 years ago.
... What he looks for in international recruits and whether that differs from the traditional American recruit:
"It's still basketball. So we keep it pretty simple. Got to be able to pass handle and shoot the basketball and have some toughness to you. And if you have those ingredients, you're usually going to be pretty good."
... Lessons learned from the OKC Thunder's run:
"One of my ex-players from Creighton, Grant Gibbs, is on staff there. So we obviously communicate with those guys. Because truth of the matter is, as most of college basketball, the trends trickle down from the NBA into college, especially offensively. Now, their defensive rules are different. But offensively, we steal a lot from the NBA. But I think the Thunder's success is fantastic. I mean, we should all embrace and promote the Thunder. Because you're promoting basketball. And what I've learned through watching the Thunder is that we have a state that really likes basketball. You know what I mean? And so we've got to figure out a way to tap into getting those same people and those same dollars at Gallagher-Iba Arena that are over at the Paycom, right?... We have people that like basketball within our state. So let's get them into our arena. Let's embrace them. Let's play the right way. The thing about the Thunder is they play good defense. They're unselfish. And it's a fun system that they play. So we've got to emulate some of that.
... Reactions to the retirement of Auburn's Bruce Pearl, just over three weeks out from OSU's exhibition game against the Tigers:
I don't know Bruce real well. I know Steven, his son, who will be the coach moving forward. I've known Steven for a long time, good guy, good coach. So I would expect them to still be a very talented team and to still play really, really hard. And at the end of the year, be in the NCAA tournament.
... Advantages of opening against a Final Four opponent like Auburn:
Yeah, so that was kind of one of our dilemmas. We had Wichita State in a home and home because we went there last year and they were going to come here. And obviously SMU was a home and home. They presented this opportunity for us. First of all, I mean, the venue that we're playing... Boutwell Auditorium is unbelievable. Like go online and look at it. It's really cool. Seats about 2,000, maybe 2,500. And it's a historic arena. But I also felt like if you're going to schedule for the NCAA tournament, and this is no knock on Wichita because they're a good team. And I think that they'll have a chance to go to the tournament this year. You better schedule teams like Auburn. I think, you know, you go on October 15th to Birmingham, you're going to find out what you're made of. You know? And I also think that it's a great opportunity to get your team's attention, right? Because they all think that I'm crazy right now because I'm telling them, no, you're not defending. No, you're not rebounding. No, you know? And t
... How he first got to know Auburn's newly named head coach, Steven Pearl:
"Steven and I kind of grew up in the same time in terms of as assistant coaches. So we spent some time together at the U18s or U19s, which were at that time in Bratislava... So we're there eight, nine days. And there's only so many people that you know, and there's only so many things that you can do. So we'd all go together. We all just kind of band together and run around together. And you go to the games all day and then you go find dinner and maybe a beverage at night. So good times, talking hoops and getting to know people. When you're on the other side of those waters, man, it's a little different. So it's a time to build new relationships and stuff. I've just known him for a long time."
.... How the freshmen handled their first summer of college basketball:
"Both (big men) have done better with their bodies. They've adjusted to the college rigors and those sorts of things. And then (Ryan) Crotty's doing good. You know, he probably made about two or three threes with somebody in his face today in practice. And I'm like, guys, you know he can shoot. What are you doing? You have to take that shot away. But he's consistently making shots. And then (Daniel Guetta)'s adjusted pretty well.
... Guetta's adjustment after missing all of summer workouts:
"Dan's in a similar situation to (sophomore Andrija Vukovic last summer) in terms of, he didn't get here 'til August. But Dan's actually picked it up really well. Like, you guys know me. I'm somewhat of a smart aleck. And like, I'll tell those guys: 'He's been here a month or maybe two months, and he's already picked up what I'm asking him to do a lot faster than you guys that have been here all summer long," which just blows my mind. So he's acclimated really well."
... Anthony Roy's scoring ability:
"Anthony can put the ball in the basket. You know, when he keeps the game really simple and takes what the defense gives him, he's as gifted a scorer as I've been around. But sometimes, when guys are that gifted offensively, they think that they are Superman and they can kind of take on the world. I just try to keep him grounded -- and all of them grounded -- in saying, 'Hey, anytime you draw two defenders, the ball needs to move out of your hands. I don't want to see step back threes at 25 feet with two defenders hanging on you, pass the ball to your teammate. We have other good players on this team, as well.' But no, I like him, he's a good player and I expect him to have a good year."
... The international players and their approach to college basketball:
"They've all been told that if they're going to come here, they're going to have to work extremely hard. So you have to adopt a workman-like attitude the day you walk in this door, or you're not going to make it. Some of those guys, especially Lefteris (Mantzoukas), had been a professional before and for a while. He already had it ingrained in him. He knew that he wakes up every morning and he goes and works out and then he lifts and then he eats and he works out again and then he goes home, right? But for someone who's never had that sort of discipline or that sort of training, it's new and hard for them. So there is certainly a learning curve, but that's what we have the summer for. We're past all that at this point. You've been here this long and you're not working hard, you're going to probably be sitting on the bench all year long and that's just kind of the facts."
... Greek forward Lefteris Mantzoukas:
"Good player, can really stretch the floor, has good size, has adapted to the physicality of college basketball, especially the Big 12. Like, obviously we're pretty physical in practice and you'll laugh at this. Probably about a week in, maybe two weeks, he's frustrated one day in practice, and he says: 'This is not basketball. This is football!' And you know, you're laughing, and he was just frustrated. Somebody came across the lane and chucked him. And I'm like, 'Hey man, you think Houston's not going to do that? You're out of your mind.' Kelvin Sampson's practice is just like our practice. So it's been good, it's been good, but it's different for those guys. I'm excited. I like Lefty."
... Potential leaders:
"I think that we're starting to see some guys emerging a little bit more. We do have a couple alpha males on the team, and it's fun to watch them kind of spread their wings a little bit and kind of take the team, you know, I don't want to say under control, but kind of guide the team a little bit. But then you also, when you have alpha males, you have some butting of the heads, too, right? And so that's been interesting to watch. It'll all shake itself out. Every team's going to have some bumps along the way and eventually somebody kind of rises to the top, and they're the leader and then there's another leader behind them. I like the fact that this team has a little more leadership maybe than last year's team."
... Takeaways after a full year in the Big 12 Conference:
"I left last year saying that number one, we've got to get more skill and more offensive talent, because we turned the ball over so darn much and then we couldn't put the ball in the hole. So that was just glaring. But I think that we had a pretty good grasp on the physicality, because I don't know that there were many nights that people were more physical than us or tougher than us. Just some nights, maybe we came up a little short. So I didn't think that was a big issue. I will say this, I thought that, I had anticipated it to be a little tighter in terms of the officiating. They let us play a lot more than I had expected. I'm all for it, all for it."
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Head coach Steve Lutz on...
... His outlook on the eve of the first official practice of the 2025-26 preseason:
"Obviously, it's an exciting time of year for us. College basketball practice starts tomorrow for us. And going into year two -- number one -- you're a lot more comfortable. You're not as rushed. And I think that we've had an opportunity to build a team that probably fits the way I'd like to play a little bit better... I think, at times, we were really strapped last year in terms of being able to score. If we didn't score in transition, if we didn't get to the free throw line, we had a hard time scoring baskets. And this team... has shown the ability to put the ball in the basket. So I feel comfortable with the fact that I think we'll be able to still play at the same pace. But hopefully, when we pass the ball and somebody is wide open in the corner, we'll have an opportunity to make it. Sometimes last year, we were more concerned with getting the offensive rebound than making the three. So I'm excited about that part. I think we've got a good group of guys. I like them all. And I think that our biggest area
... The benefits of more time and a larger budget on 2025 recruiting:
My staff and I, we work really, really hard at fundraising. And luckily, we had some people step up this year. And we had an opportunity. We called it the "golden window"... basically, you could recruit before July 1, from the end of the season or from the portal date to July 1. If you had money to spend, you could spend it then. And then when July 1 kicked in, your revenue sharing kicked in. So really, you had another pot of money. And like I said, we had one individual, who's a great friend, in particular, that jumped in and jumped in with both feet. And then we had a lot of people that built off that and helped pile on top of that. So we had more. It's plain and simple. We had more. But we also had more time to recruit. The entire year was going on. And you're hearing about people in the portal. Well, last year when I was hearing about people in the portal, I was at Western Kentucky. And Coach (James) Miller was at Mississippi State. And this guy was at that school. So now you're at Oklahoma State. And you have an opportunity to evaluate people before they hit the portal. So yeah, a combination of those two things. But the money certainly helped, and the support certainly helped. And I think that last year's team helped that, right? Because they did play the right way. They did play hard. And I think that people, especially the Oklahoma State faithful, that's what they want to see. And therefore, they rewarded us for it.
... Whether there was any one particular moment this summer when he realized this team had a much higher ceiling offensively:
No, we went into the recruiting process knowing that we needed to be better offensively. We knew that. And so we tried to remain cognizant of that. And we passed on some good players that maybe offensively just weren't what I wanted. I've always said that I'd like to have four players on the floor at all times, one through four, that can pass, handle, and shoot. And we didn't always have that (last season). I mean, there were times when certain players on the floor would have the ball at the three-point line and (the other team would) guard them at the elbow. And I don't think that that's going to be the case nearly as much this year. We even have a chance to put five people on the floor that can spread the floor and shoot the three. We'd be a little bit smaller, but it's a fun way to play. So, I guess, to answer the question -- no, there was no light bulb moment. But I mean, watching practices, you just know that, hey, the ball goes in the hole a lot more. Now -- with that being said -- you also know that I
... The ideal point distribution:
"I think if this team is going to be good, we're not going to have a 25-point-a-game scorer. We're going to have a bunch of guys (average) anywhere from 10 to 15, 16 points. Maybe somebody will surprise me. But I think that it's really hard to do that when you play at the pace that we do, number one. And then if we're going to be unselfish, which that's something that we've got to get better at in between now and the start of the season, we're not going to have somebody that shoots the bulk of the shots. It's going to be a committee. "
... New assistant coaches Dana Valentine and Lou Gudino:
"Dana and Lou I've known for a while, and both of them have good basketball acumens. They've got great energy. And they're good people. So you just want to keep having people that are like-minded on your staff that work really, really hard and are about the right things and have the right character and are good mentors for these kids and those sorts of things."
... The challenge of getting international student-athletes to the U.S. after foreign policy changes:
"Lefteris (Mantzoukas) was stuck probably in Greece for three weeks. I mean, we had to elicit the support of our senators, which those guys were fantastic. And they helped us a bunch. But yeah, I mean, nobody knew that Trump was going to put a ban on these student athletes. So it threw us for a loop. And the same with Dan(iel Guetta). Dan didn't make it here until August. But nonetheless, I mean, they're here. And they all speak pretty good English. And there's not a huge learning curve there. I've been very pleased with that part of it."
.... Whether that experience will give him pause about pursuing international players in the future:
"I would say this. The things that are beyond our control, with the administration and visas and those sorts of things, they don't worry me. I mean, you obviously have to be cognizant of them, but as long as the money is here, the international kids are going to continue to come over to the U.S. And, in a lot of instances, you can get a very similar player internationally. And he's going to (ask for) significantly less than an American player. So that's why you've seen such an influx of international players into college basketball. Plus, especially the European market, it seems to me that the European market's not nearly what it was for international players anymore. And I look at that just based upon our guys that are leaving Oklahoma State and going to play professionally. Their contracts aren't what they were 10 years ago.
... What he looks for in international recruits and whether that differs from the traditional American recruit:
"It's still basketball. So we keep it pretty simple. Got to be able to pass handle and shoot the basketball and have some toughness to you. And if you have those ingredients, you're usually going to be pretty good."
... Lessons learned from the OKC Thunder's run:
"One of my ex-players from Creighton, Grant Gibbs, is on staff there. So we obviously communicate with those guys. Because truth of the matter is, as most of college basketball, the trends trickle down from the NBA into college, especially offensively. Now, their defensive rules are different. But offensively, we steal a lot from the NBA. But I think the Thunder's success is fantastic. I mean, we should all embrace and promote the Thunder. Because you're promoting basketball. And what I've learned through watching the Thunder is that we have a state that really likes basketball. You know what I mean? And so we've got to figure out a way to tap into getting those same people and those same dollars at Gallagher-Iba Arena that are over at the Paycom, right?... We have people that like basketball within our state. So let's get them into our arena. Let's embrace them. Let's play the right way. The thing about the Thunder is they play good defense. They're unselfish. And it's a fun system that they play. So we've got to emulate some of that.
... Reactions to the retirement of Auburn's Bruce Pearl, just over three weeks out from OSU's exhibition game against the Tigers:
I don't know Bruce real well. I know Steven, his son, who will be the coach moving forward. I've known Steven for a long time, good guy, good coach. So I would expect them to still be a very talented team and to still play really, really hard. And at the end of the year, be in the NCAA tournament.
... Advantages of opening against a Final Four opponent like Auburn:
Yeah, so that was kind of one of our dilemmas. We had Wichita State in a home and home because we went there last year and they were going to come here. And obviously SMU was a home and home. They presented this opportunity for us. First of all, I mean, the venue that we're playing... Boutwell Auditorium is unbelievable. Like go online and look at it. It's really cool. Seats about 2,000, maybe 2,500. And it's a historic arena. But I also felt like if you're going to schedule for the NCAA tournament, and this is no knock on Wichita because they're a good team. And I think that they'll have a chance to go to the tournament this year. You better schedule teams like Auburn. I think, you know, you go on October 15th to Birmingham, you're going to find out what you're made of. You know? And I also think that it's a great opportunity to get your team's attention, right? Because they all think that I'm crazy right now because I'm telling them, no, you're not defending. No, you're not rebounding. No, you know? And t
... How he first got to know Auburn's newly named head coach, Steven Pearl:
"Steven and I kind of grew up in the same time in terms of as assistant coaches. So we spent some time together at the U18s or U19s, which were at that time in Bratislava... So we're there eight, nine days. And there's only so many people that you know, and there's only so many things that you can do. So we'd all go together. We all just kind of band together and run around together. And you go to the games all day and then you go find dinner and maybe a beverage at night. So good times, talking hoops and getting to know people. When you're on the other side of those waters, man, it's a little different. So it's a time to build new relationships and stuff. I've just known him for a long time."
.... How the freshmen handled their first summer of college basketball:
"Both (big men) have done better with their bodies. They've adjusted to the college rigors and those sorts of things. And then (Ryan) Crotty's doing good. You know, he probably made about two or three threes with somebody in his face today in practice. And I'm like, guys, you know he can shoot. What are you doing? You have to take that shot away. But he's consistently making shots. And then (Daniel Guetta)'s adjusted pretty well.
... Guetta's adjustment after missing all of summer workouts:
"Dan's in a similar situation to (sophomore Andrija Vukovic last summer) in terms of, he didn't get here 'til August. But Dan's actually picked it up really well. Like, you guys know me. I'm somewhat of a smart aleck. And like, I'll tell those guys: 'He's been here a month or maybe two months, and he's already picked up what I'm asking him to do a lot faster than you guys that have been here all summer long," which just blows my mind. So he's acclimated really well."
... Anthony Roy's scoring ability:
"Anthony can put the ball in the basket. You know, when he keeps the game really simple and takes what the defense gives him, he's as gifted a scorer as I've been around. But sometimes, when guys are that gifted offensively, they think that they are Superman and they can kind of take on the world. I just try to keep him grounded -- and all of them grounded -- in saying, 'Hey, anytime you draw two defenders, the ball needs to move out of your hands. I don't want to see step back threes at 25 feet with two defenders hanging on you, pass the ball to your teammate. We have other good players on this team, as well.' But no, I like him, he's a good player and I expect him to have a good year."
... The international players and their approach to college basketball:
"They've all been told that if they're going to come here, they're going to have to work extremely hard. So you have to adopt a workman-like attitude the day you walk in this door, or you're not going to make it. Some of those guys, especially Lefteris (Mantzoukas), had been a professional before and for a while. He already had it ingrained in him. He knew that he wakes up every morning and he goes and works out and then he lifts and then he eats and he works out again and then he goes home, right? But for someone who's never had that sort of discipline or that sort of training, it's new and hard for them. So there is certainly a learning curve, but that's what we have the summer for. We're past all that at this point. You've been here this long and you're not working hard, you're going to probably be sitting on the bench all year long and that's just kind of the facts."
... Greek forward Lefteris Mantzoukas:
"Good player, can really stretch the floor, has good size, has adapted to the physicality of college basketball, especially the Big 12. Like, obviously we're pretty physical in practice and you'll laugh at this. Probably about a week in, maybe two weeks, he's frustrated one day in practice, and he says: 'This is not basketball. This is football!' And you know, you're laughing, and he was just frustrated. Somebody came across the lane and chucked him. And I'm like, 'Hey man, you think Houston's not going to do that? You're out of your mind.' Kelvin Sampson's practice is just like our practice. So it's been good, it's been good, but it's different for those guys. I'm excited. I like Lefty."
... Potential leaders:
"I think that we're starting to see some guys emerging a little bit more. We do have a couple alpha males on the team, and it's fun to watch them kind of spread their wings a little bit and kind of take the team, you know, I don't want to say under control, but kind of guide the team a little bit. But then you also, when you have alpha males, you have some butting of the heads, too, right? And so that's been interesting to watch. It'll all shake itself out. Every team's going to have some bumps along the way and eventually somebody kind of rises to the top, and they're the leader and then there's another leader behind them. I like the fact that this team has a little more leadership maybe than last year's team."
... Takeaways after a full year in the Big 12 Conference:
"I left last year saying that number one, we've got to get more skill and more offensive talent, because we turned the ball over so darn much and then we couldn't put the ball in the hole. So that was just glaring. But I think that we had a pretty good grasp on the physicality, because I don't know that there were many nights that people were more physical than us or tougher than us. Just some nights, maybe we came up a little short. So I didn't think that was a big issue. I will say this, I thought that, I had anticipated it to be a little tighter in terms of the officiating. They let us play a lot more than I had expected. I'm all for it, all for it."
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