In the end, it all came down to the number one.
That’s how many NCAA tournament games Travis Ford won in nine seasons at Oklahoma State.
That’s how many league games Brad Underwood lost in three years at Stephen F. Austin.
Granted, winning a tournament game isn’t quite so easy as racking up the victories in the Southland Conference, but at a place that values success as Oklahoma State does, just one win can get you fired ... and only one loss makes you an awfully attractive hire. Which is exactly how it went for the Cowboys, athletic director Mike Holder opting to part ways with Ford and bring in Underwood, arguably the hottest mid-major coach in the country.