STILLWATER — For the fifth time in Mike Boynton’s six-year tenure, the Cowboys won’t play in the NCAA Tournament.
Oklahoma State was as close as possible this season without getting in, being the first team out of the tournament’s field. That has resulted in the Cowboys being the No. 1 seed in the NIT, where they’ll face Youngstown State at 6 p.m. Wednesday in Youngstown. There are caveats — whether you call them reasons or excuses — as to why the Cowboys haven’t made the Big Dance more often. Here are a few:
Year 1: Arguably snubbed after sweeping Kansas and finishing 8-10 in conference
Year 2: Finished with seven scholarship players
Year 3: Tournament was canceled because of the pandemic (OSU was on the outside looking in)
Year 4: Made it with Cade Cunningham
Year 5: Banned
Year 6: First team out
But the history books probably won’t go into that much detail.