The white maple wood of Eddie Sutton Court will be illuminated Thursday night, the bright tungsten lights of Gallagher-Iba Arena shining off it. For the Oklahoma State women's basketball team, it will be another day of work, another game.
Before they can tip off, players from either team, along with everyone else in the arena, will be asked to look up toward the American flag. Most will think nothing of it — another national anthem — but at least two men will be looking at the banner next to the flag. A banner with the names of four people ingrained in the darkest day of the program they love but now can only bring to life through reminiscence and conversation.