When sifting through the phonebook and reaching out to former colleagues and peers to try to put together his first non conference schedule at Oklahoma State, first-year head coach Steve Lutz continued to hear from one name: Doug Gottlieb.
Gottlieb, a former point guard at Oklahoma State at the turn of the century, is set to begin his first season as head coach at Green Bay. Lutz was hired at Oklahoma State on April 1 and Gottlieb was named Green Bay’s head coach on May 14.
Since he was hired, Gottlieb was aggressive in trying to get his alma mater on the Phoenix’ schedule. He frequently reached out to Lutz to try and get on the Cowboys’ schedule.
The relentless approach of Gottlieb worked: Oklahoma State begins the 2024-25 men’s basketball season at home against Green Bay on Monday, Nov. 4 in Gallagher-Iba Arena. Tip-off is set for 8 p.m.
In his final press conference before tip-off Thursday, Lutz talked about why he chose to schedule this game.
“I also believe that being the head coach and the CEO of this basketball program, in order for us to have a great program, we need to take care of our own,” Lutz said. “This is Doug’s first head coaching opportunity. His university needs funds. If we’re gonna buy a team, or if we’re gonna give a team money to a university, it might as well be one of our own. I think, obviously, that’s part of the Cowboy code: we take care of one another.”
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Green Bay is coming off an 18-14 season and this year they were picked to finish 8th in the 11-team Horizon League. Their KenPom rating is No. 309 out of 364 Division I teams.
The Cowboys begin the season rated as the No. 89 team in the country.
“It’s a little bit risky,” Lutz admitted. “Doug played here. He was a good player here. He’s voiced his opinion in wanting to be the head coach here. But the program is bigger than one game. That’s ultimately why I decided we’d go ahead and do this.”
Monday starts the new era for Cowboy basketball, with expectations low and the metaphorical bar set at finishing higher than last place in the Big 12. The season opener against Green Bay is the first of five home games in the Cowboys’ non conference schedule.
Lutz said that Gottlieb promised a sold out Gallagher-Iba Arena.
“If it’s not a sellout, it’s on Doug’s shoulders,” Lutz said, smiling. “The more we can gather interest in our basketball program and we can get people in the building, I truly believe they will like the product that’s on the floor, and they will want to come back to see them again. If we have to do it by bringing Doug in or whoever, then let’s do it. Then it’s our job to play the right way and to have those people feel attached to the program and to the team and want to come back.”
Before Lutz’ team tips off, the Oklahoma State women’s basketball team begins their season at GIA against Arkansas-Pine Bluff at 5 p.m.
Be sure to follow Oklahoma State beat writer McClain Baxley on Twitter @McClainBaxley.
