The interview above is Mike Boynton fourteen months ago after a tough regular season loss to Baylor. It’s vintage Mike Boynton. This was a tough moment after a loss to Baylor. This isn’t one of those feel good moments. This is what coaching is about. You hurt for your team.
No excuses. Just a frank appraisal of his team and their need to keep ‘chopping the tree’ to get where they want to be eventually.
Today is that day to chop that tree down so to speak as his team is not only playing for the Big 12 championship, but in my estimation a No. 1 regional seed in March Madness.
Here’s why. With a win O State would enter the Tournament with ten Top 25 wins which would be the most in the country. They would enter the Tournament as champion of the toughest league, plus the hottest team in the country. O State in the last month has done more than Gonzaga has done the last two years combined. Michigan will be tough. So will a couple of other Big Ten teams plus, Chris Beard’s team isn’t one I’d sleep on either.
If O State can get past Texas, which won’t be easy, they’ll be the team on the cover of USA Today on Monday with their coach Mike Boynton front and center as the lowest paid coach in the Big 12.
If I were the people in Stillwater who run that atheletic department I’d have a new contract waiting for Mike Boynton on Monday with a bonus attached for this season as well. I would put the cheap ass ways of Mike Holder in my rear view mirror and make sure I keep Mike Boynton.
How ironic that today in Kansas City we have two young black coaches in the Big 12 Finals. In fact…the only two black head coaches in the conference in Mike Boynton and Shaka Smart.
This in fact is how Shaka Smart four or so years ago became the head coach at Texas after his then VCU Rams became the Cinderella darlings of March Madness and advanced to a Final Four. Again…if I’m the people in Stillwater… I’d put my Mullet King mentality to the side and pay Mike Boynton.
This will be a war today. If you watched the Texas win over Texas Tech you know this will be a knife fight last guy standing. A showcase of what Texas high school basketball has become to the Big 12 conference. Why in fact—the tournament should be moved back to Oklahoma City and Texas.
I bet Fran is already up like me at 5:00am because he’s jacked about this game. I can’t sleep and I’m an OU fan for godssake.
But here’s the thing…if I’m going to a knife fight on a basketball court…I like my chances with Cade Cunningham holding the knife.
Coach Sutton would be very proud of what he’s seen from Mike Boynton’s team so ‘far’…now finish.