"I think next year's team has got a chance to be really good,” he said last week in Kansas City, then again in his office at Gallagher-Iba Arena on Wednesday afternoon.
The second-year coach is going about his business as usual after OSU's season ended with a first-round NIT loss on Tuesday night. Right after returning from Carbondale, Ill., the OSU staff met Wednesday afternoon to lay out a recruiting plan for the next week. Then he taped his weekly coaches show.
While Sutton is talking and acting like he will be back as OSU's head coach next season, his future remains uncertain. Oklahoma State athletic director Mike Holder said he would address Sutton's status once the season was over, but he declined comment through an athletic department spokesman on Wednesday. No timetable has been set for a decision.
OSU finished the season 17-16, and Sutton is now 39-29 in his two years since formally taking over as head coach. In December Holder gave football coach Mike Gundy a one-year extension after a 6-6 regular season (and an 18-19 career mark), and in the middle of the football coaches' second season Holder told reporters Gundy would get five years. The athletic director has since said he regretted the statement, and would no longer address coaches' performances midseason.
Sutton has three years remaining on a five-year contract.
In Sutton's two years in charge the Cowboys have had, in some ways, mirror-opposite seasons. In 2006-07 OSU got off to a tremendous start but collapsed down the stretch, thanks in part to a shortage of players. In 2007-08 OSU struggled early, losing five non-conference games and falling to 2-7 early in league play, but charged back and won five straight late in the season with a crop of new players.
"I think this team that we have coming back really made a lot of progress and a lot of improvement,” Sutton said.
Sutton said the staff needs to get at least one or two recruits in the spring that can be instant contributors, but losing just Marcus Dove and Tyler Hatch he thinks next year's team can get out of its current NIT rut.
"I think next year's team ought to be able to compete for the Big 12 Championship and certainly be in great position to make the NCAA Tournament,” Sutton said.
Sutton said the most important thing is to change players' mindsets about the postseason. He pointed back to "an NIT mentality” that existed when he first arrived at OSU as a player.
"Corey Williams and Darwyn Alexander and Byron Houston, the core of that team, they had been to the NIT two years in a row and my dad (former coach Eddie Sutton), early, sensed that the guys just had an NIT mentality,” Sutton said. ”He said ‘You think you have had a good season just because you make the NIT. That's a bunch of crap.
”So he kind of hammered that all season long that ‘I'm going to get that NIT mentality out of you guys' head.' They made the NCAA Tournament and they got a taste of what it was like and our program really took off from there after that first season. But I've got a lot of confidence that next year's team will be in the NCAA Tournament as long as things go the way I think they will.”
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Time for T-Bone to pull Holder's string and send us down the road to Rome. Or, keep Sean and Mike and see what happens to loyal coaches within our program. I prefer loyal to the road to Rome.
Patrick - Rufus just couldn't think of anything to say. I don't think Sean will be there next year. HOlder has never shown him any support. If he was behind him, we would have known by now.
I don't get it. If you think Sean hasn't earned another year and should be fired, that's fine. You can make a viable case for that. What I don't get are these personal attacks on him regarding his appearance, sideline demeanor, etc. That's kind of low-class. If you think about it, Eddie had many of the same mannerisms as far as rubbing his head, the scowl, etc. and nobody said anything about him. I guess winning more can make you overlook a lot of smaller things...
I think Sean should not only be let go at OSU but he really shouldn't be coaching anywhere. He just doesn't have the make-up or personality for it. Just because his old man was a great coach - doesn't mean he is cut out for it. He looks like he is scared to death - pasty white - sweating profusely - and he keeps rubbing the left side of his head when things aren't going well - which is a LOT of the time.
Maybe accounting? Maybe an auditor position would be better? Something where you don't need to speak very often? Not nearly as much human interaction.
I know I have said this before, but obviously it bears repeating: We are NOT a particularly young or "green" team. Dove, Eaton and Harris have been in the program for 5 and 3 years. What program does not play at least one or two freshmen these days? K-State starts 4, as did Texas last year, and both had success. This experience level is increasingly the norm. The Lucas-Graham-Bobich team of a few years back was the fluke in terms of experience, so I suppose some of our fans got spoiled. So please come up with a better argument for Sean. I do not want him to be fired, but this "youth" excuse is infuriating.
I know I have said this before, but obviously it bears repeating: We are NOT a particularly young or "green" team. Dove, Eaton and Harris have been in the program for 5 and 3 years. What program does not play at least one or two freshmen these days? K-State starts 4, as did Texas last year, and both had success. This experience level is increasingly the norm. The Lucas-Graham-Bobich team of a few years back was the fluke in terms of experience, so I suppose some of our fans got spoiled. So please come up with a better argument for Sean. I do not want him to be fired, but this "youth" excuse is infuriating.
Sean should get another year, Will He, only TBP knows. I think Holder should be sent down the road. More so he should not have been hired in the first place.
Calm down Jake, computers are for entertainment, have fun. No one believes, with the influence of one T. Boone Pickens, that an exciting, successful, high-energy coach could not be talked into working in a facility like Gallagher-Iba. In a Power Conference. If this man is as smart as he should be, it is not so far fetched. Chances at positive television exposure are not so bad at OSU, but the athletic department needs the precedent set to let the current and future staff know this display by the men's basketball team is unacceptable. Until the football team wins a Big 12 Championship, the basketball team is the flagship and should be managed accordingly. This will attract "name" coaches. It's called a plan.
My opinion should be well known, but I wish those that wish him to be retained would refrain from saying, "he deserves it." He has not earned or deserves anything. If you want to retain him on the hopes things will be better, OK. I disagree, but will buy that opinion. Deserves? Nope, that has not happened.
A lot of OSU fans know this and a lot don't, Holder is
not going to make a statement about Sean untill Boone
Pickens tells him what to say. Holder will have to go
to the ranch hunting and Pickens will make it know to
him.
Sean will get another year. This group of green players should win at least 20 games next season. If not, then I agree Sean should be let go. But the last two years are just not a good barometer, other than the young kids played MUCH better the last month of the season. But still a LOT of freshman mistakes. I would even say that maybe 20 wins isn't enough, maybe he needs to show he can produce a 23 or 24 win season. If so, he cements his job, 20 only puts him on the bubble. But to fire him now would be just plain wrong.
OSU fan-There is no guarantee that one more year is going to do anything any more that dumping Sean and hiring some flavor-of-the-month mid-major coach guarantees. Because let's face it, that's what we are looking at. Sometimes those work out, sometimes they fail miserably, but I just don't see us hiring some ultra-successful major conference coach. What would you have us do, yank a different mid-major coach in every two years until we get one that is an instant success? Let's be honest, we got lucky with Eddie. He would never have come back if he hadn't been an OSU guy AND been forced out at Kentucky. Throwing out the mop-up job Sean did in 2006, his record as the actual HC is 39-29 (57%). First two years record of big-time successful coaches: Mike K: 27-30 (47%); Dean Smith: 23-15 (60%); Tom Izzo: 33-28 (54%); Eddie Sutton: 29-21 (58%); Overall for these legends in their first two years: 112-94 (54%). Obviously, you can come up with a list of other great coaches that had better records their first two years and play with the statistics or whatever. But the point is, you are correct in that there are no guarantees; however, I just hate to see us get in that revolving door mode again. To answer your original question: One more year gets us some maturity for our young players AND our young coach. If he can't get it done next year with what he has coming back, then maybe it is time to move on.
Haha, you are a moron Arron. Just when I think you can contribute, you say something retarded. I am not desperate, just think Sean deserves another year. I respect that you don't think that. I have a right to my opinion as well. Now, please go back to the OU articles. I don't understand how you get so much pleasure talking to your rivals fans.
Agree with OSU fan from Tulsa. Nothing is going to change next year. We have a team of outside jump shooters and no inside presence. Plus, after next year, we lose Eaton. The Cowboy basketball program will continue its downward trend.
Anyone got a shoehorn. I can't get Jacob off of my jock. Maybe he thinks it will get Sean on more year. Who wants a coach for one year anyway. Desperate people that is who. Like I said a "plan" not an idea.
Johnny, Knoxville, you are dreaming if you think Sean Sutton will ever be the coach that Jeff Capel is already. OSU probably had the better talent this year but Sutton isn't the coach. He was outcoached by Capel with alot less talent. When I see Sean on the sidelines it is "Deer in the headlights".
I would like someone to tell me what one more year will accomplish. I feel like a broken record, but Sean recruited ALL these players; according to Eddie, Sean has been running the offense for at least 5 years; he has been coaching in the Big XII for a very long time now, so its not like he has to adjust to the style of play. So please, tell me, besides OSU basketball tradition regressing, what will be accomplished in one more year?
Wow, Arron, you are actually contributing to the discussion. I like this. Anyways, I think Sutton should get one year. With a team this young (5 freshman and 2 Juco's who were injured), they will be a better club next year. I say we wait it out one more season, if there is not improvement (meaning an NCAA bid) then I say he is gone. Sean has had to deal with alot of issues after taking over at a terrible time. Let's see what he can do next season, then make the call.
Is not his coaching job that concerns me...Sutton is not just a good motivator...when you watch these young guys play, they have no energy or competitive spirit..they need someone like Eddie or Bobby Knight to yell at them and punish them when they mess up...the players are not intimidated at all...besides the KU game every game they played was sloppy and with no energy or excitement...Go watch OU-OSU games this year...it didnt even feel like they are playing in a Bedlam game...Fire him or get him Hulk HOgan..;o)..
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Maybe accounting? Maybe an auditor position would be better? Something where you don't need to speak very often? Not nearly as much human interaction.
donkey's to school ? Nobody likes a smartass........
not going to make a statement about Sean untill Boone
Pickens tells him what to say. Holder will have to go
to the ranch hunting and Pickens will make it know to
him.