Now the Sean watch begins
Rumors flew all weekend over Sean Sutton’s future and they will fly again now that OSU’s basketball season is over, and when people asked me what will happen, I truthfully say: I have no idea.
Here’s what I do know and believe. I know that Mike Holder said he would talk with Sean Sutton after the season is over, and I know that Holder said it would be apparent what kind of job Sean has done.
Based on basketball, Sean deserves to be the coach at OSU. The season was disappointing but, taken as a whole, not surprising. The Cowboys were 17-16 overall, which is really not acceptable, but their Big 12 record, 7-9, was about where you figured State would finish.
And the five-game winning streak late in the year, fueled by Byron Eaton’s ascension, truly salvaged the season. There is great optimism for next year, when OSU figures to be one of the top four teams in the conference.
So if basketball is the only criteria, Sean deserves one more year.
If other things are factored in, then all bets are off. The Holder/Sutton relationship is interesting; you hear all kinds of stories and it’s best to not believe all kinds of stories. But I do think there is no strong bond there, based on a variety of things, from each man’s personality to the Eddie Sutton/Holder relationship.
Most people like Sean and hope he succeeds and want him to stay on. But this much is true. The time for turnaround is now. OSU has gone three straight seasons without an NCAA Tournament berth, and that’s dangerous ground. That’s flirting with your program falling back into mediocrity. 2005 seems a long time ago.
If Sean returns, there are no questions next season. It’s produce or else.
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