Oklahoma State Misses Out on 2023 NCAA Tournament
It’s always jubilation for some and major disappointment for some other bubble teams on Selection Sunday. The Oklahoma State Cowboys, unfortunately, fall in the latter category, as they were the first team left out of the NCAA Tournament in 2023 when the field was announced.
That’s after they posted an 18-15 record and 8-10 mark in Big 12 play. But apparently, the Cowboys needed one more win, an opportunity they let slip by them in a 61-47 loss to eventual champion Texas in the Big 12 Tournament quarterfinals.
In light of that, Oklahoma State head coach Mike Boynton pleaded his case to get his squad into March Madness, but to no avail. On Friday, Boynton penned a letter to the NCAA Tournament Selection committee to advocate for his team to make the Big Dance.
Boynton wrote in part, “I do believe we did enough coming into this tournament. This league presents challenges that, and I’ve been in several others, that no other league does. And I think it’s historically good this year. It’s not just a good league or at least that is better than others, but it’s far and away better than other leagues. And with all due respect, because there’s really good basketball around the country, but to get to eight wins in this conference, four in a row, three sweeps, to play the schedule we played overall is a testament to the character of these guys. We certainly deserve inclusion in this event.”
Oklahoma State also had player John-Michael Wright pen a letter to the committee, saying in part, “I believe we’ve done enough to get into the Big Dance. We are playing in one of the best leagues in the country, and I believe with our resume, we put a lot of good wins up against a lot of good teams. And we have proven to be one of the best teams defensively in the country.”
Instead now, the Pokes will have to settle for an NIT berth and await their matchup there. It’s not the destination they hoped for, but they’ll still get a chance in the postseason.
