2026 PHILLIPS 66 BIG 12 MEN'S BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT

March 11, 2026

Steve Lutz

Christian Coleman

Kanye Clary

T-Mobile Center

Oklahoma State Cowboys

Postgame Press Conference

TCU - 95, Oklahoma State - 88

THE MODERATOR: Coach Lutz is here with Kanye Clary and Christian Coleman.

STEVE LUTZ: Obviously I'm extremely disappointed to be sitting here with a loss. And I thought that our guys played extremely hard. But, ultimately, we shot ourselves in the foot in the inability to box out, be physical and get a rebound.

And give TCU credit for that. There's a reason they've won nine out of the last 10 and six in a row. And we've had three games with them where, ultimately, at the end of the day, the game was won in the trenches. And we have not rang the bell to win any of those three games.

So we've got to be able to look in the mirror and take ownership of this, but also not lose sight of the fact that we've made strides and we've had a good year and we're continuing to move the program forward.

So with that, I'm very proud of these guys and their efforts, especially after how the season ended and unfolded with losing a couple players.

Q. Steve, we look at these last three games and they really played well, competed hard in these last three games. Can you say you're playing your best basketball now, even making the transition with the injuries that you had?

STEVE LUTZ: Again, I think everybody that has bought into our program and watches our program knows that these guys are playing their heart out.

Let's just be honest, it's not like we said we didn't want to get a rebound tonight. We just didn't get it done. And sometimes that happens in athletics, and that's why athletics is great because it teaches you life lessons.

And this isn't the first time we're going to have adversity and it's not the last time they're going to have adversity. It's preparing these guys for life.

But, yes, our guys are playing hard. We've won three out of the last five, even without Parsa. And guys like Chris Coleman have had to morph into other positions. Like, we had to play him at the 5 again tonight because of foul trouble and this, that and the other. You have to be proud of them for their effort and those sorts of things.

But while I'm talking about Chris, before I forget, I think we all have to give Chris a hand. Chris got his thousandth college point tonight. So extremely proud of him for that.

Q. Steve, you can never been too sure in the modern world, but given you guys have the opportunity to continue playing, is that something that you are interested in?

STEVE LUTZ: Yeah, I mean I've got to talk to the team and we've got to see who has interest in us playing. I mean obviously the Big 12 has a partnership with the Crown, and then you're obviously going to have the NIT.

I would think that the way that these guys are playing and because they're playing so hard and having fun and playing for one another, I would think that they want to continue on. And if they want to continue on, I want to continue to coach them. Like, I've enjoyed coaching them the entire year, but I've really enjoyed coaching them these last five games. It's been fun.

Q. What does it mean for this team when guys like Isaiah Coleman and Jaylen Curry are producing efficiently off the bench?

KANYE CLARY: It's huge, you know. They come in and give us a spark off the bench. And today was needed. Myself, I didn't have it going in the first half. Jaylen Curry stepped up and was big time. I think he had 10 points in the first half in I want to say, like, 12 to 13 minutes.

And Xav was out there playing hard, making all the gritty plays. So them two contributed and it means a lot to the team.

Q. Coach, I know you're upset with the rebounding, and missing Parsa is a big part of that, but one guy who stepped up tonight was Anthony Roy, a season high in rebounds. Did you have a message to him? I know last night you said that you wanted to see more versatility out of him. And did you have a message to him, and what was that like kind of seeing him step up in that role a little bit?

STEVE LUTZ: Yeah, again, I thought Anthony had a good night. Anthony's message was the same message that I gave to every single player and person in our program. If we're going to finish this game off and win this game, it's going to have to be won in the trenches and then, you know, within five fetal of that rim.

And there were several opportunities where we just either didn't get the ball with two hands or we didn't box out far enough or just weren't physical enough and ultimately that was our demise.

But I think Anthony gave good effort, as did the majority of the guys.

Q. Coach, nine minutes to go Ben picks up his fourth foul shortly after Mekhi picks up his fourth foul. Talk about navigating those final seven minutes, how difficult it was, and just offensively how difficult that made things for you guys down the road.

STEVE LUTZ: Yeah, I mean, guys, I don't want to make excuses. You all know me, that's not who I am. But you're without Robert Jennings, you're without Lefteris, you're without Parsa, and you're without Mili and then those two guys have four fouls. It's really hard.

That's why I give these guys so much credit. I mean, they battled their tails off. They did not quit. They did the best that they could.

And, ultimately, it wasn't enough to win the game. But they should all look in the mirror and be proud of their fight tonight because they did the best they could with the hand that they were dealt.

Life's not fair, and the Big 12 is not forgiving. So between those two things, it makes it really, really hard.

Q. How valuable can the time that Ben and Mekhi, here these last few weeks and whatever is left, be for them going forward in their careers?

STEVE LUTZ: Chris and Kanye have both played a lot of basketball. They'll tell you that those reps and those minutes on the floor, they're invaluable. And that's why I say, you ask about playing postseason, if they want to do it, let's do it because you're just getting those guys more and more experience and you're continuing to build your program for the future.

And I really believe that the future is bright at Oklahoma State. I think we'll be a good basketball team depending on how things go with retention and the portal and all those sorts of things. But everything is moving forward and moving in the right direction. So, yeah, I want to keep building with those guys and keep helping them continue to evolve and get better because I do believe that they're all good players.

Q. Kanye just told us in the locker room that this year sort of reinvigorated his love for basketball. What does that mean to hear as a coach?

STEVE LUTZ: It means that we must be doing something right, right? That's the way I look at it, because -- excuse my language -- this shit's hard, guys. It's hard on them. It's hard on coaches. It's hard on our families.

I don't get on social media during the season, but I know some of the stuff that's said because people repeat it to me. Man, people are just freakin' cruel. And they're out here giving their heart and they're playing their heart out, and it's not enough, and you just get beat up, and it's tough.

So if he's had a great experience and Parsa has had a great experience, and I don't want to speak for Chris, but just on and on down the line, that's where you judge your program.

Now, we're judged on wins and losses going to the NCAA Tournament. I got it. I understand, and I said that in my press conference. But in the big picture of life, for this young man to have battled through what he did at different schools and injuries and the mental part of it and have a smile on his face and say this is his best year, man, that warms my heart.

Q. You mentioned earlier what a pleasure it's been to coach these players. What is it about this specific group that has made this season so special, and what life lessons do you hope they carry with them?

STEVE LUTZ: Well, they'll tell you that I started off in the locker room after the game with the very first thing is that I love each and every one of them and that I'll be here for them for the rest of their lives and that life is not easy, and that this stuff is really, really hard. And they've faced a lot of adversity throughout the year. But they're going to face harder things in their life and this is preparing them to fight through those hard things down the road. And when they don't know how to maybe do it or they need some help, that they have a staff full of coaches that are there for them the rest of their lives to help them through it.

So at the end of the day, that's what it's about. It's about that, and it's about getting your education and getting your degree, and knowing that someone has your back the rest of your life. To me, that's a pretty strong feather in your cap, if you will.