Early Portal News is Encouraging, Time Table Has Not Changed, Gottlieb Still Preaching
STILLWATER – The initial thoughts on the transfer portal opening for Division I college basketball on the heels of the Cowboys roster seeing their head coach let go late last week was that we would see most of, if not all of the OSU roster dip their toes and put their name in the portal. This is where you need to be careful just who you follow with your portal news as one source went all in on graduate-to-be point guard Javon Small going in. It is true that 6-11 Del City McDonald’s All-American Brandon Garrison was one of the very first in the portal, Small came out on Twitter/X to correct 247 Sports on having his name in there.
In fact, as of late this afternoon (Monday, March 18) Garrison was considered the top-rated prospect in the Division I Men’s Basketball Portal.
The expectation in the athletic department was that most of the players likely would go into the portal. They had been asked to be patient and let the school find a new coach and allow him a chance to let them know his plan for Cowboy basketball before punching a ticket to go elsewhere. It is understandable in that these players may like some aspects of Oklahoma State, may have some attachments, but they have to look out for their best interests in a situation that is unknown and fluid.
It says a lot that the players, with the exception of Garrison, didn’t just bolt into the portal. The fact that it is spring break may have helped as some of the players are gone where they can’t meet with Oklahoma State athletic department compliance and go in the portal.
As for the coaching search. Pokes Report had a source close to the process confirm again that the time table is for sometime, as soon as possible, following spring break. The academic schedule and spring break allows athletic director Chad Weiberg almost a grace week to survey the interested parties and his list of candidates and whittle it down to a small working group. It allows for some of the postseason action to take place and likely make some of the prime parties to become available for a completion to the hiring process and an introductory press conference.
Somebody with Division I head coaching experience is still what we’re getting. Obviously, success and it doesn’t hurt if discipline and defense are a backbone for that individual’s porgram culture.
Not a lot of news there, a lot of stating the obvious. Same with our list below which features any coach that we’ve heard the name or a few we threw in because we thought they were interesting and might stick.
| Candidate | Current School | Years at Current School | Notes |
| John Groce | Akron | 7-years | Former Ill. coach has experience and name came up this weekend. |
| Thad Matta | Butler | 2-years | Former Ohio State coach that was said to have shown interest or his rep. did. |
| Pat Kelsey | Charleston | 3-years | Name surfaced the first day. |
| Darian DeVries | Drake | 6-years | Excellent season and name surfaced immediately. |
| Dusty May | FAU | 6-years | Everybody wants a Final Four coach. |
| Bob Richey | Furman | 7-years | Has a strong resume’ and said to have reached out. |
| Bryce Drew | Grand Canyon | 4-years | One Drew may not be enough in the Big 12 Conference. |
| Josh Schertz | Indiana State | 3-years | Fits the profile for the job in many ways. |
| Mark Byinton | James Madison | 4-years | The guy can flat out coach. |
| Darrell Walker | Little Rock | 6-years | Played for Eddie Sutton at Arkansas, yes nicknaked “Sky Walker.” |
| Eric Henderson | So. Dakota Stae | 5-years | I just threw him on the list. |
| Andy Enfield | USC | 11-years | His wife, Amanda is from Mustang. |
| Danny Sprinkles | Utah State | 1-year | His team is outstanding as is his record. |
| K.T. Turner | UTA | 1-year | Longtime assistant had excellent season. |
| Sean Miller | Xavier | 2-years | Miller was longtime Arizona coach that was fired. He can coach. |
Now, I’m friends with Doug Gottlieb and that is why it may have been passed to me early that he was not a candidate. It has not stopped Doug and I know, sometime Doug Gottlieb can be unstoppable. He is still pushing his case even though I know he was told that he would not be considered.
“You know I want that job,” Gottlieb said on radio in Oklahoma City. “[I understand] what we have, what we need, what needs to be fixed, how to get the culture back in line, how to bring back the alumni, how we need to connect better with Stillwater and with the students and all of Oklahoma. I fully believe I can fill up the gym and I can get the NIL.”
Gottlieb is confident. He is determined, and that means he will not quit campaigning.