Tony Allen poster is a must-have.

Travis Ford sent a text message to Andy Katz about Andrew Wiggins and it made me laugh. A lot.

Is Tony Allen really the best basketball player to ever come out of OSU? I say no way.

Photo Attribution: USATSI

OSU is loaded in basketball, you already know this. And I’m mentally preparing myself to hear the term “loaded” 292,000 times in the next seven months when describing this OSU basketball team. In fact, I might eschew that word in favor of something less traditional. How does “this team is drunk on talent” sound? How about “this team is full of highly skilled American basketball players”?

OK, “loaded” it is.

On Wednesday, Kentucky (perennially ”loaded”) released its non-conference schedule. It includes Michigan State, Baylor, Carolina, and Louisville.

Salty.

That got me thinking about five matchups I’d love to see OSU pursue for the non-con portion of their schedule  this season. I get tired of the SE Louisianas and Tennessee Technicals of the world. There’s really no point in playing those teams, especially with the squad you have coming back. Let’s fill the beginning of December – middle of January entertainment void with these five games.

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Photo Attribution: KT King

When the football season ended, we ranked every football program in the country using a four-year formula. Let’s do the same thing for hoops to see where our program stands.

Once again, I’m using the what-have-you-done-for-me-lately formula:

2013 season: 40% weighting
2012: 30%
2011: 20%
2010: 10%

I figure recruits tend to look at programs this way…everything beyond four years ago is a distant memory to an 18-year old.

I’ll use Pomeroy’s ratings.

First, let’s look at the top 20:

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Awesome.

Awesome photo from @newsok‘s Jim Beckel today. Marcus Smart facing the media: twitter.com/anthonyVslater…

— Anthony Slater (@anthonyVslater) April 18, 2013

It’s really good, especially the stuff Gottlieb says after Smart gets off the phone. He talks about how much he loves Stillwater, hoops, etc. Must listen.

You can listen here.

Photo Attribution: USATSI

I usually default to “10 thoughts” when there are too many things floating around for me to settle on one angle for a blog post and today’s OSU presser was no different.

There was SO much happening and so much said that I wanted to give you a special offseason version of the 10 thoughts.

Here we go..

1. Marcus Smart is ridiculously mature for being a freshman in college. I have no proof of this, of course, I don’t know him and I only know a few people who do know him (nonewell) but to speak candidly in a press conference about openly knowing you’re giving up $8 million in guaranteed money to return to school because I love you guys and I’m a Cowboy at heart is absurd. You’re 19, you’re not supposed to make life-changing decisions with such poise and ease!

2. Le’Bryan opened with this was one of the hardest decisions of my life. My question with this: was it because he couldn’t figure out when the deadline was or because he actually considered going pro? And is he the least self-aware OSU athlete in the history of the school?

3. Travis Ford could not stop smiling. It was unbelievable. I think he wore two pairs of pants because he was scared he was going to urinate all over himself on stage in front of a couple thousand other humans. He said I was excited because he was excited but what he meant was my gosh, how did this happen to me? I couldn’t even get these dudes out of the first round!

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Marcus Smart did the unthinkable on Wednesday — he turned down $8 million in guaranteed money to return to Stillwater, Oklahoma for his second year of basketball under Travis Ford.

Here’s what he had to say on Wednesday at his press conference:

I love you guys and I’m a Cowboy at heart, so it looks like I’ll be coming back for my sophomore year.

I am aware of how much money I’m giving up. A 19 year old kid with that kind of money. It’s a lot of money.

I just followed my heart. This is where it’s at.

Here’s Nash and Markel too:

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Here’s sort of a best of Twitter from last night:

He got the flowers I sent!! #MarcusSmart

— Brian Phillips (@runofplay) April 17, 2013

Marcus Smart apparently decided he couldn’t pass up playing in front of 5,000 people a night for another year.

— Fake Dan Beebe (@DanBeebe) April 17, 2013

Marcus Smart will be the first Big 12 Player of the Year to return to school in the past 15 years (Raef LaFrentz 1997-98).

— Anthony Slater (@anthonyVslater) April 17, 2013

Going to be a wreck every time Smart hits the floor. Just hope he stays healthy.

— Clint Spaulding (@clintosu) April 17, 2013

With Marcus Smart, Markel Brown and Le’Bryan Nash coming back, #OKstate will feature the Big 12′s top three returning scorers.

— Anthony Slater (@anthonyVslater) April 17, 2013

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I’m without words.

And this one’s even better…

Photo Attribution: USATSI

Updated: 9:10 CST to confirm

So either Marcus Smart is coming back to OSU or tomorrow is going to be the worst press conference in the history of press conferences¹.

Here’s what Twitter told me on Tuesday night:

A news conference regarding #okstate basketball has been set for 12:30 p.m. tomorrow. Marcus Smart announcement? Would think so.

— Kelly Hines (@KellyHinesTW) April 16, 2013

So…gone, right?

Not so fast (my friends):

Marcus Smart is announcing his decision at the Student Union, not the usual spot in GIA. Makes me wonder if he’s actually staying. #okstate

— Carson Cunningham (@CarsonC5) April 17, 2013

Smart, Nash and Brown are announcing their intentions tomorrow. Typically, players announce together when they’re all staying or all going.

— Kelly Hines (@KellyHinesTW) April 17, 2013

I mean, I’m not in Mensa International but let’s read between the lines here.

And we don’t need to anymore (updated at 9:10 CST).

Oklahoma State guard Marcus Smart will return for his sophomore season, sources tell Y! Sports. He could’ve been a top 5 pick in NBA Draft.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@WojYahooNBA) April 17, 2013

A dude who by all accounts loves Stillwater and has completely immersed himself into the students’ affection and GIA’s spell is having a press conference at the Student Union during lunch while all the students are in there?

Come on, if he leaves that’s going to make the Sonics jump to OKC look like the most benevolent event in sports history.

No, he’s staying. And I have to say, I’m shocked. I was wrong too, way, way, way, not-even-close-to-being-right wrong. I’m not the only one who was shocked either.

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