A preseason pilgrimage to Puerto Rico
The Oklahoma State men's basketball team is set to depart next week for a week‑long stint in Puerto Rico, where they will stage a series of matches against clubs that were ousted in the island’s professional league. The itinerary blends competition with an intensive training environment, a combination that head coach Steve Lutz believes will pay dividends when the regular season rolls around.
Lutz has repeatedly stressed that the trip is about more than wins and losses; he sees the foreign practices as a catalyst for team cohesion and a chance for players to step out of the familiar confines of Stillwater. “We’ll be using those ten summer practices allowed by the NCAA to sharpen our rotations and build chemistry,” he said in a recent interview.
Among the roster, senior guard Kanye Clary brings a unique perspective, having previously traveled to the Bahamas with a Penn State squad. Clary is eager to experience new cultures while bonding with teammates in a setting far removed from the usual campus routine.
The NCAA’s rule permitting ten practices during a foreign tour gives the Cowboys a rare opportunity to fine‑tune strategies before the September and October exhibition games that traditionally precede the regular season. Lutz views the exposure to different styles of play as a leg up for his squad.
Fans will be able to follow the action live through a pay‑per‑view streaming platform, a model that reflects the growing appetite for on‑demand sports content.