Cowboy Quotables: Boynton, Dow and Thompson

Life as the youngest team in college basketball's toughest conference, Bryce Thompson's 1,000^th point, Mike Boynton Jr.'s coaching evolution, Connor Dow's origin story and why we may be watching the sequel play out in Stillwater. Read on for some of the highlights from Oklahoma State's weekly men's basketball press conference…

Head coach Mike Boynton Jr. on…

… The vibe around the program:
"For the young guys, it's the first time they've experienced real struggle, from a competitive standpoint. For the older guys, I think they understand. They've been through it a few times. Their part is trying to help those other guys understand that it's a long season and there's a lot of basketball to be played. But at the same time, in order to change it, we have to play better... What we've got to do as a staff is make sure that we're making the proper adjustments and assessments, as to how do we help them play better, both offensively and defensively. We'll look to start making some of those changes today."

… Past team's that started slow but finished strong and whether this year's group shares some of those characteristics:
"As long as they show up with the right attitude, about getting better, about staying connected. If guys don't start pointing the fingers and complaining about things that aren't productive to making it better, then, as a staff, we'll continue to put them in the best positions to have success. As far as stacking wins -- nah. You've just got to go play a really good 40-minute game on Saturday and see if you can win that one. And then from there, you put that one to bed on Sunday, and don't worry about it, and you move on. So, I think, just having a mindset of being in the moment. Today in practice, we've got to be really good. That's where my focus is right now."

…Opportunities for improvement on the defensive end:
"The core of our issues are on the ball, like ball screen consistency, defending pick-and-rolls, squaring up the ball at the point of attack, and then having a little bit more resistance at the rim. It's one thing we've talked about before. We don't have the same type of (shot-blocking) presence we've had in the past, but that doesn't mean that we should be giving up as much at the rim as we are. So, maybe just be more help-conscious. Maybe trying to see if we can designate somebody to be more help-minded, sort of a "spy" in football terms, if you will. Not necessarily looking at one guy, but maybe just giving more congestion in the lane for offenses to have to figure out. And then it doesn't help when you turn it over a few times and give them the easy ones that you can't defend."

… At what point Connor Dow began to separate himself as a potential high major prospect:
"The advantage for us was that Connor and BG (Brandon Garrison) played together in AAU, so every time we saw BG, we got a chance watch him, as well. Every time I watched him, he seemed more confident. Early on, he was real passive. He was kind of just 'I'm gonna stay out of the way.' He's playing with... really good, notable players. And so he tended to be okay with just standing in the background. But then, as you got closer to the late spring and early summer, you started to see him take some chances and make some plays that, like 'There's something here to maybe to work with. Talking to him, you got a sense that he was a pretty confident kid. Low ego. High humility. He's a kid who has got a tremendous work ethic, comes from a tremendous family and understands that nothing's given to you. I think the way he's approached the season has helped him. And we talked about this before, right? Being a guy who people don't really expect to start and be on the all-freshman team or whatever. Not thinking about maybe going to the NBA. Just being right here, right now, today in practice. How do I get better? What do you need from me, Coach? How do I help us win? That approach is always best. It's harder for guys who are told all the time that they should be looking to something else. But he doesn't have that issue."

… Dow's ability to keep a level head:
"That was probably the thing that impressed me most going back and watching the film. In the game, you felt like he brought some energy and juice to the game. And then going back and watching the film, you realize, man, he missed the shots that people just assumed he's in there to make and still had a pretty strong impact on the energy of our team.... We need him to be shot-maker, but when you're not making shots, how do you still help your team? He stuck his nose in there for a few rebounds, dove on the floor for a loose ball. Those plays really, really matter -- as much as people don't really glorify them -- to building a team with some toughness. The shot-making ability is there, and we'll continue, when he's out there, to try to get a few of them for him, because we know he can make them. But it's the other things that will give him a chance to grow his role within our team."

… Working on "us" or "them" in practice and whether having a young team changes that balance:
"Almost always, there's a greater emphasis on you. There's much more of an emphasis early in the season on you, because you're learning (about) yourself. At this point (January), you tend to have an idea, but you're always kind of tinkering, right? We've got to change some things on both ends of the floor to be more efficient. You have to balance that with the fact that our guys, as much as they watch it, they don't know how Hunter Dickinson is getting 24 and 14 and five blocks. They don't know how Dajaun Harris is going two or three games without having to turn over. So you've got to show them that and give them the tendencies without overwhelming them with that information, because then it could paralyze you some. Especially with a younger group, sometimes less is better, because you need them to play more through their instincts."

… How much his philosophy on the above has changed between years 1-7:
"I was a maniac my first year. I think it was because I was afraid, sort of that I needed to have my finger on every single thing, every single day, whether it be scouting or recruiting or player development. I've gotten to a place where I understand that I've got the staff. I've got guys who I can delegate things to. But at the same time, with our players, allowing them more freedom with decision-making. Giving them a structure of things but not trying to dictate every pass and every shot and every dribble. I think it's just kind of an evolution. I would still consider myself a fairly young coach. I'm not a young guy anymore, and my birthdays seem to come faster and faster each year. But at the same time, there are still a lot of things that I can learn. As I continue to coach, I'll work my butt off every day to try to learn as much as I can."

… Finding consistency:
"The hardest part about playing at this level for young guys is doing it every day. I talk to our freshmen about it all the time. Even some of our transfers. I even talked to Javon (Small) about this. At East Carolina, he got up for Memphis and Houston. Big game, locked in, everybody's on edge. That's every game in this conference... It's the mental preparation as much as anything, with the guys who haven't done it. A lot of that is having to get flushed through it. And again, for (Brandon Garrison) as an example. I think he's getting more confident and comfortable with that process. But you can't skip it... At some point, it clicks and they know how to prepare every day, the same way."

Freshman guard Connor Dow on…

… Potential areas for improvement within the team:
"We have got to play together more. Moving with and without the ball. One of the big things is understanding the gameplan better. There were times last game against Kansas that guys were calling out our actions before they even happened, so we can learn from other teams in that way."

On his first year:
"It's been crazy, you just have to process it all. Try not get to get to high or too low regardless of what happens. Looking back two years ago, I probably wouldn't have thought I'd be playing against Kansas. It was a goal of mine, but it wasn't very realistic. It was really exciting. I have stayed the course and worked day in and day out."

… The first time he heard about Bryce (Thompson):
"It was my freshman year of high school. We were playing against each other, and the first play of the game he comes down and gets an and-one three on us, so that wasn't very cool of him. I never disliked him, though. His dad has always trained me since I was a kid, so definitely no hate towards him."

… The advantage of coming off the bench:
"You get to see some things that you don't always see while on the floor, such as how to attack them on offense and defense. I just have to be ready to shoot, that's my job. I just want to go out there and do anything I can to help the team win."

Senior guard Bryce Thompson on…

… The team's mindset:
"We're just trying to do what we can to win the next game. Trying to do everything we can do to go up to Kansas State and get a win. It starts today with our practice, preparation, going over film, and seeing what we can do better. Just getting our takeaways from last game and going from there."

… Scoring his 1,000^th collegiate point:
"It feels good, great even. I'm thankful and blessed to have this opportunity. I thank God for this and just have to keep working and moving forward. I wasn't really trying to put this expectation on myself. It's an accomplishment that came with the journey, so I just try to keep going and not worry about external factors. I want to keep getting better day in and day out and see where it takes me."

Recollections of Dow from his high school days in the Tulsa area:
"That game we played against each other his Freshman year. We had the scouting report and had gone through everyone. He's been training with my dad for a minute, so I've known him and his family for a while. It's good to play with him now... I was excited when he got offered because I understand the work he puts in."

Oklahoma State University Athletics

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