What's Next for Beaver Basketball?
by Jake Bertalotto on Mar 13, 2010 11:15 AM PST
in Oregon State Men's Basketball
14 comments
As California and Washington duke it out for the Pac-10 Tournament Championship today, the Beavers are licking their wounds and wondering just what could have happened over the last few days if the second half of Wednesday's quarterfinal game would have gone differently.
The Beavers finish the regular season at 14-17 after the post-season loss to the Huskies. Last season, the Beavers were eliminated from the conference tournament by Stanford, who also used a monumental second half rally to run the Beavers out of the Staples Center.
At this point last season, the Beavers were 13-17 overall.
As we all know, the CBI came calling, and the Beavers were able to make use of the opportunity by downing Houston, Vermont, Stanford (redemption!), and UTEP (twice) to win the CBI title.
Is another CBI tournament appearance in the works for the Beavers, who have a very similar record as compared to last season?
"We would love to try and defend our title. If there is enough room for us in one of these tournaments, specifically the CBI, that would be terrific," Coach Robinson said following the Pac-10 Tournament quarterfinal loss. "But you know me, when you end on a tough note, I want to make sure that the players want to do it because we wouldn't be able to do it if every single one of them said yes."
Tomorrow is the NCAA's Selection Sunday, and the NIT field is announced Monday morning. Last year, the Beavers were notified Monday night of their bid in the CBI, so Coach Robinson expects to know the post-season fate of his team by late Sunday or Monday.
--Jake | (jake.buildingthedam@gmail.com)
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Only half-hearted need apply
“I want to make sure that the players want to do it because we wouldn’t be able to do it if every single one of them said yes.”
Is there a “didn’t” missing in this sentence or is Coach really only willing to participate in postseason play if at least one guy hates the idea?
Take the CBI, but need something more next year
CBI feels much less satisfying this year if it happens. The team was NIT caliber, but really underachieved with the non-conference schedule. When you look back, they should have gone 9-3 minimum. 17-14 with Coach Robinsons appeal gets you into the NIT. Robinson needs to get the team focused from game one next year, they all count.
Have to disagree a bit here
I don’t think the team is NIT caliber this year. I think they had glimpses of NIT worthy play but only one total game came anywhere near it on a consistent level, and that was the win over Cal. They were not consistent enough this year and the only way I could really see them actually going 17 and 14 is if the seniors had more skill and consistency. When we won was when the freshman stepped up and to have them step up all the time this season was asking too much. The team was too much a in transition one this year. I thought, and hoped, they would be better but it just wasn’t going to gel this year.
Now as for next year? I think we are 100% on the same page. Anything less than the NIT will be very disappointing.
-RVM
Caliber, may be the wrong word, but the NIT was there for the taking.
You dont think this team was more talented than Sacremento St., Ill-Chicago, Seattle and Texas-Corpus Christi? What I am referring to is that the non-conf schedule has been pretty average the last two years and for whatever reasons the team as been unable to take advantage of it. The 2005 NIT team also went 8-10 in league play, but took care of business with a weak non-conf schedule and went 9-4.
Okay, I can go here, though I don’t know maybe with the expectations the team had for itself and falling short might light a bit of a fire under them for the future, and also be a nice reality reminder that it isn’t as easy as it might seem (winning the CBI isn’t necessarily the harbinger of NCAA Tournament invites).
Looking back on it all now this team just didn’t really have the chemistry this year. I think it was just too much a disconnect between the old guard and the new and up and coming players. I hope this doesn’t effect the next year seniors again though (Haynes especially comes to mind here) for I think the combo of Cunningham, Burton, Brandt, and hopefully Nelson is going to be very good and I think we will start to see more of the Robinson team identity kick in next year.
-RVM
Agreed!
It is a little scary to consider that the 2005 Jay John team still has the best record over the past twenty years! You hit the nail on the head with chemistry. I could see a scenario where Calvin Haynes gets less and less playing time if he continues his erratic play next year. When I think about it, did any of the John recruits really improve their games this year except maybe Seth Tarver (especially on the defensive side)? My guess is year four will show what Coach Robinson can do with his own players barring injuries, academics, etc.
And agreed!
2004-2005 was though David Lucas’s senior season and he was one of the better, and in my opinion most squandered, talents to go through the program. So not surprising but yes a bit scary, but think we are on the way up and out of that fact with Coach Robinson.
Calvin, is it just me being melodramatic but does he seem to play moody? One game he is cocky and looks to be a 20 point a game type of player and the very next one he seems to be mopey and can’t score a thing. I think the deal with him is that he won’t ever be the all around on the floor leader we all hoped he would be, he lacks the assist and scrappy loose ball play that you would expect from an all around leader in his position. I think he will indeed see less time next year and I think this could be good or bad depending on how he mentally handles the deal. I like Calvin and what he has brought to the program, but he just is far from consistent but he can be a scoring force when we need him next year because he does have the talent.
When I think about it, did any of the John recruits really improve their games this year except maybe Seth Tarver (especially on the defensive side)?
No! I think most if not all took steps backwards this season. I think Seth stepped up part of his game, but he just is not an offensive scorer but all in all he does what he needs to do on the court and beyond on the defensive side. Josh had his moments at the end when I think he finally woke up and figured out this could be the end of his in the spotlight basketball career, but wow was it indicative of his play for OSU when he dunked in the one game and ignited the team to a win and then missed a dunk in that last game to basically ignite the other team to a win! But overall Josh never seemed to go up or down with his game really. Deane is just Daniel and he gives it what he’s got.
The rest? No and Roeland and Calvin were big steps backwards in both play and leadership, and we needed both this season from the both of them. Again, I greatly appreciate what each of them has given the program, and especially what did for the program last year, but they are two I really thought needed to connect with the new young players and they never really seemed to do so on the court.
Yes, I think next year we should see a step forward and then it will be very interesting to see year four under Coach Robinson.
-RVM
Oh, and I guess that was my end of the regular season review!
Sorry, your posts brought up a lot of what I have been thinking about all season.
-RVM
Good Analysis
I think we are pretty much in agreement. Even Robinsons coaching has to be considered a little bit of a mixed bag so far with the lack of progress with Johns players. And I say this only because he was able to get Johns players to a certain level last year and then they stalled out this year for whatever reasons. In the end that has to fall on the coach to some degree.
You are right on concerning the mental aspects with Haynes. Some games he is just not there emotionally and I understand the personal challenges, but you have to put those aside when you are doing a job. Have you noticed he seems to be struggling to even get an open look lately
Agree about Robinson. I actually probably did put a bit too much back on the players, for yes he had a certain level he had them at. I would say this also comes into play with the lack of chemistry I mentioned and some of that has to fall to the coaching staff.
And yes agree about Haynes, I know he’s had some issues off court and I’m sure that compounds it when like you say he struggles to get open. The team needs a good outside or inside threat so they get doubled up to ease that up for Calvin.
-RVM
Oh, and to be fair to Calvin (I probably was a bit harsh on him overall for he is only a part of the larger issues this season), I also thought Roeland played very moody too and I have no real idea why beyond he couldn’t handle the adjusted opponent schemes to double him up and play him much more physical. He, and the coaches, had to know that would be coming this year.
Anyway, it was frustrating but hell it was A LOT better than the few years before Robinson came in and it does seem the program is making small steps towards a larger term success story. I’m still pretty excited about the next few years.
-RVM
To give Robinson credit he figured out how to field a more competitive team with limited talent over the past two years(something John could not do), but as you say was unable to blend the old with the new with any level of consistency.
If Cunnigham and Burton are any indication it looks like Robinson can recruit, so it should be an exciting time ahead.
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