Game 23 Recap - USC 67, Oregon State 56
by ConnorOSU on Feb 10, 2011 11:03 PM PST
in Oregon State Men's Basketball
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PrintThe Beavers dropped to 9-14 (4-8 in Pac-10 play) on Thursday after a 67-56 loss against the USC Trojans. The game was played in front of 3,855 people at the Galen Center.
Jared Cunningham led the Beavers with 11 points, the only Beaver in double figures. Ahmad Starks and Calvin Haynes followed him, both with 9 points.
The Beavers got of to a great start, using feisty 1-3-1 and 2-3 defenses to take an early 11-6 lead, prompting a 30 second USC timeout. Those 30 seconds proved to be the difference in the game, as the Trojans went on a 12-0 run and never looked back. Oregon State did pull within three at 20-17, but as Beaver fans have witnessed too many times this season, they could not capitalize on any opportunities to take the lead. The Trojans closed the half on a 17-6 run to take a 37-23 lead into the locker rooms.
11 of 13 Beaver players got into the game, not counting Rhys Murphy and Eric Moreland, who are out for the year with injuries. Cunningham, Joe Burton, Starks, Angus Brandt, and Devon Collier got the start for the Beavers. Collier contributed eight points, continuing a streak of solid games for the freshman out of the Bronx.
Omari Johnson added seven points, with many blown opportunities around the rim. And following Johnson was Kevin McShane, who had four points, one block, and one rebound.
For the Trojans, Nikola Vucevic led the way minutes-wise with 38. Vucevic led USC with 17 points, followed by Donte Smith with 13. The Trojans came into this game with a record of 12-11, 4-6 in the Pac-10.
Roberto Nelson Watch
Nelson had another sub-par performance, only playing 12 minutes and recording 0 points and rebounds. He did appear on the stat sheat with a steal and an assist. Roberto went 0 for 2 from the field, and his only three point attempt was blocked.
The Beavers led the Trojans in most statistical categories, except for points off turnovers, where USC outscored Oregon State 28-10, a rarity in Beaver games.
Trailing by fourteen at Halftime, the Beavers knew that they would have to make a move quickly if they wanted to compete in this one. But instead of making runs, the two teams traded baskets and Oregon State finally cut the USC lead to eight with 13 minutes remaining.
The Beavers were able to cut the lead to 44-39 after a flurry of steals and points, but that would be the closest Oregon State got for the remainder of the game. USC settled down and used a 10-4 run to get the lead back to 11, and even though there were still seven minutes left, the run took the wind out of the Beavers' sails.
Oregon State pulled within seven twice more down the stretch, but after narrowly stealing the ball twice but never being able to control it, Maurice Jones hit a three pointer in the corner as the shot clock wound down to put the dagger in the Beavers. On the next trip down the court, Devon Collier put home two consecutive free throws, a rarity for the enitre Oregon State roster, especially him.
The Beavers still refused to quit, and after Donte Smith knocked down a pair of free throws, Oregon State still had a chance to cut the lead to seven. But Ahmad Starks turned the ball over, a sight seen to many times on Thursday night, and the Trojans knocked down the rest of their free throws to put the game away.
With the loss, the Beavers dropped to 9-14 (4-8) and USC improved to 13-11 (5-6).
As far as the crowd goes, the 3,855 people at the Galen Center were not very loud or intimidating, which will be a polar oppositte to what the Beavers will see on Saturday when they visit the Den at Pauley Pavilion. There were a fair number of Orange and Black fans in attendance, most of which were there to see Calvin Haynes and Omari Johnson.
Next up for the Beavers is UCLA, Saturday at 1:00 PM in Los Angeles. The game will be televised by FSN.
UCLA defeated Oregon 64-54 tonight at Pauley Pavilion. Oregon (12-12, 5-7 in the Pac-10) led the Bruins (17-7, 8-3) by three points at Halftime, but UCLA outscored the Ducks by 13 in the second half to hold onto second place in the Pac-10.
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I try not to be the type of fan who calls for coach’s heads when things go wrong, but I find myself asking the same things after each loss: What is going on in practices? What is the mental state of this team? What the hell’s going on?
How are we in 9th place with talent that should seemingly put us in the top half of the conference?
I like Robinson and I hope he and his staff can be the solution moving forward because I really like the look of our roster and the potential there. I guess I’d like to know when and if he’s going to be able to put it together.
Devon Collier is a beast, by the way.
At least it’s fun to watch him play, win or lose. Love the fire and love the skill set he has.
Yep
But as I mentioned in the game thread he needs to make his FTs! He’s going to get to the line a lot the way he plays and if he indeed is to continue to be a force he needs to make other teams pay with scoring from the FT line.
Again though kind-of makes me, like you above, question the coaching and what is going on in practices to get things like FT shooting worked out?
-RVM
agreed
I expected a lot more this year, and this team is frustrating to watch.
There are so many moments of WTF that it is making me question the coaching. I like the talent, I’m not wild about what they’re doing. Politics aside I like Robinson, but this 9th place stuff is crap.
We've got the players
Cunningham and Collier could start on pretty much every team in the Pac-10, and Starks isn’t that far behind.
Go Beavers!
I would say that once Nelson shakes the rust off—after missing almost 1 1/2 year of competitive basketball—he’ll join that list as well.
We’ve got the talent. All of that seems to be in place. It’s time for the staff to put it all together. Make it happen because I’d say you’re starting to run out of time.
Next season
Reckoning time IMHO.
I’m ok with one more losing season pass this season. Transition and seems to be some tension with the changing of the guard. The team just has no identity and I think a good part of that is there is no real senior leadership, the seniors just seem done with OSU basketball now and can’t say I totally blame them for what they have been through.
But with all of Robinson’s players next year needs to show improvement and we need to see a strong team identity (indeed a Robinson program identity).
-RVM
I’m disappointed in the seniors because they’ve spent the majority of their careers under Robinson. How are they not on board and more with it at this point?
While I’m pissed that I’m watching another underachieving hoops team I am definitely willing to give them another year. The addition of Charles Barton, Daniel Gomis and getting Moreland and Murphy off of the IR will be big. Collier in year two will also be a sight.
collier
looks to be a pretty good player next year, last couple games i saw he looked good. just not great yet
Needed: Ping Pong table. Anyone wanna donate $78 million?
getting Moreland and Murphy off of the IR will be big
Yep, mentioned this before but Moreland really looked to be getting a feel for the game and ready to take off like Collier, especially on the defensive side. Hope it doesn’t set him back on the offensive side, but hoping people like Starks, Collier, and Nelson will all be much better offensively next year.
Collier though still needs to work on the free-throws!
-RVM
And yes about the seniors. I guess Johnson tries so can’t blame him a lot, but seems like he’s on the court enough he should have stepped it up a bit. Haynes is the one I just think is kind-of done mentally, which is too bad. But he also has had the family stuff with his mother so can’t totally blame him either. But even if I don’t blame them yes still needed someone there to really be the senior leader this year with this young team.
-RVM
oh and
How are they not on board and more with it at this point?
This is a good question and makes me come back your comments above about coaching and practices. Makes me wonder what type of relationship they feel they have with the program and coaching staff.
-RVM
I don’t like second guessing what Robinson does, but I can’t help but be somewhat curious. I mean, somewhere in his methods lies a problem, and I don’t think it’s something that can’t be corrected. Somehow, someway he needs to figure out how to get the most out of his players, what system plays best to their strengths and what he can do to develop HIS recruits more efficiently.
And after he figures that out, he needs to give the football staff a powerpoint presentation on how to do the exact same freaking stuff.
Homer fan alert!
I don’t know I might be just totally orange/black glasses blinded but I really think football is going to figure things out the next couple years and give it some decent runs again. I’ve been wrong before though…
Basketball? I don’t know, such a huge hole to dig out of IMHO, but totally agree the talent is there. We’ll see.
-RVM
The nice thing about hoops is that any program is about two or three players away from changing the way the play. A few good players can turn a programs fortunes on a dime (almost anyway).
Good thing for OSU is that it appears we have those guys on campus already. Cunningham, Collier, Starks and to a lesser extent Nelson and Burton (until they serve the world notice, anyway) appear to be our guys. They need a coaching staff to put them together and make it all work though.
As far as football goes, I need to see:
1. Who Ryan Katz is going to be.
2. What Langsdorf is going to change on Offense.
3. Better in-game coaching (read: ADJUST THE GAME PLAN AT HALF TIME IF SHIT ISN’T WORKING!!!!!!!!!!)
4. Who steps up to fill holes left by Quizz, Paea and the other silent contributors on both side of the ball that kept us afloat at times…
Yep, big questions next season I totally agree
Just with my heart I guess thinking we will be ok next season again. It all kind-of reminds me of the 2005 season going into the 2006 season.
But yes I am pretty worried about the RB situation. I hope his leaving wasn’t too much a shock to the staff and they have plans in place like they would have if he stayed another year.
-RVM
May I play devil's advocate?
But here’s the thing to play devil’s advocate for a minute…..what have the seniors been through? One bad season almost FOUR years ago, right? These guys won a tournament, beat a good UTEP team on the road. They showed discipline and improvement as sophomores. Two years later, we get what we are seeing now? That has to be on the coach, right? Or if these guys are not listeing, their butts should be off of the team! UCLA had the same record as the Beavers last year, notice some improvement? I give Robinson his five years, but something is not adding up as far as developing or maybe evaluating talent. Every player on the team is inconsistent.
I have never wanted a coach fired (Except for Wagner of course)
But if this continues next season, then it might be time to end the Robinson era. The games aren’t even fun to watch anymore. With this kind of talent, we should be competing in the top half of the Pac-10 every year. Having this talent is no use if we are just going to finish 9th in the Pac-10 every year.
I don’t know if there’s other people that feel like I do, but I don’t think I can watch another 30 games of missed layups, missed free throws, losing to awful teams, and being completely inept at running the fast break. So if all this continues next season, I think it may be time to end the Robinson era.
Go Beavers!
I think we are all in agreement here that next season has to be a break through year and I think we will be able to tell pretty early on. A 5-6 non-conference record is not going to cut it. I would even consider a breakthrough something like 8-3 in the non-con with a 9-9 in league and a NIT berth for starters.
I highly doubt there would be a change though, isn’t CR signed through 2016 now or something? All I know is that the Beavers are one of the strangest teams I have ever seen. You can blame what you want on the the Seniors, but next year CR has that excuse lifted.
Yep, agreed.
You can blame what you want on the the Seniors
To back off some of my griping about the older guys, I know I have complained about the seniors as much as anyone probably and have gone on about all the young talent, but we do have to equal out the blame on the young guys too, especially the sophomores. It sure isn’t all about the three seniors this season.
-RVM
There is nothing wrong with “blaming” the seniors, but is that on the players or the coach? None of them are better players now then they were as Sophomores, the argument can be made that they have regressed if anything.
I was watching some 2008/2009 highlights the other day, that team was better and more disciplined then anything we are seeing now despite what CR says about “athleticism”. I think athleticism is overrated. And really were the players that “bad”. The leaders were not NBA level talent, but Claitt and Schaftanear are doing well overseas and Tarver is holding is own in the NBA-D league. I think three starters playing professionally is a pretty decent resume.
I think we can blame the seniors but I know I have maybe weighed that a little heavy towards them when I think it is very much a team effort this year. Yes that includes the coaches.
Claitt and Tarver both excelled under Robinson actually IMHO, and both (especially Cliatt) benefited greatly from Robinson’s coaching style, and yes were very “bad” when they played for John. That was terrible mental and physical basketball during those last few John years and it was on both the players and the coaches.
Schaftanear had a good year then teams figured him out very quickly and bumped him around with their big guys and he did basically nothing. I haven’t followed him overseas and glad he is doing well, but really during his entire OSU career he played under the D1/Pac-10 level of talent as a in-the-paint type of player. He like someone like Haynes is much too hot and cold and I have to be honest I tend to go the route of a coach can only do so much with them (Haynes I believe has an excuse with what he has gone through with his mother and yes basketball is not the most important thing). BUT there were some very undisciplined play by many of the John players during both John’s final couple years and Robinson’s years, which I think can be attributed to the players.
But yes the coaching staff needs to build in a strong mental and disciplined team aesthetic.
For my comments above I was thinking this season about the sophomores such as Cunningham who now I define as wildly inconsistent, Burton and Brandt. As the season winds down I am disappointed they have not stepped it up and made it their team. It is as bad a deal IMO as my criticisms of the seniors lack of senior leadership.
-RVM
And really if they could just find one consistent player. Look how well Oregon is doing being able to count on Catron almost every night.
Yeah, I don’t get Cunningham, absolutely no confidence in his shot anymore and some ugly looking releases. I have no idea on how it feels to be that high in the air, but he seems to make what look like simple shots more complicated then they need to be. Even his foul shooting is starting to slip.
As for Burton, he reminds me a little of Schaft, in that the opposition has now figured out his game and he has been unable to adjust enough to be impactful.
I like Collier, but he needs to make 90% of his layups and shoot at least 70% from the foul line to be great. Hopefully, that happens next year.
To me, Nelson is also puzzling considering that he actually had an advantage over other Freshmen with all of his practice time. He really does not look comfortable out there a lot of the time and with the eyeball test is not stacking up as someone who is going to be an elite P-10 player. I am not sure what the pundits and recruiting sights saw, but he looks a little slow out there and shoots kind of a set shot. I would love to see the Beavers get a jump shooter who makes teams pay for their zones.
Mostly on the same page here
But even though I know I was all about Nelson when he started to finally play, I’m still not that surprised. Yes he had a ton of practice time, but that still is nothing like actually playing at the D1 level of play and at the Pac-10 level. The practice was good but still I totally think it was to his disadvantage to sit out a year. He has no concept right now for the speed of the game mentally or physically and just how quick D1 opposing players can be, and this would not have come out in practice even with really quick people like Cunningham being around.
So I think you are being a bit harsh in your judgment about him. I’ve said this before but there was a good deal of criticism of Cunningham’s adjusting to the speed of D1 speed in his freshman season too. Lots of talk of how he went into a ton of charging calls because he was a step too slow and telegraphed himself. Cunningham has learned that part of the game very well this year, even with his current struggles.
Plus it doesn’t help when the your teammates don’t get you the ball quickly enough or spread the offensive threats out on the outside and inside, all of which allow one to get cleaner looks and all that. Other teams seem to know if Nelson gets a good look he has a great touch and play up on him very well. Going to take him individually to adjust as well as a more balanced team play to get him going I think.
Yes I know I’m saying this a lot right now, but give Roberto another year to really judge him.
-RVM
"Next season" is all too often what Beaver fans are reduced to saying
about teams and coaches that underperform. I’m beginning to think that the willingness to settle for mediocrity comes from the very top of the food chain, the AD and university administration. Coaches are given contract extensions, even lifetime commitments, for records that would send them packing at other universities whose standards of excellence and aspirations for achievement are higher.
Sure why not?
The way it goes you know. I do expect a winning season for the Beavs basketball season next season, but if it doesn’t pan out way it goes and I’ll be pissed, disappointed, and will yes say ok guess I have to look forward to next season.
Say for instance if OSU had a losing football season next year and the AD cleaned house and fired Riley and the coaching staff, well I would still have to wait for “next season” wouldn’t I?
Serious commentary warning here (if you just want the simple fan winning/losing commentary stop here)!
I will get on my higher ed high horse here too and I will say that college sports are not like pro sports in that being a collegiate athlete does mean more than just the bottom line of wins and losses. I personally think that stability of coaching staff is not a bad thing at times for these young men and women, for whatever that is worth I guess. As much as I wanted the basketball team to have a winning record this season I’m also a fan of things like an athletic program giving a person like Joe Burton a scholarship to attend what I think is a pretty good school even though I think his on the court play of late is not been up to par.
I believe you simplify the issue a lot when you equate it to everyone from the AD to head coaches to me as a fan are just settling for mediocrity. There is a larger campus culture going on. Do you REALLY want at the college level to have the culture in place at OSU or UCLA you have in place at the UO and USC? You seem to imply a no in your allegiances, and I could be wrong but also will say this again but if you are an OSU fan you are going to have to be patient at times and settle for underachieving teams. Even for instance in a sport like baseball where we have a track record of success. I’m sorry to all you out there who think this is settling for less attitude but it is the way it is (and not even UO or USC can sustain the level of success you seem to be hinting at).
I know I’m not going to change some people’s minds, but I just don’t personally buy into the big business of win all you can win as a measure of success at the college sports level.
As much as this makes me into a apologist homer fan in some fan’s eyes and if I believed the other way around I personally think this makes me into an unrealistic all or nothing fan in an area that you have to take the ups and downs of the complexity of college sports.
-RVM
Success feels that much better when you’ve had to grind it out to get there.
That said, I think our athletes, coaches, students, alums and fans have been grinding down over the past few seasons of hoops and football. Time for some of that sweet comeuppance we’re all due.
As a fan I do agree, but what if it doesn’t happen? In a way it isn’t really “my” issue is it? There has to be a cut off for “my” expectations and trusting the admin people to figure out the priorities and what is right to do.
I just can’t handle very well this “oh that is loser talk” or “you are settling for mediocrity” stuff handed at me. I’m just a fan, I try and buy tickets when I can, but yes a lot of it has to be compromise and hoping next season is better. I think we can hold admin and coaches to higher expectations yes, but why get on me as a fan I can’t really do anything about it all? I would love to kick Burton’s and Haynes’ butts into gear you know, but I really don’t think they can hear me from my couch!
-RVM
You’ve hit the nail on the head, sir.
I just can’t handle very well this "oh that is loser talk" or "you are settling for mediocrity" stuff handed at me. I’m just a fan, I try and buy tickets when I can, but yes a lot of it has to be compromise and hoping next season is better.
I don’t know what my standards mean to the athletic department, coaches and players. I would love to be in the mix for championships year in and year out and hope that someday we can get there. In the meantime, I get to the games I can, donate what money is left over when it makes fiscal sense for me to do so and just enjoy being a Beav. I’ll always have my opinions and hey, I even get mad at the teams sometimes, but at the end of the day I’m not going anywhere.
I don't expect OSU to be USC or UCLA
But is it too much to ask that the Beavs play in the Rose Bowl once in awhile (last appearance was 1965), or that they earn a bid to postseason basketball play (CIT doesn’t count) and make it past the first round once in awhile (last NCAA appearance was 2005, when Cal State Fullerton beat OSU in 1st round play IN CORVALLIS)?
Baseball has met the “once in awhile” standard with two national championships in recent years, but it’s time to punch another ticket to Omaha and compete on that national stage again. Women’s soccer made it past the first round postseason last year, and women’s gymnastics is in the running for a national championship this year, so they are perhaps the two best bets to achieve something special in 2011.
OSU needs to define the “once in awhile” standard of achievement for every sport. Once every five years. Once a decade. Whatever. Then do what it takes to achieve it. Waiting for miracles isn’t working.
And all in all I do agree with this above
I fully expect and want to see Riley take his team to at the very least one BCS game and as a fan I totally am disappointed it has not happened so far. Yes I totally expect OSU baseball to make a serious run at least a Super Regional year in and year out. Basketball? Again just too big of a hole to really expect a solid post-season let alone a championship caliber team, so yes I do currently have lower “standards” there I guess.
But the thing too is that for every women’s soccer or gymnastics great season like we have had lately we will also have to put up with mediocrity, or worse, at times too. It doesn’t mean I’m happy with losing seasons and underachieving. To be perfectly blunt the settling for mediocrity and loser talk arguments make it feel like people are saying I’m less of a fan than I am. When kind-of like ArbyOSU said nicely above I’m just settling for something I don’t have any control over. It just rubs me the wrong way, as irrational as that probably is. On a more rational level I just also disagree that really the coaching staffs and admin really settle for mediocrity but I could be naive about it all.
-RVM
It’s a complicated issue for a school like OSU that obviously does not have the financial support or financial base of some of the other P-10 schools. I would love for Bobby D. to come out with clear and specific expectations for the football and basketball programs and hold the head coaches accountable to timelines. Everyone should be held accountable for performance in their jobs, but are championships a fair expectation? On the flip side, fans would go nuts if Bobby said I expect Mike Riley to have winning seasons 4 out of every 5 years and make minor bowl games or I would like Craig Robinson to have a winning record by season five and make the NIT, but maybe that is what is realistic. I think everyone is grumpy because both programs have regressed this year and there was a lot of promise recently. These conversations could get a lot more interesting next year.
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