Simply, No Excuses: Coaches and Players (ESPECIALLY PLAYERS) Needs to Wake Up, or Start Over from Scratch
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Quick Note: Just like football, hopefully, this is the last time I write this. But I think I'll probably have to write this type of editorial often just so our team can "Wake Up"
Our Basketball team started out really well. Right before we went into conference play, we only lost to two teams. One really ugly, one really close to tough opponent. Coming into conference play, everyone had really high expectation, including myself, to try to get to the big dance, or at least make the NIT.
Now with the loss to the Sun Devils, I can only say, our players AND coaches have lost all focus. They are making stupid mistakes, really REALLY stupid mistakes that should not even happen at all. Take a look at Stanford game. We were up by 10+ points at one time, only to BLOW IT AWAY and lose in 4 OT. Simply put, beyond unacceptable under any standards.
The coaches even know this, but I don't think they are using correct method to correct these mistakes. And Players, I don't think they are not even doing anything at all to fix these mistakes. They have lost any, if not ALL focus. I know they probably want to improve, but they are not taking anything seriously. I almost begin to wonder if they have any attitude toward winning.
I think the only solution at this point is this: Start over. Tear everything down, and just rebuild from scratch. I know I'm being harsh, but for last three years, I haven't seen any improvement at all. In fact, we are regressing faster like a runaway truck. I gave my paitent, but after this 1-6 conference start, I am losing any hope, and we are making same mistakes over, and over, and over.
Enough is enough. Unless Coaches and Players (Yes, players, I told myself to not blame the college players, but I had enough) It's time to tear everything down, and start over. Coaches needs to do a lot more for these young talented players, and for players, they simply need to grow up, and stop being childish and make High School Mistakes. Some of these mistakes players make is really fundamentals that should've been corrected before coming into college levels.
This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of SB Nation or the Building the Dam staff. FanPost opinions are valued expressions of opinion by passionate and knowledgeable Oregon State fans.
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Lack of floor leadership
I posted after the Idaho game that despite the great record they really lacked a floor general and it was going to be a signifigant problem in conference play.
Cunningham is not going to be that guy. He’d make a really fantastic first or second option to a great ball handler and play maker. He’s not the guy that needs to touch the ball every posession. He’s not the guy that consistently takes charge when the the game is close and the defense tightens up. I liked that Nelson and Starks stepped up in the 3 games prior to the Pac 12 opener. Starks really showed promise as a leader (although his height makes him a defensive liability), but that development has slowed.
I watched the conference opener against the Huskies and it was very visible that the beavs didn’t have an offensive direction. The Huskies all seem to have a goal on the offensive side of the floor. They get the ball and just have a confidence. The Beavs are reactionary and often look confused as to whether they should shoot or pass. Most open shots seem to come to them by chance, rather than by design.
I really liked that Robinson was letting his athletes use their athleticism instead of constricting them with a Princeton style offense, but they still need leadership and a team strategy.
by LiamFitz on Jan 16, 2026 8:32 PM PST reply actions
I agree with this
I think this is a very good view of things. I also agree about Cunningham who I guess I’ve finally come to see as not the leader I thought he would be. I think personally I got wrapped up with him in these Payton type of comparisons and he’s just not that type of player. He’s a very very good player but not the on-the-court leader.
I think it looks to be Starks deal to be honest. This is one reason I had no issue at all letting him take it down and take that last second shot against UA. Though I think he looked a bit deflated and very frustrated against ASU and he needs to get beyond that and just go into the zone where he’s thinking about both dishing it off to other players and shooting the ball.
-RVM
by rvm on Jan 17, 2026 2:05 PM PST up reply actions
It definitely feels better now
3 in a row is great. I’ve felt that as far as talent goes, this is the best Beaver team in at least over a decade. The only problems that get in their way is a lack of purpose on offense and lack of overall floor leadership. Those two things can be overcome with effort and coaching. Let’s hope their on their way. At this point, I’d be more than happy with a winning record in the Pac 12!
by LiamFitz on Jan 31, 2025 6:15 AM PST reply actions
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Pacific-12 Conference Standings
(updated 1.2.2025 at 11:12 PM PST)
| North | Conf | Overall | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| W | L | W | L | |
Oregon Ducks
|
8 | 1 | 12 | 2 |
|
Stanford Cardinal
|
8 | 1 | 11 | 2 |
|
Washington Huskies
|
5 | 4 | 7 | 6 |
|
California Golden Bears
|
4 | 5 | 7 | 6 |
|
Oregon St. Beavers
|
3 | 6 | 3 | 9 |
|
Washington St. Cougars
|
2 | 7 | 4 | 8 |
| South | Conf | Overall | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| W | L | W | L | |
|
USC Trojans
|
7 | 2 | 10 | 2 |
|
UCLA Bruins
|
5 | 4 | 6 | 8 |
|
Utah Utes
|
4 | 5 | 8 | 5 |
|
Arizona St. Sun Devils
|
4 | 5 | 6 | 7 |
|
Arizona Wildcats
|
2 | 7 | 4 | 8 |
|
Colorado Buffaloes
|
2 | 7 | 3 | 10 |
Pacific-12 Conference Standings
(updated 3.13.2012 at 9:12 PM PDT)
| Conf | Overall | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| W | L | W | L | |
|
Washington Huskies
|
14 | 4 | 22 | 10 |
|
California Golden Bears
|
13 | 5 | 24 | 9 |
|
Oregon Ducks
|
13 | 5 | 23 | 9 |
|
Arizona Wildcats
|
12 | 6 | 23 | 11 |
|
Colorado Buffaloes
|
11 | 7 | 23 | 11 |
|
UCLA Bruins
|
11 | 7 | 19 | 14 |
|
Stanford Cardinal
|
10 | 8 | 21 | 11 |
|
Oregon St. Beavers
|
7 | 11 | 19 | 14 |
|
Washington St. Cougars
|
7 | 11 | 16 | 16 |
|
Arizona St. Sun Devils
|
6 | 12 | 10 | 21 |
|
Utah Utes
|
3 | 15 | 6 | 25 |
|
USC Trojans
|
1 | 17 | 6 | 26 |
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