Oregon State Basketball: 2018 U.S. Virgin Islands Paradise Jam Preview

The Beavers take the court on Friday at the Paradise Jam against Old Dominion.

By The_Coach Nov 12, 2018, 10:00am PST

What We Know

Oregon State Will Play Old Dominion First: That has already been decided in the bracket and that contest will tip-off on Friday, November 16th at 11:00 AM PT. The Monarchs are currently 1-1 on the season, with a victory over Navy and a defeat at St. Joseph’s.
They’ll Get The Winner/Loser Of Kennesaw State/Missouri Second: So if the Beavers win, it’ll likely be Missouri. Despite the Tigers dropping a game to Iowa State, Missouri is a sleeper in the SEC, led by superstar guard and Illinois transfer Mark Smith (17.0 PPG).
OSU Is One Of The More Dangerous Teams In The Field: Kansas State is easily the favorite. Missouri and Penn are intriguing rosters but overall, Oregon State needs to recognize how dangerous their potential is. The 2-0 Beavers should be confident.

Change Of Venue...Change Of Team?: Life can be a whole lot easier on your home court and while the Paradise Jam isn’t a true road environment, it surely isn’t anywhere near Gill Coliseum. How will the role players fare when the bright lights come on away from home?
How Will The Beavers Fare In A Tournament-Style Set-Up?: This is probably the most interesting inquiry to me. Due to the fact that head coach Wayne Tinkle heavily relies on his star talents, sometimes the workload can be exhausting over the course of a few days.
Will This Be Alfred Hollins Coming Out Party?: Hollins looked a bit uncomfortable in the season opener against UC-Riverside, but he bounced back with a strong 16 point, 8 rebound display against Wyoming. Will consistency begin to seep into his game now?

It’s A Good Thing OSU Is Opposite Of Kansas State: Kansas head coach Bill Self said that the Wildcats were “his pick” to win the Big 12 and while it’s great gamesmanship, it’s also a solid choice. Besides the Jayhawks, Kansas State may be the best squad in the league.
The Beavers Cannot (I Repeat, Cannot) Look Past Old Dominion: The Monarchs have a strong trio of guards, led by Ahmad Caver (23.0 PPG), the best play-maker on the Old Dominion roster. Keep an eye on B.J. Stith (12.0 PPG) and Xavier Green (12.0 PPG) as well.
Penn Is A Trendy Mid-Major Squad: The Quakers opening day road win at George Mason showed that this group has some meddle and won’t quit when tested. There’s strong belief that Penn will solely represent the Ivy League in the big dance this season.