GETTING INSIDE
Even after a surprising 96-78 home loss to Boston University in the first round of the College Basketball Invitational -- an event his team won a year ago -- Oregon State coach Craig Robinson was thinking big about the future.
He said he wants the Beavers (14-18) to "come back next year with an exponential improvement."
Given how much experience returns and how much new talent is on the way, that's not an unreasonable expectation for next season. Nine players return, and Robinson has recruited well.
But the coach also recognizes how much progress was made these past two seasons. He inherited a team that went 0-18 in the Pac-10 in 2007-08, and the Beavers fought out of that hoops hell to become competitive in the conference.
Robinson thought back to a Thanksgiving team meal, where he asked all his players to verbalize things for which they were thankful. Senior Josh Tarver gave some perspective to the program's progress.
"Josh, in the most sincere way, was like, 'I'm thankful we're not as bad as we used to be.' It was like a little kid saying what he was thankful for," Robinson recalled. "And it gave me some insight into how bad things were around here. It's a rough thing to go through, what they did.
"I wish they hadn't had to go through what they went through but I was happy we got to do something for them before they left. I just wish we could have given them a little more."
The Beavers stormed to the CBI crown in 2009, posting a 5-1 record to get them to 18-18 overall. It wasn't the NCAA Tournament, but it was a championship for a team that hadn't won anything in the league the year before.
Then came this season's quick exit.
Mostly, Robinson felt bad for Seth and Josh Tarver, outgoing seniors. "I'm a little disappointed I let them go out like this," he said. "I know how hard those guys have worked."
NOTES, QUOTESFINAL RECORD: 14-18, 8-10, tied for fifth in the Pac-10.
WHAT WENT RIGHT: The Beavers surged near the end of the regular season, winning six of 10 before ending the year with three straight defeats. The Beavers swept Arizona and USC and scored a win over Cal. Freshman PG Jared Cunningham showed glimpses of great promise.
WHAT WENT WRONG: Oregon State did not take the next step forward in Year 2 under Craig Robinson. After going 18-18 and winning the CBI tournament the year before, the Beavers were expected to climb into the role of contender in the Pac-10. They were picked fifth in the preseason and finished 8-10 in the conference. That was good enough for a three-way tie for fifth but they were never in contention, and everyone expected a bit more for the league record. Especially the Beavers themselves.
QUOTE TO NOTE: "We kind of took it for granted. It's my job to have guys prepared so I'll take the blame for it." -- Coach Craig Robinson on the Beavers' mindset in their first-round CBI defeat.
STRATEGY AND PERSONNELTHE GOOD NEWS: Seven players, three of them starters, will be back next season. The backcourt of Calvin Haynes and Jared Cunningham should be the best OSU has had in a few years. Freshman SG Roberto Nelson sat out all season after a long process to become academically cleared, and he often was considered the team's best practice player. F Rhys Murphy is expected to be fully healthy after suffering a knee injury in the opening minutes of the team's first practice back in October. He could step in to take Seth Tarver's spot atop OSU's 1-3-1 zone defense. And the incoming class features highly touted PG Ahmad Starks of Whitney Young High School in Chicago, the alma mater of coach Craig Robinson's sister, First Lady Michelle Obama.
THE BAD NEWS: The Beavers lose three seniors who played major roles in the program's resurgence. Gone are C Roeland Schaftenaar, who did not play as well this season as he did a year ago, and brothers Seth and Josh Tarver. Senior Calvin Hampton left the team hours before its CBI matchup with Boston U, quitting after a dispute with Craig Robinson in the afternoon shoot-around. The reality is OSU will replace all of the departing with players boasting more potential, if less experience.
KEY RETURNEES: Junior Calvin Haynes and freshman Jared Cunningham will be back to form a very solid starting backcourt. Joe Burton, a 6-7, 295-pound freshman post, showed great flashes late in the season, and 6-10 freshman Angus Brandt got starting assignments in OSU's final two games. Junior G Lathen Wallace (5.3 points) must improve his 3-point shooting, but there is good depth returning up front with 6-9 junior F Omari Johnson and 6-7 junior F Daniel Deane.
ROSTER REPORT:
--Junior SG Calvin Haynes led the team in scoring at 12.5 points and shot 36 percent from 3-point range. He had 19 double-digit scoring games, reaching 25 points three times. He needs 43 points to achieve the 1,000-point career plateau.
--Senior SG Seth Tarver averaged 10.2 points for the season, but shot just 9-for-28 over his final four games. The Pac-10 Defensive Player of the Year, he finished his career just 19 points shy of 1,000.
--Freshman F/C Joe Burton had modest season averages of 4.7 points and 4.5 rebounds, but he had three double-figure scoring efforts in his final eight games, including a 13-point, 12-rebound performance against UCLA.
Previous Report: 03/26/2010
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