Home Basketball Basketball: Idaho @ Oregon State

Basketball: Idaho @ Oregon State

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With the Fred Thompson tragedy still (and possibly forever) fresh in our minds, we must accept life continues.

Tonight the hoops team squares off with Idaho. To me this is the easiest game so far, at least on paper. I expect to see an inspired effort as the team wins one for Fred. Check out JackBeav's site for an analysis later in the day: http://orangeexpress.wordpress.com/

I'll be out most of the morning and afternoon, which is why I'm putting this thread up early this morning.

210 COMMENTS

      • I wondered about that myself, he does not seem to be mentioned for any of the BCS openings. I thought he had much better credentials than Hugh Freeze, but I guess Hugh is the flavor of the month with the Blind Side stuff. And also further OT, it always bugs me that Mike Leach gets all of the Tech accolades and people seem to forget that Spike Dykes ever existed.

        • Or that Sonny was a big part of Leach’s success as well. Dykes has a great coaching pedigree, both literally and figuratively.

          I think he would be a great fit at ASU. The devils could slap the Zonies in the face with their former OC, and they would have a scouting report for Leach’s team.

    • Wow. That’s all I gotta say on the matter.

      On another unrelated note, OSU Athletics did this for Fred Thompson:

      OSU Athletics has worked with Fred Thompson’s family to establish a Memorial Fund in his memory. That fund is set up through Bank of America, and is identified by account #0555170789. Fans wishing to contribute can visit any Bank of America branch and deposit cash or a check, wire money to the account, or transfer online from an existing Bank of America account. Please contact us at football@oregonstate.edu if you have questions or issues. Thank you, Beaver Nation, for your incredible support during this difficult time.

    • Yep. I didn’t think it was worth making a post and rub it in all the jerks’ faces who said, “Angry, you are crazy blah blah Allen is not as good blah blah” If you use the search function (on the right) and type in Ryan Allen you can read it all for yourself.

    • Hm. People seem to really want to take about Allen in this thread. Maybe I should make a post for that topic (on a slow day with no hoops). The thing is, Allen effortlessly kicked the ball above Reser’s facade. As a coach, you go with that guy and work out any kinks in “inconsistency” (I find this criticism especially lame given Johnny Hekker won the job).

      • Regardless of if we kept Allen vs. Hekker, the team’s record would have been the same last season. Hekker may have been terrible at times, but he alone didn’t cost us any games.

        • 1. It’s impossible to say if he cost the Beavs any games…momentum is a crazy thing, and Hekker killed it many times.
          2. It may not have mattered this past season, but Hekker graduated and Allen is only a junior…it would be nice to have Allen punting next year.
          3. Allen will likely go pro, so from a publicity standpoint…epic fail.

          Overall just a real bad call by Riley…this one was so obvious there’s no excuse. Fans who act like it’s not a big deal aren’t understanding that every bad call, even a seemingly minor one like a punter, is a huge deal. Small details matter.

          • We would have been insane to carry 2 scholarship punters. If Allen had beaten Hekker out, he would have commanded a scholarship or else he would have transferred anyway.

            Yes, I know that scholarships are awarded on a year to year basis and there’s nothing that would have prevented us from telling Johnny to pack his bags in favor of Ryan Allen.

            But doing so carries risks, such as other coaches saying: “Hey, be careful with that Mike Riley guy. If he doesn’t like you, he’ll pull your scholarship. We’d never do that here at XYZ school.”

            Damned if you do, damned if you don’t.

          • Other side of the coin; don’t recall Hekker WINNING any games and, with Langs/Read/Riley’s play calling, didn’t see a lot of use of his ability to pass. If his ability to pass was a primary reason for choosing him it is a shame that there were only, what, 3-4 passes in predictable situations in the past two seasons?

    • His uncle wrote a letter to Angrybeavs. I dunno if Riley ever “dissed” him they just liked Hekkers potential and ability to throw better and Allen never felt like he was given a fair shake. I think Hekker would have posted similar if not better numbers if he found consistency which he never did. The coaches made a bad call but I still don’t know how you project something like consistency and ability to perform under pressure.

      • It was never about skill or consistency. It was about time in the system versus a walk-on. It was pretty apparent a couple years ago that Allen would be a special kicker, but the decision to go with Hekker had already been made.

      • In my mind, its also about converting a qb/athlete to punter v. investing in a punter. I think a lack of consistency could have been expected for a converted player. And I doubt the shanks were limited to games…

        How many times did Hekker throw? Was it really worth it?

        • isn’t almost every punter a converted athlete? I mean in general the kind of people that have the skill to kick at the D-1 level also have the skill to play a variety of positions in HS.

      • Hekker did not look good in game time pressure. I remember that they were thinking of putting Allen in a couple times but never pulled the trigger. I doubt Allen would have any negative yard punts like Hekker did.

  1. It will be very interesting to see how the basketball team comes out of the gate this evening.

    Some teams come out flat and listless after a tragedy. Some teams come out very intense, playing with a real purpose.

    I have a feeling that this team will be in the latter category. I think they’re so close knit and I think that Craig Robinson is probably a good enough locker-room coach to really inspire the troops and get them focused.

    Re Ryan Allen

    Good for him. Unfortunately, we couldn’t keep 2 scholarship punters.

  2. Another OT… Jahii Carson is ruled ineligible by the NCAA. It’s the same situation as Berto. He will be able to practice with the team, but he won’t be allowed to play or travel with the team until a year from now, provided he progresses toward graduation in that time.

  3. I see Idaho vs. Oregon St. Hoops as a chance for OSU to feel better after some tragic news. I think the team plays inspired and cruises to an easy win with some feel good moments and exciting plays.
    Cunningham, Moreland and Collier are the three I want to show the most guts. A solid and controlled game from Starks would also be nice to see. Go Beavs!

    Oregon St. 80, Idaho 55

    Idaho @ Oregon St. Preview:
    http://beaverbyte.com

  4. Idaho lost to the WSU Cougs by just 2 points last Wednesday. Although that is without WSU best player and it was a home game for the Vandals.

    But still, I hope the team does not treat this as a gimme

    • I am feeling like there is a solid chance that we come out mentally short tonight, understandably so. I would imagine that losing a friend and colleague would have a temporary deleterious effect. Most of the football and basketball players know each other as they share the same study tables and workout space. I kind of wish that they canceled the game in honor of Fred. It seems too soon to return to sports.

        • Just saying, I feel for these kids. I lost a friend on my high school football team and it was tough for a long time. I think the impact of this will last quite a bit longer than you think.

      • I actually agree with the death of Fred Thompson effecting them tonight, but I think maybe only the first half. The coach will talk with them at halftime and will get them to refocus. Look at what happened to OK state’s football team after the coach for the women’s Bball coach died in a plane crash. It effects people differently.

  5. Outside shots aren’t going in, as usual. Inside shots are getting blocked. And then Joe with the stupid travel.

    Not looking good so far. They’re missing outside shots like us, but at least their inside shots are going in.

  6. Roberto looks like a completely different player from the start of the season. More aggressive, more confident, everything we hoped we’d see.

    Now if people would just hit their FTs, we might cut this lead down.

  7. The 2-3 zone is killing us right now; Cunningham and Starks are glacier-cold from 3. Seems like a theme we may see throughout the season.

    • The defense is looking pretty nice at least. As soon as some shots start falling for the Beavs Idaho will have to switch out of that 2-3. Hopefully that happens sooner than later though…

  8. Geiger is annihilating us right now, because we can’t get around their screens, or because Joe isn’t helping long enough. But either way, we’re getting smoked right now, while continuing to miss jumpers.

  9. Was hoping that the sanctuary of the court would heal heavy hearts, it looks like its the opposite, Team is doesn’t look focused for obvious reasons. Just jacking up shots standing on defense, and just “off” on passes. Hopefully, they can comeback, but i am thinking they don’t want to be here.

    • Personally I think he’s much improved from the last couple of seasons. He passes and rebounds well. He just has those one or two “what the..?” type plays each game.

      • Joe does not rebound on the defensive end well at all, and only gets offensive rebounds because he takes horrible, under-the-basket hook shots, which put him in position.

        His defense is pretty bad, he turns the ball over…I just don’t understand why he would play so much.

  10. 0-11 from 3, vs 5-8 for them. 8-28 overall, vs 12-22 for them. They’re just shooting us out of the gym right now.

    This kind of game happens occasionally to teams that rely on jumpers in their offense, like our stupid Princeton, but its still just painful to watch.

  11. This performance is disappointing (/understandable). Looks like Thompson’s death could affect the hoops team for some time.

    That being said, there is time to come back if they can somehow quickly focus.

  12. We’re not winning the turnover battle either. Seems like their focusing a bit more than the first half. This may be alright in the end.

  13. Why do they keep showing the Idaho replays?! I think they show more replays for the team that’s ahead, not behind. it’s dumb! should be even not one way or the other.

  14. Holy SHIT was that an ugly, skill-less play by Collier. Stop, turn, THEN pass; don’t make jumping, spinning, blind passes like Joe.

  15. Instead of taking the layup, Joe hops to the baseline, turns, and tries an ugly hook shot.

    And in other news, Jared is 0-8 from the field. 0-8.

  16. This is the kind of game where players like Burton and Collier not being able to make free throws is going to kill any chance we have of a come back. Sooo depressing.

  17. really??? If that’s not an indication of how the night is going, then I don’t know what is….I don’t want to miss, so you miss, no, I don’t want to miss, here, you try and make a shot! ugh!!!

  18. Starks continues his trend of taking 20 shots and making 5, thus being our leading scorer while also being horribly inefficient.

  19. Our defense is playing well for the most part, creating turnovers and limiting their inside shots. But they’re hitting tons of jumpers and 3s, so it doesn’t even matter.

  20. I honestly don’t remember the last time I saw Collier make both of his free throws. How did CR not make him and Burton shoot free throws the entire frickin off season?

  21. Wide-open 3, which they miss, followed by THREE offensive rebounds and a highlight-reel dunk. This is pathetic now.

    TEACH THEM HOW TO BOX OUT!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  22. back to the drawing board. Just when fans were getting excited, people are going to look at the score tomorrow and Gill will never fill up.

  23. Beavs should have canceled the game tonight…clearly not there mentally. I am convinced OSU is cursed. First good team in 20 years and that tragedy hits/ruins it.

  24. And Joe may be picking up a flagrant foul here, hitting someone in the face from the back after the play. Dude is a fucking genius.

  25. Another point in the game where we get some momentum, get a stop, and then do something stupid and ruin it. Happened a half-dozen times this game. Brutal.

    This game was lost on the backs of absolutely terrible shooting by Starks and Cunningham, period. 3-19 combined for the starting backcourt of the Princeton “Offense”.

  26. Roberto needs to be starting. He adds so much more to the lineup than Starks does. And it was always the plan for him to start; Starks was made a starter only because of the Clearing House issues last year.

    Time to make a change.

  27. It’s frustrating because now the Beavs just become another P-12 team with a WTF loss. People outside the program don’t know the circumstances. The national buzz would have been nice to see continue.

  28. Starks got swatted out of the planet on another drive. He’s not very creative when he gets inside, and he needs to be considering he’s Quizz’s size.

  29. 3-23, so ONCE AGAIN we shoot horribly from range. Good thing we installed this garbage jumpshooting offense and recruited one good jumpshooter.

    Outside of defense, our fundamentals all seem poor. We don’t shoot FTs well, don’t rebound well, don’t shoot 3s well. That’s coaching.

    • I wish the announcers had been in the locker room. They had a better take on the game than CR although they probably couldn’t have done much about the lack of fundamentals.

    • Once again, Craig loses to a team he has no business losing to. Agreed, terrible fundamentals. Still has not shown himself to be a D-1 coach. Scott Rueck knows the game much more thouroughly than Craig does.

        • Texas-Corpus Christie, Sac. State, Ill.-Chicago and the 51-point loss to Seattle at home all in the 09-10 season. Losses like this have happened in(now) all four years of his tenure. Don’t even get me started on some of the teams he lost to last year. As MC would say, too many WTF losses. Guess it is an overraction if you are not concerned about losing so many games to lower and mid-level teams. Inexcusable!

          • The loss only bothers me in the fact that it looked a lot like last years losses. The team created turnovers, but could not hit the side of a barn. Remember, last year when they caused 26 turnovers against UCLA and still lost going away?

            This team needs a consistent “zone punisher” on the perimeter, a player who can hit 45% from beyond the arc no questions asked. Until CR gets/finds that player this team is going to be vulnerable to outings like tonight. There is still a good chance the team goes into P-12 play with 10 wins, that’s one less than all of last year, so I think most of us would take that.

          • I agree on CR. Stupid plays by players is a coaching problem. Don’t get to see many games because I live in the Twin Cities, but has Burton EVER made a shot other than a free throw?

      • He’s definitely a D1 recruiter, but I don’t understand the idea of recruiting raw, superb athletes(Cunningham, Collier, Moreland) and an inefficient, undersized scorer(Starks) and then trying to run a jumpshot-intensive system(Princeton). It literally makes no sense.

        This team would be a monster with some kind of screen-based motion offense, instead of forcing the one system Craig knows on the wrong players.

    • Agree. I do think he’s improved quite a bit the last few years…he struck as a little bit of a Captain Obvious homer when he started out, but now he brings a pretty objective analysis of the game.

  30. This may sound weird but even though the Beavs are very athletic and talented they seem so “herky jerky” on offense sometimes. Layups are not clean, easy three point opportunities around the basket get missed, no one has what I would call a traditional 3 pt shot like some of the Idaho players showed tonight. Just an observation.

  31. What I saw was a lack of focus and fire. That’s forgivable all things considered. I stayed away from Football the last half of the season and this is the first basketball game I watched…just couldn’t take it anymore. So this wasn’t what I was hoping to witness after developing a little optimism with the 6-1 start. The Vandals were surprisingly athletic and competent on offense, and they caught the Beavers in an unpredictable emotional state. If you think there’s no bond across the boundaries of different sports, you’re sorely mistaken. I have no doubt Fred had some close friends on that court tonight.

    I think the fire, the focus will return. That’s the mental state where free throws are made, and rebounds come from.

    I’ll give ’em another shot. Deer season (a ridiculously successful one) is over anyway, and I haven’t had the ambition to sit in a duck blind yet, althought the symbolism does appeal.

    • I share your exact sentiments about the team. They were emotionally flat, that is understandable considering the circumstance. They now have a few days off and can get their mind right. I have a feeling against UIC they will be much more focused and emotionally fresh. If they come out flat and lethargic and struggle then we can worry, but until then I’m not all that worried.

  32. We had a cheerleader die in a car crash the morning before our first playoff game back in high school. We ended up losing to a team we had previous crushed twice. We were ranked #1 all season with only one loss, but overcoming the emotions proved too much. This beaver team looked exactly the same. Not hitting shots including freethrows and always a step behind on defense.
    Life is bigger than basketball and it is early enough in the season that the beavs can get past this. I wouldn’t panic yet.

    • I’m not panicking yet but I did throw up in my mouth a little bit. By this time the fundamentals should be second nature to the team and I did not see them doing the fundamental stuff out there. In fact I haven’t seen them doing it in any of the games so far.

      Even the homer Lamar Hurd was pointing out fundamentals that the Beavs weren’t doing.

      Oh by the way, I’m glad to see Lamar bleeds orange and black. And from the look on his face after the game I’d say this one had him bleeding a bit.

      • When things got tough last night they kind of reverted back to last years version of themselves. Poor three point shooting and lack of perimeter defense killed the Beavs last year. How many times in the previous two seasons did some no name guard from a mid-major light them up from 3pt land just like yesterday? I would like to see those lessons learned and applied.

        Oh well, It’s basketball, they are not going to win every game. I expect them to take care of business with the rest of the non-conf games if not then we can discuss further issues.

  33. cunningham, nelson, collier, moreland and brandt should be the starting 5. i’m at a loss as to why moreland lacks minutes – he may be the most talented man on the roster. instead we get a great practice player in mcshane who is completely outmatched at the D1 level, a so-so slow very average burton and a streaky error prone starks. can’t honestly remember a single uncontested bucket beavs got tonight. as usual any halftime adjustments made by the coaching staff (are the assistants that out to lunch too?) were nowhere to be found. this could have easily been another 51 pt home defeat against a better team……

    • same old, same old – missed layups, no coaching adjustments, mis-use of talent (no Moreland, too much Starks) – at least Joe Burton’s free throws are hitting the mark more often.

    • Dan G might be as stupid as the AD at Minn. Mora? Talk about a sleeping giant. Good thing Dan G just gave them a sleeping pill. I can see why U of O got good at everything, Moos has some stones.
      WSU gets the best coach of all the openings! Who would have thunk it?

    • PLAYOFFS???? What do you mean there are no playoffs in D-1 football??? PLAYOFFS????

      What a bizarre hire. I just saw “mini-Jim” stuck inside a bad actor’s pocket during another Bud LIght commercial, now he’s coaching the Bruins.

      Damn, it’s junior Mora, not senior…what fun is that? Hire the old man and really make a statement!

  34. The team should have been motivated to win the game for Fred Thompson, instead they looked like zombies without heads. Another example of lack of leadership and without any kind of motivation……kind of like Riley. I guess we just have to live with OSU mediocre. OSU fans don’t demand a higher standard anyway. You just live with what you got. Just wait until another failed football program next year……….oh yea, lets give it another year and see…..what a joke.

    • I don’t see how the death of a close friend would motivate Cunningham. I think it puts life’s priorities into place, basketball falls pretty low in that spectrum. This team will be fine but it will just take some time to get past. Expect another possible let down on Tuesday. But don’t criticize this team like you would the football team, that is gutless.

      • Agreed regarding Jared Cunningham, if I had a good friend die suddenly and unexpectedly, I don’t know that I would be motivated to do anything, but grieve in a quiet place, much less try to compete in a sporting event at a high level.

      • Yeah, it amazes me how many people are blaming CR instead of understanding the letdown tonight. Personally, I thought they’d put grieving aside for 2hrs in an homage, but they couldn’t do it. Sucks but it’s understandable. At this point I fear how many games it’ll take to get over the emotion…I’m thinking Tuesday might be a let down too. OSU would be wise to try and reschedule/cancel that game. Team probably needs at least 10 more days to be mentally ready. Cunningham was in a daze…looked to be aiming shots and trying to will the ball into the basket rather than letting natural ability take over. Fans need to forgive this loss, embarrassing as it was. Had nothing to do with CR. Fans should ask OSU to cancel Tuesday’s game. Team needs more time to grieve. That is crystal clear.

        • CR did the best he could under difficult circumstances. The team was still motivated enough to cause 18 turnovers out there, they played some decent pressure defense, just couldn’t take advantage of it.

          The Idaho game aside, this team does need a killer three point shooter if they are going to take it to next level. You can’t win champioships on athleticism alone at the D-1 level.

      • Do you have your head stuck in a hole. Every year sports teams play a game to “celebrate” the life of a fallen player. They attempt to win the game for their beloved friend, a rememberance of sorts, a game won for his and in his name. That’s what I meant about motivation, dork head. A celebration of life instead of a wake.

        I only compared the standard for which the majority of OSU sports fans tolerate, which matches that of putting up with an failed coach like MR. Don’t read into my post anything other that what I wrote.

  35. It is being reported that Mark Banker wants to interview as the next HC for Hawaii! Secretly told by Riley to look for a new job?

    Trying to keep the “family atmosphere” by not firing? They did the same stuff with the old trainer didn’t they? Heard something like “they asked me to look for a new job, but I wasn’t interested.”

  36. My dream would be for Banker to go to Hawaii and then OSU is aggressive for once and brings in Justin Wilcox as the new DC. He was serious candidate at ASU until Patterson decided that HC experience would be necessary. Wilcox looks sharp and focused and we would have one of the best up and comers on staff and giving our defenses a new attitude, tenacity and toughness. This could position Oregon State very strong if we could make a bold move. Could even be a coach in waiting in 4-5 years since there is no way to know exactly how long Riley lasts.

      • I would rather spend 300K or so as bait on a new DC then waste far more on a poor choice for HC like Mora. Risk vs Reward makes it a much better bet. I am sure he would take note of an offer to return to his home state. He was a popular Duck and if you can bring in a splash DC at the rival then it makes the Beavers look doubly good IMO.

  37. If I was an AD and I looked seriously at Banker’s declining numbers under his scope of responsibility, there’s no way in hell I would give him the job, but most of time it is more about relationships and ties. Banker has those with Hawaii.

    • So right, Mckalk, often, relationships trump ability partially because the nature of the relationship allows a lot of BS to cover and excuse the actual performance.
      For now….we can hope!

  38. Angry
    Thanks for your kind words about my nephew (Ryan Allen)
    I sure wish he could have been wearing orange and black when he stood
    Up to receive the R.G.A
    I think the thing that many people don’t realize is that a great punter helps
    Control field position and Ryan did that in a great way. Coach Dykes said he
    Has never seen a punter impact the game the way Ryan can. Our family
    Is very thankful for Coach Dykes and the LA TECH family that has treated
    Ryan so well!

    Thanks for your support and “GO BEAVS”
    NW

    • You’re welcome. He looked like a great punter when I saw him in person (I believe it was 2009 pre-game versus Washington), so that’s what I’ve said ever since.

      I wrote him on Facebook asking to do an interview and talk about Riley/whey he wasn’t given the job, but he never got back to me. You should ask him to do the interview!

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