Home Basketball Basketball: Oregon State @ Oregon

Basketball: Oregon State @ Oregon

139

Jack:

Now we have the Civil War to figure out who we are and where we stand in our own league. Never mind that we had two heartbreakers and two lazy losses. It’s rival time. And nobody has a rival like Oregon State has a rival.

Sure, there are schools out there who have to put up with their younger sister school getting all the guys. And a lot of those little sisters are sluts too. But we get the one who comes with a fandom full of entitlement and a megaphone in every pot.

Or is it pot in every megaphone?

We have Ducks oozing out of every pore in our every day lives. We have to look at the toilet seat they use for a logo on the back of every other SUV on the road–SUV’s destined to never go off-road. They pump our gas. They bag our groceries. They ask us if we want more coffee. And they take our money at the local Dairy Mart.

And then there are the Ducks in our lives who didn’t even go to the school.

They’re so special that I don’t even want to talk about them. I forgive the kids who haven’t yet gone to school. But the adults who flash Ducks colors (white? grey? mauve? chartreuse?) and crow about the dominance of Duck High over all comers are just ridiculous. Some of them have never been on campus. They think parking at Alton Baker Park and walking to an event at Autzen makes one a Duck.

I guess I was a Duck when I saw the Indigo Girls open for the Dead in ’93?

I was certainly in the right state of mind.

There are some people out there who will cry and whine about me just being a hater.

But I don’t hate. That takes too much energy.

So the whine turns to cries of eternal envy.

Yeah… what I want most is have an identity of no identity. There’s nothing I want more in life than than to leave glitter wherever I go.

Honestly, I wouldn’t mind if the school just disappeared. My taxes would decrease instantly. I could sit on my porch and drink my coffee in peace. And we would decrease unemployement in Oregon by 80%.

I think that’s a win-win-win.

Then again, my wife graduated from the place. So it can’t be all bad.

Can it?

I should go before she reads this.

Beavs 75 – Ducks 62

Angry:

The Ducks are consistently average, and the Beavers are wildly inconsistent. Craig Robinson is "learning how to coach", Dana Altman knows how to coach.

These are the two biggest factors at play this afternoon. My guess is the "bad Beavers" show up, since it is a road game, and they are 2-4 away and 10-2 at home. So, that is one strike against the Beavers. As far as coaching, Altman has the clear advantage and the home crowd.

The Beavers are the better team on paper and have put up better stats, but the Ducks have the results. It's due to their tenacity and sound coaching.

I don't see a case for the Beavs unless they start the game hot and take the crowd out of it early. They'll also have to have someone go off for 30 and just dominate the game to win this one. e.g. Cunningham driving to the lane early and often. If each guy plays average, Altman will out coach Robinson and that'll be the difference. OSU has a size/rebounding advantage if they want it, but the Beavers don't always want it, often getting lazy on box outs, etc. If they get zoned and settle for three pointers, the outcome will be grave.

Altman will make the necessary adjustments and highlight the difference between average coaching and good coaching. With Beaver fans at the end of their ropes, I expect post-game message boards to light up with the "fire Craig Robinson" talk…

Altman's coaching adjustments, Duck's defense/tenacity, veteran leadership, consistency, and home court advantage win this for the bad guys.

72-65, Ducks

139 COMMENTS

  1. I thought this was an interesting bit:

    Oregon State and Oregon meet for the 336th time, making it the most-contested rivalry in college basketball, with the Beavers holding a 183-152 advantage. The 183 victories by Oregon State are the second most in NCAA history against a single team (Washington has defeated Oregon 186 times).

  2. A PLEA. If anyone here is going to the game, please yell some shit at Devoe Joseph. That a-hole
    bailed on his team at Minnesota because he wasn’t starting ahead of two seniors. He is a punk.
    Screwed over his teammates and contributed to an epic meltdown, along with a rash of injuries, that killed a very promising early season that included a win over North Carolina. Quit before Big Ten play started. Right after that our point guard got hurt and we were screwed without him. J Cobbs had transfered to Cal the prevoius spring. D Joseph had been suspended a couple of times by Tubby Smith and the rumor here was for smoking weed. Eugene a perfect fit. I detest him for f’ing over his teammates midseason.

  3. I don’t get it…..is Altman an amazing coach or lucky? He survives superstar freshmen bailing on the program and takes senior transfers from all over the country and turns it all into a very possible 20 win season. I noticed Creighton keeps getting better and better, I am assuming these are all Altman’s players? Damn Ducks!

  4. I wonder if Root sports will preempt the Civil War if this womens’ game between UCLA and Colorado goes to another overtime? Looks like Ucla will pull it out so we’ll probably not have to find out.

  5. Burton doesn’t block out, misses offensive rebound and. Just shrugs shoulder rather than running back on defense. If he’s too tired to run back on D already, we really need Moreland in there instead.

  6. I don’t know a lot about basketball strategy, but I feel like on just about every possession they should be looking to see if Cunningham is open. I feel like I’ve seen too many plays already where Cunningham was wide open cutting to the basket and the guy with the ball wasn’t looking for him.

  7. Officiating has been terrible. Shooting has been worse. I hate ugly basketball. I guess goal tending is ok now in college basketball? And watch the 3 seconds in the key no calls….

  8. Second half: must play physical in return. Beavers are getting knocked around. Must stop the lazy passes. Must go to the basket with authority, and the attempted blocks will be fouls. Then make FTs.

    It’s closer than it should be. What an ugly half, ugly hairdos, and an ugly floor.

    • beavers must play a permiter game and hope to make threes. anything in the paint they will be raped with no call. ducks will continue to go over the back, and camp out in the paint on offense – I counted a full ten seconds on at least three occasions. Any beaver defense will be a foul. refs locking this one down early PK gets his money’s worth from this crew.

  9. one of the worst halves of basketball I have watched. Can’t shoot, can’t block out. Can’t play defense. Blocked shots all over the place. Can’t pass. Can’t shoot free throws. Am I forgetting anything?

  10. Wow, nice comeback. I was in the other room shooting photos for my lady’s food blog.

    I’m of the opinion that the team that expends energy staging a comeback is at a disadvantage. I expect the Beavs to wane and give it up. Hope not.

  11. the difference has been that the Beavs have dialed up the defensive pressure, creating lots of Duck turnovers. A couple of bombs from Joseph have been the only bright spots for the Ducks this half. Maybe the Beavs can extend this lead if they keep the defensive pressure going. Do the Beavs have anyone else who can bury a 3 other than Starks, Cunningham and Nelson??

  12. I don’t know what else they should run, but I hate this late game offense they use. It’s proven ineffective time and time again. Maybe a motion offense?

  13. Never seen a team so semingly have a game in the bag and find ways to give up huge plays. That pass intercepted by EJ Singler leading to a 3 should ever have happened. You know they’re going to fould you for possession. Why risk that cross court pass?

  14. Again Starks turning it over in the back court. Give it to Cunninham and let them foul him! By the way, since when did cramping lead to a free time out? Get him off the floor and play ball…

  15. They survived their meltdown, Starks was especially bad down the stretch. But they did find a way to win and not blow the double digit lead. Gotta a ways to go but CR did call a time out when they were in trouble and it led to something good, maybe he’ll realize that using a time out can be a good thing, not something to be saved.

  16. Great win. The Beavers showed a lot of mental toughness tonight. Been waiting for them to learn how to win on the road. Team as a whole didn’t struggle down the stretch, that was mostly Starks. He panicked and began throwing the ball away. He’ll learn. Cunningham showed why he’s the best player in the conference. Monster game from him. Great overall effort from the team. This win gives them confidence heading into Boulder. If they can win in Boulder this team will start rolling.

    The quickness and athleticism edge was evident in the second half. Wasn’t surprised by that.

    • Never is easy on the road but it was about time the Beavers finally pulled one out on the road. The Beavers are a missed Collier shot against the Cardinal and missed Starks buzzer beater away from being 6-3 in conference play and in 2nd place. But they’re improving. I’m really looking forward to see what they can do in Boulder. Tough game, but they can definitely win it.

  17. Moreland did not look happy at the end of the game, and I can’t blame him! He is the reason we won today and he didn’t play the last 10 minutes! Inexcusable for CR not to put him back in. Not poo poo’ing the win it was great. Finally a road win, and they are learning how to close. I thought CR did a good job mixing up the defenses, but I just don’t understand not going back to Moreland after he was doing so good? Why pass to Burton in the backcourt?

    • Beavers needed the offense and were playing fine without him on the floor. He helped get them back in the game, but offensively he’s not as good as Collier and Burton can give you some passing. Craig wanted a 3 guard lineup for more quickness, outside shooting and better ability to close out on shooters like Joseph. I don’t think it hurt them to not have Moreland on the floor. Ducks got rebounds but a lot of their offensive boards were over the back fouls that the refs refused to call.

      • I agree with GoBeavs90 on Moreland. As much as I love Eric’s ability and look forward to the future with him and Collier, he is still learning and has a long ways to go to be the player I think he is capable of, plus he had a big growth spurt a few years back and is still growing into his size.

        Robinson needed Burton and Collier in there because of their experience, plus both of those guys were causing problems for Oregon all day. Eric is going to be a good player and I wouldn’t worry about CR and Moreland clashing. Craig is far from Riley as far as playing time. MR, I think, plays favorites while Robinson plays based on experience and who can get the job done, a lesson he learned the hard way last year with the seniors. Moreland will get there within time, he’s a good guy and has a very strong work ethic, but in a game like that, you’ve got to go with your most experienced guys, roll the dice, and hope they come through.

        A pair of great wins by both the men and women this weekend. Congrats Coaches Robinson and Rueck!!

    • During one of the recent wins (forget which one) in which Jared was his usual brilliant self the tv announcer said that Moreland was the reason for the win – although he wasn’t a scorer. Assuming the annnouncers and analysts have all played or coached, I wish CR would pay some attention. Sometimes I think he operates in a vacuum.

      • Ya, a Dyson. I don’t know why he didn’t do the offense / defense switch out with Moreland in when we were on D. How many freaking shots did they get on us on that one possession? Five or six? Moreland could have gotten a rebound perhaps.

    • Probably because he’s an awful free throw shooter (48%?) and Oregon was just fouling our guys and sending them to the line to stop the clock.

      • and getting offensive rebounds. they kept getting second chances. I agree with not having him in there for the last 2 minutes, but when he took him out I thought it was for a blow and he would be back in a minute or two. I ain’t going to over analysis a victory, but I thought he should have played between 3-8:00 minute marks. I think the lead would have up’d back to double digits and break their backs, and free throws wouldn’t have been an issue. Either way, good victory!

  18. So we’re 14-7 now with 9 games left, plus however many games we play in the Pac 12 tournament. My question to everybody is how many wins do you think we need to get to be realistically considered for an NCAA tournament bid? I know in the past the magic number has been 20 wins, but I’m not sure if that’d be enough this year with everybody talking about how down the Pac 12 is this season.

    • It’s the PAC-12. Only the conference and tournament tchampions will be invited. The conference skill level AND national perception is very pathetic right now. Beavers either finish first in standings or win the LA tourney or they won’t be invited.

      • I agree.

        If they win 9 straight they might get in, too. That would put them at 23 wins.
        I’m hoping for the NIT this year, NCAA next year. I could live with that.

        • not sure they’d be ready to play in the NCAA – the first-round pairings are brutal. One and done for teams like this year’s OSU team. I’d be quite please with NIT – the small dance

          • Yep. I’d take the NCAA, but I am not unrealistic. As long as the team is moving in the right direction I’m okay. NIT would be a step in the right direction, with the NCAA the goal next year. That would be less than ideal but acceptable. Down years are acceptable if they are clear rebuilding years. But this year isn’t a rebuilding year, it should be much more. That’s why I think there’s a lot of heat on CR to at least make the NIT. At least in my mind.

    • Only way I see the Beavers getting an at-large bid is if they end the regular season 22-8 and then probably need to win a game in the Pac-12 Tournament. That’s the only scenario I see them making it as an at-large. Beavers can just end all talks about it by winning the Pac-12 Tournament. Knowing the Beavers are automatically in would be sweet after not being in for 22 years.

    • I think only one team is getting into the NCAAs from this conference and it will be the Pac-12 tournament winner. Everything is so helter skelter this year in the PAC-12. Beavs just need to continue to win and not worry about the rest. I will add that OSU has the only quality non-conference win of the season and that was against Texas, so they do have something in their favor.

      • I disagree with that, the NCAA usually has shown that it will allow the conference champion in fom the BCS leagues. See the last couple of years. But I’d be surprised if PAC 12 gets 3 teams.

      • We have screwed the pooch regarding the NCAA tourney, but I say forge ahead, and try to show what we are made of. Build for the future.

        With any luck at all we should end with a winning record and that is saying someghing, considering our recent past.

        When our game is clicking, we are pretty damn good. We need to learn how do do it more gamelong. Bring in yet more talent for next year and look out.

        • The guys they have coming in next year are good, although Robinson recently said that Maika Ostling, the kid from Dayton might be a redshirt candidate. I know Florida wanted the guy that OSU got from Georgia, as did a lot of SEC schools and I forgot the third signee they got. One thing I like about Robinson is that he has been able to keep talent in Corvallis. I would still like to see him improve in the X’s and O’s, but that will come with more experience. This team is NIT-bound, but next year, watch out!!

          • Jarmal Reid of Columbia HS in Decatur, Ga. He’s the best player on one of the best high school teams in the nation. Think Adrian Dantley.

            Maika… of course. Looks like he’s been working in the weight room. His shoulders and arms look pretty strong this year. And his legs look a little lively. He still looks a little soft for big boy ball. But a couple months with the OSU trainers could make him a monster.

            Langston Morris-Walker of Berkeley HS. I really, really like this kid. He has a pure shot. He has a defensive mindset you don’t often see. His hands are extremely quick. And he has mad hops. This might be blasphemous, but I think his game (and his shot) looks eerily similar to Ray Allen’s.

            “I can’t talk names, but we’re in with kids we’d never be in with if we weren’t having the success we’re having. And then you can talk about guys like Gary Payton, A.C. Green, Steve Johnson, Brent Barry, Mark Radford, and say, ‘All of these guys played in the league, you can play in the league, too.’ It helps a lot.”
            http://projects.registerguard.com/web/sports/27504777-41/oregon-robinson-payton-players-osu.html.csp

          • LMW is more polished than Jared was in high school. His perimeter shot is a thing of beauty, and he can finish on top of the rim like Jared or around it like Berto does.

            And Reid is like nobody we have here now. He’s basically Collier with some girth, great passing and an outside shot. David Lucas with a perimeter game?

          • To be fair to Jared, he has really shown that he can finish around the rim with some nice touch this year. He doesn’t have to be on top of it to finish anymore.

          • Adding Gomes to the mix next year will be nice too. We’ll finally have a little size on our front line to compete with the big boys at Washington and UCLA

          • Jared has to get a better outside shot to have a chance in the pros. Payton even said that. If I were Cunningham, I would listen to what Gary says because any advice he can give is much better than some sleezeball agent. So I think Jared will be here next year. Nelson is getting more confidence and I was proud of him and Moreland yesterday for their efforts off the bench. They both will be even better next year.

            Really looking forwads to all three recruits coming in. It’s gonna be a competition between Moreland and Ostling on who has the most tattoos (both of them have some nice artwork) but to have both of those guys plus Collier and Burton in the middle… I’m already thinking of the possibilities!!

    • 23

      Less with a league tourney win… obviously. But 23 is the guarantee.

      The selection committee may take a look at us for less depending on who we win or lose to and by how much. But we really need t just win.

  19. Angry,

    I’d like to hear your opinion on Colorado, next week’s opponent. Right now, they are undefeated in conference at home and during today’s game, Marques Johnson named them the hottest team in the conference. I’ve wondered if the change in altitude has had an effect on opposing teams. Washington looked winded against them a few weeks ago and they play fast and physical so do you think CU has an advantage because of the difference in altitude?

    • The altitude is definitely a factor. Same with Salt Lake City. Beavs have a tough three game stretch here with Oregon, CO, Utah all away games.

      I canceled cable this winter, so I don’t see many games other than the Beavs. It’s why my predictions have been fairly lame, and I mainly rely on Jack to give us scouting reports. He watches a lot more hoops. I just try to get a feel for the psychology of the team. In the past, they tend to get too high after a good win. Hoping that after tonight they learn it’s all business…not to get too high, but to also feel they can beat anyone. If the go into CO with that mindset they should be fine. It’ll be a tough game, though.

      • I expect to split this week with OSU losing to Colorado, but they should beat Utah. Just worried about the altitude factor. Although, I thought they would lose today too, so I’ve been wrong before.

    • Having lived in Colorado Springs for a couple years, I can tell you that the altitude has nothing to do with performance and everything to do with mindset. A conditioned athlete has zero problems with altitude. The host team provides oxygen on the sidelines for effect only… unless they also charge for it.

      Real altitude issues occur only after you ascend 12,000 feet. But the human mind can create many special physical issues all on its own. We have not played well against CU, not with Bzdelik and not with Boyle. I don’t see much in the way of hope if our boys buy into the altitude hype.

      But… they have been there before.

      • I will tell you, though… when you live in a higher altitude and go to a lower altitude city… for say, Mardi Gras… your tolerance for some imbibements might be higher than that f the locals. But don’t ask me. Ask Pat O. He’ll tell you I was the Cat’s Meow.

      • Thanks Jack! I think this team is well conditioned, but I just wanted some points of view about the altitude issue and I got some really good answers from both you and Angry. I agree that the psychological mindset is a major factor in success or failure, but I hope winning down in Eugene gave these guys some confidence that they can win outside of Gill. I’m shooting for 20 wins right now and I think it can be done.

      • It is with great trepidation that I even mildly disagree with Jackbeav, but there is evidence that some well-conditioned people are more likely to suffer from altitude sickness than a couch potato. Also, it sometimes doesn’t hit for a day or two – this from someone who once went from sea level in Chile to LaPaz, Bolivia – although as Jack pointed out 12000 feet is rather defining.

        • For us mere humans, anoxia can occur at 8,000 feet+. And above 10,000 feet, it’s almost guaranteed to affect even athletes. Above 12,000 feet, oxygen is necessary for sustained activity.

          Oddly enough, those who have had anoxia before can have problems again at even lower altitudes, regardless of physical conditioning. I haven’t read up on it too much, but i think it’s along the same lines of motion sickness or vertigo. The body changes in such a way that a person becomes more susceptible to even slight altitude changes. But I think that is more common with people who physically exert themselves at the higher altitudes (climbers, skiers, etc.).

  20. Yeeeeeeeeeeeeeehaaaaw!!

    GREAT WIN!!!

    Way to go TEAM!!!!!!!!

    Say whatever you want…… the ducks aint lousy, and it was in their HOUSE.

    Down 20-10, and we pulled it out. GREAT CHARACTER, team!

    • Yep, they learned how to get over that hump and finish one off, away no less. Big lessons learned (hopefully). Games like this can propel teams.

      • Lets face it, our team has weaknesses. We are streaky in shooting, and we dont always play good D. We have no one who is a consistently good shooter. We are not yet conference champ material. For me, just show progress!

        Unlike our football team that has gone down, down…. No one is forgiven there. Ok, I feel better now…..back to bitching about Riley and co!

  21. Good win for the Beavs. It was a fun game to be at and the Beaver fans showed up in good numbers. If I had to guess I would say there were maybe 2000 Beaver fans to 5000 Duck fans. Beaver fans were making some noise.

    I am starting to come around on Starks more and more. I know I see a lot of hate above but IMO him and Cunningham’s newly required shooting stroke won us this game. Stark’s does a great job of setting up the offense and is the only guard on the team (maybe Barton too) who will drive and take the ball back out if there is nothing. I agree that he jacks up some shots and I can live with a few as long as he is staying aggressive. I think he will continue to cut down on the mistakes. I also think the Burton hate gets overblown. He keeps the ball moving… yeah he screws up a bunch but that is what happens when you are trying to make things happen. I agree that a better post would be ideal but it is what we got so it is what we got to play.

    One more thing. I can’t bitch about this enough but why the eff is Nelson still doing the jump pass? There is virtually no reason to ever leave your feet to pass the ball. It is so stupid and the fact that the coach has not recognized this mistake and corrected it is sad.

    • I agree partly on Nelson an the jump pass. But the one later in the second half where he skipped it out to Starks for an easy trey was a thing of beauty.

      i really think that play was the point that won the game. Even the announcers couldn’t believe that it was a legal play.

        • The announcers were down on OSU all game long. But on that particular play they tried to tell us that Nelson took steps before he skipped the pass. I replayed it at the time. It was just a great play.

      • Yeah I mean in rare instances it makes sense but it just seems like something that you should be told in jr. high not to do. That was a great all around play. Great call by Rob great pick, great execution and a great shot if it is the one I am thining of.

  22. I know I’m late to the party tonight but I agree with whoever said that even with the pac12 being perceived weaker this year, they still get 2 teams into the ncaa.

    Great learning win tonight. This game had it all; double digit deficit then battle back, double digit lead then fend off a late charge.
    This kind of game helps this team more than the mark in the W column.

    • I think 3 or even 4 is a possibility. 3 of 4 of AZ, UW, Cal and Stanford could get at larges if they finish strong plus the conference tourney winner.

  23. JB was off on his prediction by 10 whole combined pts! That’s a pretty darn good assessment AND he got the winning team correct! I think we should get a March Madness bracket game going off of CBSsports.com with this site! What say you Jack and Angry?! :)

  24. I’m a new guy here but I’m pretty old. Been a Beaver since ’57. I like the enthusiams I see here. Great to see the Beav’s returning to some quality basketball (and football, I hope). Like some others I would rather see them play in the NIT this year and maybe the NCAA next year. It’s all upsiide for the Beavers.
    I also agree about the coaching. CR is getting some great recruits but must improve on X’s and O”s or it’s all for naught (I do think he is getting better though)>
    I’m looking forward to the rest of the season and then BASEBALL!

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