2011 Oregon State Basketball Preview

Written by Jack Jones - Google +

2010-11 Results

Overall: 11-20
Conference: 5-13 (9th)

Roster

Seniors

Kevin McShane

Juniors

Jared Cunningham
Joe Burton
Angus Brandt

Sophomores

Ahmad Starks
Chris Brown
Daniel Jones
Rhys Murphy
C.J. Mitchell
Julian Powers
Michael Moyer
Devon Collier
Roberto Nelson

Freshmen

Challe Barton
Daniel Gomis
Eric Moreland

Head Coach

Craig Robinson

Schedule

Date	Opponent / Event
11/4/2011	vs. Pacific (Ore.) (Exhibition)
11/12/2011	vs. CSU Bakersfield
TicketCity Legends Classic Regional Round
11/14/2011	vs. West Alabama
11/16/2011	vs. Hofstra
TicketCity Legends Classic Championship Round
11/19/2011	vs. Texas
11/21/2011	vs. North Carolina State or Vanderbilt
Regular Season
11/26/2011	@ Towson
12/4/2011	vs. Montana
12/9/2011	vs. Idaho
12/13/2011	vs. Illinois-Chicago
12/15/2011	vs. Howard
12/18/2011	vs. Portland State
12/21/2011	@ Chicago State
12/29/2011	@ Washington *
12/31/2011	@ Washington State *
1/5/2012	vs. California *
1/7/2012	vs. Stanford *
1/12/2012	@ Arizona *
1/14/2012	@ Arizona State *
1/19/2012	vs. UCLA *
1/21/2012	vs. USC *
1/29/2012	@ Oregon *
2/2/2012	@ Colorado *
2/4/2012	@ Utah *
2/9/2012	vs. Washington State *
2/12/2012	vs. Washington *
2/16/2012	@ Stanford *
2/18/2012	@ California *
2/26/2012	vs. Oregon *
3/1/2012	vs. Utah *
3/3/2012	vs. Colorado *
3/7/2012	Pac-12 Tournament
3/8/2012	Pac-12 Tournament
3/9/2012	Pac-12 Tournament
3/10/2012	Pac-12 Tournament
*Conference Game

2011-12 Preview

When the Beavers lost at Arizona in their penultimate regular-season game, five team players skipped curfew. Although we can’t say for sure that disgruntlement led to the missed curfews, it certainly did lead to Robinson giving a lot more playing time to his younger team members for the end of the season.

The Beavers rebounded at the tail end of a disappointing season in which the Beavers were 1-12 on the road, just 5-13 in the Pac-10 and 1-7 in their final eight regular-season games. The encouraging part actually developed when Robinson suspended the errant five players for the March 5th game at Arizona State, even though it left him just six players, two of whom were walk-ons.

In spite of everything, the Beavers played well, only losing out in the closing stages by a score of 80-66. Oregon State then went to the Pac-10 Tournament and pulled out a first-round win over Stanford before giving Arizona a rough time in their quarterfinal clash.

The Beavers are still likely to run the traditional Robinson style of play: Modified Princeton-style sets on offense and 2-3 and 1-3-1 zones and corner traps on defense. But the Beavers now have experience and more athleticism to pour into it.

The Beavers are now more experienced, more athletic and have the kind of unorthodox offensive and defensive tricks that they can frustrate opponents. They should do far better than 1-12 on the road this season and also shoot better than .304 percent from three-point range.

The 1-3-1 wasn’t quite as successful last season without the departed Seth Tarver at the top of it, but 6-4 junior Jared Cunningham (14.2 ppg, 3.1 rpg) nabbed many of his 85 steals while working along the baseline. If they go with the same system, Robinson may put 5-9 sophomore point guard Ahmad Starks (7.8 ppg, 1.5 apg) at the bottom and run Cunningham up top. This could leave Cunningham less effective on the offensive end which cannot be a good thing. Not only did Cunningham achieve the fifth-most steals in the nation last season, shattering Gary Payton’s school record (72) for sophomore-year steals, he also recorded an average of 14.2 points a game.

The Beavers do have alternative looks to offer at the point, with Starks, 6-3 sophomore Roberto Nelson (7.5 ppg, 1.8 rpg) and 6-3 freshman Challe Barton (17.7 ppg, 5.5 rpg). Starks is more of a scoring point guard who can change speeds and directions, as well as mix in a respectable three-pointer. His 42 threes last season were the third most by a freshman in OSU history. He also gained some consistency towards the end of the season, scoring 16 points and hit 7-of-15 three-pointers in two Pac-10 Tournament games.

Nelson, ineligible for the 2009-10 season and seven games last year, is fast and powerful, with the ability to mix it up inside. He scored 34 points in the game at ASU when only six OSU players were available, scored in double-figures in nine games and started six.

After three seasons as a walk-on, Kevin McShane, a 6-9 senior (0.9 ppg, 1.6 rpg), was offered a full ride, having already played in 68 games, starting 10 and averaging 8.7 minutes played over three seasons. McShane complements the returning starters in the frontcourt, 6-7, 280-pound junior Joe Burton (7.0 ppg, 5.6 rpg) and 6-7 sophomore Devon Collier (7.0 ppg, 4.4 rpg).

OSU will also have 6-7 sophomore Rhys Murphy and 6-10 freshman Eric Moreland returning after missing most of their freshman seasons through injury. Murphy, a two-time Australian national champion in the high jump, is a big target on the wing. While he played in only four games last season, Murphy earned first-team All-Academic honors in the Pac-10.

Moreland is expected to find time off the bench at power forward and center, as a defensive presence, while Burton and 6-10 junior Angus Brandt (4.8 ppg, 2.5 rpg) are the likely starters.

Burton actually led the Beavers in assists with 73 last season, despite being only a part-time starter who weighs 280 pounds.

Brandt started 21 of 29 games last season and gained valuable experience playing for his native Australia at the World University Games in China. He made the 12-man roster after an intense training program at the Australian Institute of Sport. Collier has also been gaining useful international experience with the Puerto Rican national team over the summer.

The Beavers signed Senegal native freshman Daniel Gomis (6-10) but a broken leg may mean we don’t see him until early in the Pac-12 season, if he doesn’t redshirt. 6-3 freshman Challe Barton is a combo guard from Sweden who will help in the backcourt at both guard spots. Barton is also strong as a passer and scorer. He gained valuable experience playing in the European U20 championships, averaging 6.6 points and 2.1 assists in eight games.

More Pac 12 Basketball Predictions

Washington Huskies	Oregon Ducks	California Golden Bears
Arizona Wildcats	Colorado Buffaloes	UCLA Bruins
Stanford Cardinal	Oregon State Beavers	Washington State Cougars
Arizona State Sun Devils	Utah Utes	USC Trojans

Comments

Got something to say?