Oregon State Beavers
Pacific 10 (19-13, 9-9)
RPI: 155
Big Wins: 1/4 USC (62-58), 1/22 at California (69-65), 2/21 California (65-54)
Bad Losses: 11/14 at Howard (45-47), 11/24 Yale (52-53), 11/26 Montana State (79-82)
Coach: Craig Robinson
Probable Starters:
Rickey Claitt, Senior, Guard, 6.8 ppg, 2.5 apg
Josh Tarver, Junior, Guard, 3.8 ppg, 1.3 apg
Lathen Wallace, Sophomore, Guard, 7.1 ppg, 1.8 rpg
Seth Tarver, Junior, Guard, 7.9 ppg, 5.0 rpg
Roeland Schaftenaar, Junior, Center, 9.8 ppg, 3.0 apg, 3.5 bpg
Key Roleplayers:
Daniel Deane, Sophomore, Forward, 5.6 ppg, 4.3 rpg
Calvin Haynes, Sophomore, Guard, 14.1 ppg, 3.2 rpg
Omari Johnson, Sophomore, Forward, 6.9 ppg, 3.6 rpg
Why They Can Surprise:
Oregon State is one of the best stories in the nation. They went from a team that failed to win a conference game last season to a postseason team this time around. Coach Craig Robinson is the biggest part of that story, mostly due to the fact that he is the brother-in-law of President Barack Obama, but under Coach Robinson’s tutelage the Beavers won seven conference games and beat some pretty good teams like USC and California.
Coach Robinson will get much of the credit, but he got some help from guards Calvin Haynes and Seth Tarver. Haynes is the team’s leading scorer even though he usually comes in off the bench. Haynes averages 14.1 points per game and is easily the team’s most dynamic scorer. Tarver will not hit the outside shot like Haynes, but he is a superb slasher who will finish above the rim and help out on the glass.
Why They Can Disappoint:
And it is on the glass where OSU has a problem. The team almost always gets outrebounded and rarely can the Beavers afford to give up extra possessions. Tarver is actually the most effective rebounder on the team and he needs help from center Roeland Schaftenaar and forwards Omari Johnson and Daniel Deane. Schaftenaar has developed into a solid inside-outside scoring threat who can stretch the defense with his shooting ability, but he needs to use his 6-11, 240 pound frame to battle on the glass. Deane is a decent rebounder, but his lacking of scoring punch usually means he will not play too many minutes.
Who To Watch:
Rickey Claitt, Lathen Wallace and Josh Tarver provide Oregon State with plenty of options in the backcourt. Claitt has turned into the leader of this young team and the 6-2 senior does a superb job hanging onto the ball. Claitt will not shoot the ball too often, but he hits 47.5 percent of his three-point attempts. And since he is such a threat to hit the outside shot, he will make the opposition pay by attacking the basket if they defend him on the perimeter. Wallace is the second most productive outside shooter on the team after Haynes. With those two coming in off the bench, the Beavers can quickly spark their offense.
By the Numbers:
Scoring Offense: 59.7 (312th in nation, 9th in conference)
Scoring Defense: 63.0 (58, 3)
Field-Goal Percentage: 46.3 (59, 6)
Field-Goal Defense: 45.3 (271, 8)
Three-Point Field Goals Per Game: 5.9 (196, 7)
Three-Point Field-Goal Percentage: 34.6 (142, 8)
Free-Throw Percentage: 64.5 (283, 10)
Rebound Margin: -2.3 (264, 9)
Assists Per Game: 12.8 (187, 7)
Turnovers Per Game: 13.3 (126, 7)
Joel’s Bracket Says: First Round loss to Houston
