The Sports Bankโs college basketball season previews undergo a facelift this season. Rather than counting down the top 111 teams in 111 days, we will go conference-by-conference, breaking down each team beginning with the Pac-12.
Hail to the new Chief in Corvallis. President Obamaโs brother-in-law, Craig Robinson was fired at Oregon State after six underwhelming seasons and replaced by Montanaโs Wayne Tinkle. Thanks to some family ties, Tinkle has already hit the recruiting trail hard but this yearโs Oregon State Beavers team will struggle mightily as they must replace their top five scorers.
OREGON STATE BEAVERS
Last Season: 10th, 8-10 in Pac-12, 16-16 overall
Predicted Pac-12 Finish: 12th
Projected Depth Chart
F/C: Daniel Gomis (Jr)/Cheikh Nโdyaie (So)
F: Victor Robbins (Jr)/Olef Schaftenaar (Jr)/Jarmal Reid (Jr)
G/F: Langston Morris-Walker (Jr)
G: Malcolm Duvivier (So)/Chai Baker (Fr)
PG: Gary Payton II (Jr)
Gone: SG-Roberto Nelson, F-Devin Collier, PF-Eric Moreland, C-Angus Brandt, PG-Challe Barton, PG-Hallice Cooke (transfer-Iowa State)
2014-2015 Outlook:
Langston Morris-Walker is Oregon Stateโs top returning scorer and he averaged a whopping four points per game as a sophomore. He and Malcolm Duvivier must step into scoring roles on the wing while junior college transfer and familiar name in Beaver history, Gary Payton II will be asked to make an immediate impact running the point. Guard depth was already a concern heading into the season and that is even more magnified now that freshman Chai Bakerโs status is doubtful after suffering an apparent cardiac-related medical issue during an off-season workout.
The frontcourt wonโt offer much offensive support for the thin backcourt. Daniel Gomis, Victor Robbins, Olef Schaftenaar, and Jarmal Reid were all used as role players last season and will compete for minutes up-front. Cheikh Nโdyaie could find a role as a rebounding/shot blocking specialist.
With no seniors on the roster and so many bodies to replace, the Beavers should be one of the worst power conference teams in the country and the doormat of the Pac-12. Tinkle has already made a splash on the recruiting trail though mainly due to family connections. He has secured commitments from his son, Tres, a 6-7 wing and Stephen Thompson Jr., the son of assistant coach, Stephen Thompson. Local product, Drew Eubanks and point guard Derrick Bruce also recently picked Oregon State so while the road may be rocky right away in Corvallis, the program appears to be headed in the right direction under Tinkleโs tutelage.
Key Non-Conference Games:
11/24 vs. Oklahoma State (MGM Grand Main Event)
11/26 vs. Tulsa/Auburn (MGM Grand Main Event)
12/13 vs. Mississippi State
12/18 vs. DePaul
David Kay is a senior featureย NBA Draft,ย NBA, andย college basketballย writer for the Sports Bank.ย He also heads up theย NBAย andย college basketballย material atย Walter Football.comย and is a former contributor at The Washington Times Communities.ย David has appeared on numerous national radio programs spanning from Cleveland to New Orleans to Milwaukee to Honolulu.ย He also had the most accurate 2011 NBA Mock Draft and theย most accurate 2012 NBA Mock Draftย on the internet (Yup, repeat champ… #humblebrag), and finished with the second most accurate 2013 NBA Mock Draft (nearly a three-peat.)ย You can follow him on Twitter atย David_Kmiecik.
