Beaver Season Recap

The Beavers season came to an end on Wednesday night, but the loss to Stanford certainly does not define this team’s season.Oregon State was picked last in the Pac 10 at the start of the year, and they exceeded any imaginable expectations Beaver Nation set forth before the year. With all the Beavers accomplished on the hardwood this year, the lasting effects of this season will be felt next October when they gear up for the 2009 campaign. This team returns nearly everybody, and Robinson has a top 25 recruiting class coming to Corvallis for the first time since Corey Benjamin laced them up for the Beavs.

The reason the Beavers experienced success this year was because they bought into Robinson’s system. Robinson was the first to admit his team was outmatched athletically nearly every time they took the floor, however his players accepted their roles and grew into them as the season progressed. The Beavers smothering 1-3-1 defense was able to keep them in games by slowing their opponent’s tempo this year. Scoring was where Oregon State struggled, and incoming recruits Roberto Nelson and Jared Cunningham should give the team an immediate shot in the arm on offense.

Big Rue returns to run the point/center position once again; if he can become a more physical presence on the inside the sky will be the limit for this talented European. Gunner Calvin Haynes should once again lead the team in scoring, and I’d imagine he will be scoring his points as a starter, not reserve next season. With valuable pieces such as Seth and Josh Tarver, Daniel Deane, and Lathan Wallace all coming back I expect the Beavs to make strong push for the postseason next year, with the NCAA tournament a real possibility. Beaver Nation hasn’t sniffed March Madness in nearly two decades, but if the Beavers progress like I expect them to, the March Madness dreams may come to fruition sooner than anyone ever expected.