Beavers Ready To Rock In First-Ever Meeting With Kansas Jayhawks
Nov. 27, 2012
THE GAME: Two of the winningest programs in NCAA Division I college basketball history will meet for the first time ever when Oregon State (4-1) and Kansas (5-1) face each other at 5 p.m. PT (7 p.m. CT) on Friday at the Sprint Center in Kansas City, Mo. TELEVISION: The game will be televised on ESPN Full Court and Jayhawk IMG Television with Dave Armstrong and Chris Piper calling the action. It can also be viewed online on ESPN3 at this link OR on Jayhawk All Access at this link for a fee. For information on ESPN Full Court, click on this link. RADIO: The game will air live on Beaver Sports Radio Network with Rich Burk calling the action. It can also be heard online at this link for a fee. ONLINE: Live updates are available by visiting osubeavers.com and clicking on Gametracker. SOCIAL MEDIA: Live updates will be available on Twitter and Facebook. QUICKLY: Oregon State is 4-1 to start the season for the second consecutive year; the last time the Beavers won four of their first five games in back-to-back seasons was 1999-2000 ... Oregon State has held four of its five opponents below 40 percent shooting and is 4-0 in those games; the Beavers were 6-1 last season when their opponent shot less than 40 percent ... Oregon State has outrebounded four of its five opponents by a 188-139 advantage ... The Beavers tied a school record with 11 blocked shots against Montana State ... Four different players have led the team in scoring in games this season ... Ahmad Starks (33), Devon Collier (27) and Joe Burton (21) have all set their career highs in scoring this season, while Eric Moreland (14) equaled his career best ... Collier was selected to the 2K Sports Classic All-Tournament Team after averaging 24 points and 10 rebounds in the two games ... Moreland is averaging 10.4 rebounds per game; the last Oregon State player to average double-figure rebounds in a season was Mel Counts in 1963-64 (16.9) ... Starks moved into a tie for seventh on Oregon State's career three-point field goals list with 133 ... Brandt will miss the remainder of the season with a torn ACL in his right knee; he is eligible for a medical redshirt to play next year. vs. KANSAS: Oregon State and Kansas meet for the first time in history. It's somewhat surprising considering the Jayhawks (2,070 wins) and Beavers (1,640 wins) entered the season second and 20th, respectively, for most victories in NCAA Division I men's college basketball history. It's also surprising considering Oregon State started playing basketball in 1902 and Kansas began in 1903. And it's also surprising since legendary Oregon State coach Ralph Miller attended Kansas where he was a standout basketball player for Phog Allen. Miller, who also played quarterback for the Kansas football team, won 359 games in 19 years as the head coach at Oregon State before retiring in 1989. Kansas is ranked No. 10 in the most recent Associated Press and USA Today Coaches polls, the highest ranking for an Oregon State opponent since playing No. 9 UCLA on Jan. 2, 2009 (Robinson's first season). Even though the game will be played at the Sprint Center in Kansas City, Mo., it is considered a home game for the Jayhawks. The last time the Beavers defeated a Top 25 team on the road was Jan. 5, 1985 when they knocked off No. 15 Washington, 52-45. The last time the Beavers beat a Top 10 team on the road was Jan. 17, 1976 when they upset No. 6 Washington, 72-70. MISSING ANGUS: The loss of Angus Brandt will hurt much more than the 11.3 points and 8.5 rebounds per game he provided this season. Coach Robinson called him the "heart and soul" of the team as a two-time team captain and the first person in the gym for every practice and game. He started 50 of 51 games before the injury with the lone non-start against Colorado last season when he gave his starting nod to Kevin McShane on Senior Night. The Aussie finished ninth in the Pac-12 in field goal percentage last season at 53.5 percent (122-for-228) and led the Beavers in three-point percentage at 49.2 percent (29-for-59). His offseason work in the weight room was evident as he was averaging 6.1 rebounds more than his career average and had five blocked shots in four games this season after getting five as a freshman, eight as a sophomore and 15 as a junior. Brandt will have to apply for a medical hardship from the Pac-12 office, which should be approved since he played in nine games or less during the first half of the season. The official word is expected in March during the Pac-12 Tournament. LET'S START WITH DEFENSE: The defense was the focal point of the summer and fall practices and the results have been evident already. The Beavers are allowing 66.6 points per game with their opponents shooting just 36.4 percent from the field and 33 percent from the three-point line. Last season teams averaged 72.7 points per game and shot 45.5 percent from the field and 38.8 percent from deep. Oregon State has held four of its five opponents below 40 percent shooting and are 4-0 in those games. The Beavers only held seven of their 36 opponents below that clip last season and were 6-1 in those games. DEFENSIVELY II: Oregon State is averaging 6.6 steals per game this season after leading the Pac-12 in that category the past three years with 9.1 (sixth in the nation) last season, 9.5 (fifth in the nation) in 2010-11 and 8.2 in 2009-10. Individually, an Oregon State player led the conference in steals the past three seasons with Jared Cunningham (2.5) in 2011-12 and (2.8) 2010-11 and Seth Tarver (2.2) in 2009-10. DEFENSIVELY III: Oregon State is averaging 5.6 blocked shots per game this season after finishing second in the Pac-12 in blocked shots at 4.61 per game last year, trailing only UCLA by 0.03 (4.64). The Beavers tied a school record with 11 blocked shots against Montana State, a year after setting the record in the 103-101 quadruple-overtime loss to Stanford. Eric Moreland, who led the conference in blocks last season at 1.9 per game, already has 12 in his sophomore campaign. CRASHING THE BOARDS: Another point of emphasis during the offseason was rebounding, and Oregon State has seen the results by averaging more than seven boards more than its opponent. The Beavers have outrebounded four of the five teams they've played by a 188-139 advantage in those games, including 52 in the season opener against Niagara and 51 against Montana State. Oregon State had 50 or more boards in only one game last season, the quadruple-overtime thriller against Stanford. OFFENSIVELY: Associate head coach Doug Stewart talked about "taking the training wheels off the offense" and the results have been obvious for Robinson and his staff with all of their own players on the roster. The Beavers averaged 60.8 points in his first season, 60.3 his second year, 69.3 in year three, 78.9 last season and 75.8 thus far this season. OFFENSIVELY II: Oregon State enjoyed its best offensive season in school history last season as it led the Pac-12 and finished 10th in the nation in scoring at 78.9 points per game. It was the first time the Beavers led the conference in scoring (team statistics began in 1959-60) and bettered their previous best of 78.4 points per game in 1989-90. PAC-12 OFFENSIVE RANKINGS: In addition to leading the Pac-12 in scoring last season, Oregon State finished first in free throws made (630) and free throws attempted (931) and second in field goal percentage (.475, 22nd in the nation) and assists (15.8, 15th in the nation). 100+ SCORING GAMES: Oregon State set a team record with four 100-point games last season and has now hit the century mark 31 times in school history after scoring 102 in the season opener against Niagara. The 1978-79, 1979-80 and 1988-89 teams all scored 100 or more points in a game three times. The Beavers also set a school record with 90-point (9) and 80-point (17) scoring games last season. 100-Point Games in 2011-12 Season COLLIER SCORING: Devon Collier, a native of the Bronx, went crazy during his homecoming to New York for the 2K Sports Classic with 21 points against Alabama and a career-high 27 against Purdue. It was the fourth and fifth 20+ point games of his career and the second time he went for 20 or more in back-to-back games after scoring 21 at Arizona State (Jan. 14) and 20 against UCLA (Jan. 19) last season. It was also the second time he led the team in scoring in consecutive games after getting 19 against Vanderbilt (Nov. 21) and 15 at Towson (Nov. 26) last season. He has come off the bench in all five games this season after starting 57 of 66 in his career. He scored 473 points last season, the sixth most by a sophomore in Oregon State history, and has scored in double figures 39 times in his career to tie Ahmad Starks for the most on the team. COLLIER FROM THE STRIPE: Devon Collier came into this season with a 60.7 career percentage (182-for-300) from the free throw line but is currently shooting 73 percent (27-for-37). He made a career-best nine free throws against both Alabama and Purdue and equaled his career high with 13 free throw attempts against the Crimson Tide. COLLIER SHOOTING: Devon Collier is shooting 53.8 percent (21-of-39) from the field after leading the Pac-12 and finishing fifth in the nation in field goal percentage at 61.5 percent (176-of-286) last season. It was the first time an Oregon State player led the conference in field goal percentage since Scott Haskin in 1991-92 (.612) and the second straight season Collier led the team in field goal percentage after making 57.8 percent of his shots two years ago. MORELAND BOARDING: Eric Moreland is averaging 10.4 rebounds per game, including three contests with double-figure boards, after leading the team in rebounding last season at 6.8 per game. He crushed the freshman rebounding record that was held for 38 years by Lonnie Shelton last season and, although it's early in the season, could become just the 10th Oregon State player, and the first since Mel Counts in 1963-64, to average double-digit rebounds in a season. Players To Average Double-Figure Rebounding In A Season Freshman Rebounding List MORELAND'S OWN BLOCK PARTY: Eric Moreland has 12 blocked shots already after leading the Pac-12 in blocks last season at 1.9 per game. With three blocks during his freshman season when he was injured, a single-season school-record 69 last year and 12 this season, he has moved into sixth on Oregon State's career list with 84 and should be at least second by the end of his sophomore campaign. Single-Season Blocked Shots List Career Blocked Shots List STARKS FROM DEEP: Ahmad Starks can flat out shoot it. The 5-foot-9 guard nailed a career-high six three-pointers in the season opener and looks to be on his way to leading the team in triples for the third consecutive year with 12 thus far. He has made at least one from beyond the arc in 41 of the past 45 games dating back to his freshman season. Starks also moved past Brent Barry and Calvin Haynes into a tie for seventh on the school's career list and should pass four-year players Lathen Wallace and Jimmie Haywood in the next couple of games. Single-Season 3-Point Field Goals Made List Career 3-Point Field Goals Made List ANOTHER PAC-12 HONOR FOR STARKS: Ahmad Starks was named Pac-12 Player of the Week for the second time in his career. He's the third Oregon State player to receive the honor after the first week of games, joining Jose Ortiz (12/1/86) and Gary Payton (11/28/88). Starks averaged 25.5 points, six rebounds, three assists and two steals to lead the Beavers to wins over Niagara and New Mexico State. Starks was also named Pac-12 Player of the Week last December and joins Payton (9), A.C. Green (4), Scott Haskin (3), David Lucas (3), Ortiz (3), Brent Barry (2), Corey Benjamin (2), Chad Scott (2), Charlie Sitton (2) and Jared Cunningham (2) as Oregon State players to win the award more than once. BIG GAME FOR BIG JOE: Joe Burton had a career-high 21 points and grabbed 10 rebounds against Montana State in the Nike N7 Game for his fifth career double-double. The game has a special meaning for Burton, who is only the second Native American to receive a men's basketball scholarship to Oregon State. Nike N7 is committed to providing access to sport for Native Americans and Aboriginal populations in North America. It was the third annual game for the Beavers in which they wear turquoise uniforms to honor Native American Heritage Month. THE VERSATILE BURTON: Joe Burton simply does it all on the basketball floor. He was the only player to finish in the top 15 in the Pac-12 in rebounds, assists and steals last season, after leading the Beavers in assists for the second straight season (2.8) and pulling down the second-most rebounds (5.9). He is currently second on the team in field goal percentage of anyone with more than six attempts at 59.5 percent (25-of-42) and is tied for first in assists with 13. IT'S ROBERTO'S TIME: Roberto Nelson, who came off the bench in all 36 games last season, replaced Jared Cunningham in the starting lineup and responded with a game-high 22 points in the season opener against Niagara, the fourth time he has scored 20+ in a game in his career. He is averaging 10.8 points per game this season, the fifth-most on the team, and has scored in double figures in two of the five games. FRESHMEN GETTING SOME RUN: The loss of Angus Brandt will provide more playing time for Oregon State's four freshmen as Jarmal Reid got his first career start against Montana State and Olaf Schaftenaar scored his first career points in that game on a three-pointer in the first half. Schaftenaar made 3-of-8 from beyond the arc to finish with nine points, while freshmen Victor Robbins and Langston Morris-Walker each scored three points against the Bobcats. ROBINSON'S RECORD: It's been noted often that Craig Robinson had more wins (64) in his first four years at Oregon State than Slats Gill (57) and Ralph Miller (58) in the same timeframe. It was the fifth year for both Hall of Fame coaches when they had their breakthrough seasons with Gill winning 21 and Miller claiming 19. With 16 victories this season, Robinson would become the fifth-winningest coach in Oregon State history and 28 would move him all the way to fourth, trailing only Gill (599), Miller (359) and Bob Hager (115). BREAKING DOWN THE SCHEDULE: Highlights of the non-conference schedule include the first-ever meetings against Kansas and Purdue. The Beavers will also play Portland State in Portland for the fourth time in history, but it will be the first time ever at the 1,500-seat Stott Center. Oregon State opens conference play with three home games for the first time since 2006-07 with Oregon (Jan. 6), Arizona State (Jan. 10) and Arizona (Jan. 12) all visiting Gill Coliseum. FROM OSU TO NBA: Jared Cunningham left after his junior season and became the first Oregon State player drafted in the NBA in 14 years when he was the 24th overall selection by the Cleveland Cavaliers before being traded to the Dallas Mavericks on draft night (Corey Benjamin was the 28th overall selection in 1998). Cunningham concluded his three-year Oregon State career 13th all-time in scoring (1,271), second in steals (219), third in free throws made (427) and fifth in free throws attempted (566). He was an All-Pac-12 First Team (junior season) and All-Pac-12 Second Team (sophomore season) selection and made the Pac-12 All-Defensive and All-Tournament Teams two times each. The Oakland, Calif., native holds 11 school records, including most steals as a junior (91, tied with Gary Payton), most steals as a sophomore (85), most steals in a game (8, tied with Brent Barry and Seth Tarver) and most minutes played in a season (1,245). EUROPEAN TOUR: Oregon State went 4-0 during its summer trip to Europe, winning all four games by double figures while averaging 82.8 points and limiting its opponents to 66.0. Angus Brandt led the team with 15.8 points and 8.8 rebounds per game with two double doubles. Roberto Nelson averaged 15 points and Devon Collier averaged 12.5 points and made 23-of-32 field goal attempts. Eric Moreland chipped in nine points a game on 16-of-19 from the field with 11 blocked shots and Langston Morris-Walker had a double-double with 10 points and 10 boards in the final game. Aug. 21 - Oregon State 76, St. Charles 59 (at Charenton, France) Support Oregon State University Athletics by making your tax deductible donation to the Beaver Athletic Student Fund. For more information follow this link or call 541-737-2370. Former Student-Athletes are invited to join the Varsity O Facebook Page for upcoming Alumni events. Follow Oregon State Athletics On YouTube. Follow this link to find out more about the Pac-12 Networks.
|
|
||||||||||||||||
