College basketball regained its grasp on Oregon this year.
Through renewed mediocrity at both of the state’s major universities, and with a large boost from the NCAA Tournament’s decision to host two rounds at the Rose Garden; excitement in this state reached a level it hadn’t been to since… well, 2007 when the Oregon Ducks reached the Elite Eight.
But that season alienated the Oregon State Beaver fan base. The Beavs finished the 2006-07 season with a record of 11-21.
Both the Ducks and Beavers saw their 2011-12 seasons come to an end this week. The good news for the two schools is they both reached the postseason.
The bad news is neither reached the NCAA Tournament. The Beavers made their seemingly annual sojourn to the CBI while the Ducks played in the slightly more credible NIT.
Despite finishing the regular season third in the Pac-12 standings, the Ducks did not receive an invitation to the Big Dance. That’s likely because of the weakness of the Pac-12 as perceived by the media, casual basketball fans, and anyone who picked a Pac-12 school to reach the Sweet 16.
Oregon State finished eighth in the conference, even with a 21-15 record. The Beavs were one of seven teams in the conference to reach the 20-win plateau – a mark that was once a sure NCAA berth for a Pac-10 school.
Not this year.
But, the combined 45 wins for Oregon State and Oregon are worth celebrating modestly. After all, it is the most victories the Civil War combatants have posted in one season in 65 years.
Yep, you’d have to go back to the historic 1946-47 season to find the last time the Highway 99 rivals put together 45 or more wins. Back then, Slats Gill led the Beavers to a 28-5 record while Howard Hobson’s Webfoots went 18-9.
Notice the big difference between that 46-win campaign and this year’s 45-win campaign: The losses. Sixty-five years ago those 46 wins were stacked against 14 losses. That’s a winning percentage of .766. This year’s winning percentage drops to .643 with the 45-25 record.
That’s a respectable record for the two Oregon schools. Over in a state like North Carolina, however, that’s cause for major concern. But here, it’s reason to speculate on an even brighter future.
With both teams devoid of many seniors, right now the 2012-13 season looks like one in which these two schools can avoid the “Everyone Gets a Trophy” Tournament.
If OSU star Jared Cunningham plays it smart and resists the temptation to enter the NBA draft, Coach Craig Robinson’s squad will lose only former walk-on Kevin McShane. McShane is the lone senior on this year’s team.
Graduation will take a larger toll on the Ducks, whose team features five seniors. Included in that group are key players Devoe Joseph and Garrett Sim.
But Coach Dana Altman has shown a knack for bringing in solid junior college players who may contribute immediately.
If the two schools realize this season is not one to celebrate but rather one to build on, they may be able to play meaningful games a year from now.
That means Oregonians will be able to watch their schools in the first two rounds of the tournament rather than drive to the Rose Garden to get their NCAA fix.
Add The Sports Daily to your Google News Feed!
