Stop me if you’ve heard this before: Craig Robinson has Oregon State basketball on the cusp.
The once-proud Beavers – 15th winningest program in NCAA history – are now in their third season under Robinson, who came to Corvallis after two promising seasons at Brown. At 8-10 overall, including promising wins against ASU, Arizona and USC, he’s optimistic Oregon State will start winning.
From The Oregonian:“I can’t convey how hard it is to change that mindset from losing to becoming winners,’' he said of a program that hasn’t been to the NCAA tournament since the 1989-90 season.
“And you know, we’re close,’' he said. “That’s what’s exciting.
“Because I feel it. I can see it. I can see our athleticism, and you know, we’re starting two freshmen and two sophomores.’'
That’s a tough sell, Craig. Just this season, the Beavers have lost to Seattle, Texas Southern, Utah Valley and George Washington. Among BCS schools, only Auburn’s more inconsistent and maddening. (Wake and DePaul are just bad.)
This isn’t 2008, when Oregon State was outscored by Pac-10 foes by .3 points per possession (worst mark of the last five years), but it’s still giving up more points than it scores and it’s tough to see an upside for this season.
Until guys like Roberto Nelson actually start providing some support to Jared Cunningham – one of the few players Robinson has – it’s gonna be another few seasons of the Beavers on the cusp.
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