"The mess that is Oregon State basketball..."

Ouch, Oregon State...ouch.

OSU has a great baseball team, but their basketball team is sort of an embarrassment this year - only four players on the floor (see below)! Of course, I'm saying this well aware of the fact that my Ducks lost last night to the Washington Huskies and have to face the Cougs on Sunday - hopefully they won't lose by quite as much...
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Washington State 69, Oregon State 46
Posted by The Oregonian January 17, 2008 22:18PM

PULLMAN, Wash. -- The mess that is Oregon State basketball was on full display at Friel Court Thursday night. The Beavers were chewed up 69-46 by No. 8 Washington State, their seventh straight loss in a season that seems to grow more precarious by the game.

But it wasn't the uncertainty surrounding head coach Jay John, or terrible shooting that doomed OSU in front of 10,117 fans. It was simple execution at both ends, and the inability to stop the Cougars from doing anything they wanted to on offense.

John has praised the "compete'' in this team, but it appeared not everyone was on the same page here in terms of being ready to play.

"It was just lousy defense,'' said sophomore point guard Josh Tarver, who loudly vented his frustration during the long walk to the dressing room after the Beavers (6-11, 0-5 Pacific 10 Conference) began an already-tough road trip in the worst possible fashion.

"We played terrible tonight,'' said Tarver, the only OSU player who felt like addressing the media.

"There was no help (on defense), nothing ... it was dunk, 3-pointer, dunk, 3-pointer. ... it was like they were just toying with us.''

OSU made its first four shots, and amazingly went 10-for-20 from the floor in the first half to stay within ten points of the Cougars (15-1, 3-1), who were coming off a loss at UCLA.

But it was a rout in the second half.

"They came at us a lot harder,'' said Tarver. "They came out focused and ready to go and beat us in pretty much every category of the game.''

OSU shot 7-for-21 in the second half (.333). And two players who must play well for the Beavers to have a chance on any given night were no-shows.

Senior Marcel Jones took four shots and scored two points. And freshman Omari Johnson, who was averaging 12 points in Pac-10 play, went 1-for-2 from the floor for two points.

"Some guys,'' said Josh Tarver, "just don't understand yet what the Pac-10 is about.''

There was one moment late in the game when Oregon State had four players on the floor.

Then reserve guard Lathen Wallace hustled out to the floor from his seat on the bench.

"That's another example of not being prepared,'' said Josh Tarver. "We've got four players out there, that just makes us look silly out there.''

Said John, "it was ridiculous.''