Coach Craig Robinson Leads Beavers Basketball
Brother-in-Law to President Obama Coaches at OSU This Season
Nov 19, 2008
After a losing season last year in Corvallis, the Oregon State Beavers Men's Basketball team hopes for a better season under new head coach, Craig Robinson. Robinson, who last coached at Brown University, came to Corvallis earlier this spring to become the head coach at Oregon State. After helping Brown's program turnaround, Coach Robinson looks to do the same for Oregon State.
Craig Robinson is more commonly known as the brother-in-law of president-elect Barack Obama. Corvallis is excited to welcome Coach Robinson, who succeeds Jay John as the Beavers head coach for the 2008-09 season. Although not considered a recruiting reason, being th president's brother-in-law does have a pull. Coach Robinson is joined by assistant coach David Grace, Doug Stewart, who also coached at Brown. Nate Pomeday was the latest to join the coaching staff as an assistant coach.
Last season, the Beavers were winless in the PAC-10 season. With a record of 6-25 last season, the Beavers have nothing to lose. The team enters the season with most of last year's players returning. Time will only tell if the game improves with practice and maturing for these returning players. The Tarver brothers, Josh and Seth, lead the team as guards. Josh is the leading returning scorer, averaging 9.6 points per game last season. Other key players this season include Daniel Deane, Ricky Claitt, Roeland Schaftenaar, Calvin Hampton and Lathen Wallace, the Beavers look to improve from last year. The Beavers will need some leadership from returning players.
Coach Robinson will have a lot of work to do in getting the team ready for conference play. The Beavers face a tough PAC-10 Conference beginning January 2nd against UCLA at home. Oregon State faces their in-state rival Oregon Ducks in Civil War games on January 31st in Corvallis and then on March 1st in Eugene. The Beavers will face tough PAC-10 teams including USC, Stanford, Washington State and others looking to make it to the NCAA Tournament in 2009 and "March Madness." The PAC-10 Men's Basketball Tournament begins on March 11th.
Beavers fans and Oregon State students are looking forward to a great season for the Beavers as they set out to "Rally the Legend" at Gill Coliseum. With legendary players like Gary Payton, Brent Barry and AC Green, and coaches like Ralph Miller, Gill has been the home to many hall of fame players and coaches. Season tickets and game tickets are on sale now.
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