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The PAC-12’s Oregon State Beavers were one of the surprise teams of the 2014-15 season, despite their average 17-14 (8-10) record. Although dreadful on offense, the Beavers were one of the best defensive teams in the country, holding opponents to an average of just 59.2 points per game. If they could have performed better on the road, Oregon State might have been able to sneak into the NCAA tournament.
Heading into 2015-16, however, Oregon State returns all six players who played more than 15 games and 20 or more minutes per game last season, making a case for the Beavers as a legitimate 2016 NCAA tournament team and a dark horse in the PAC-12.
Gary Payton II and Malcolm Duvivier will lead this team offensively, but a player like Langston Morris-Walker, Jarmal Reid or Olaf Schaftenaar must step up and contribute more on offense. If head coach Wayne Tinkle believes that one of the numerous incoming four-star freshman can come in and make an impact over a veteran on offense, he has to do it. Oregon State cannot compete against top teams averaging just over 60 points per game again.
In their non-conference schedule, games at home against the Valparaiso Crusaders and on a neutral court against the Kansas Jayhawks and Tulsa Golden Hurricane look to be the toughest. If Oregon State can win just one of these games, they should head into conference play on a high note. With two of them, they could avoid bad losses in conference play and make the tournament. PAC-12 play will be difficult for the Beavers, but they have the talent and the experience to succeed.
I don’t expect Oregon State to do anything crazy like win the PAC-12 in the regular season, but I do expect this team to compete and to make it to the 2016 NCAA tournament. With a defense as stout as theirs, anything can happen in March. Depending on their matchups, the Beavers could go very far.
Taylor Sturm is a Featured Writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @TSturmRS, like him on Facebook or add him to your network on Google.
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