Meet The Beavers: Daine Muller
October 23, 2015 | Men's Basketball
The Oregon State men's basketball team opens its regular season on Saturday, Nov. 14 against Northwest Christian at Gill Coliseum. To help preview the 115th season in school history, and Year II of the Wayne Tinkle coaching era, we sat down with the team's newcomers to find out more about them.
Junior transfer Daine Muller hopes to find a home at OSU after spending 2014 at the University of Montana, where he redshirted as a walk-on under coach Tinkle, and 2015 at Montana State after retiring (temporarily, as it turns out) from college basketball.
A 6-foot-4, 202-pounder from Skyview High School in Billings, he was the state Gatorade Player of the Year in 2013 after averaging 22.8 points and 6.8 rebounds and earning all-conference and all-state honors for the second year in a row. A kinesiology major, he had a 3.6 grade-point average and was a member of the National Honor Society at Skyview.
Do you remember your first dunk?
MULLER: “In eighth grade. I was trying for a while in seventh and eighth grade, then got the new Hyperdunks (shoe) and was able to put one down. It wasn't as cool as I thought it would be.”
What pregame routines or superstitions do you have?
MULLER: “Before the game I usually just pray for no injuries to either side, or stretch, do some dribbling drills and get my hands ready.”
What number would you choose if you could choose your own number?
MULLER: “22. I just like the look of it. My brother wore it and I wore it growing up.”
What is the best sports movie you've ever seen?
MULLER: “I always like 'Miracle,' because I'm a big hockey fan. The whole America thing, the Cold War, it's historical.”
Which Pac-12 city are you most looking forward to visiting?
MULLER: “I'd have to go with Los Angeles. I've been there, but never to USC or UCLA.”
What other sport did you like to play growing up?
MULLER: “I played baseball, football, soccer until I was a second-grader. I always wanted to play hockey, but never could.”
Do you prefer to play Call of Duty, FIFA 16, or Madden 16?
MULLER: “I'd have to say FIFA. I like football a lot, but Madden isn't that fun and I don't like shooting games.”
What would be your favorite vacation destination?
MULLER: “Hawaii. I've been there, and I'm going there this Christmas. It's a fun place to go.”
You enjoy hockey. What is it about that sport you like?
MULLER: “I like the physicality of it, and the skill it takes. A lot of my friends growing up played it and I just loved it. I'm a good skater.”
Tell us about your hockey career.
MULLER: “I used to play a lot of pickup hockey, pond hockey; I have gear and play recreationally sometimes. My favorite player was Joe Sakic of the Colorado Avalanche.”
