Final Hoops Release for 2003-2004
April 5, 2004
Corvallis, Ore. -
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THE SEASON: Second-year head coach Jay John had one of the youngest teams in the country in 2003-2004, which holds promise for the future. For the second consecutive season the Beavers won six conference games, while losing another five league games by a combined 19 points. The victories included the program's first over Oregon since the 1999 season and a win over then-No. 14 Arizona in Gill Coliseum.
POSTSEASON ACCOLADES: Junior forward David Lucas continued his almost rags to riches story by being selected to the 10-member Pacific-10 Conference team. Lucas, a former walk-on, finished fourth in the Pac-10 for scoring (17.2) and ninth for rebounding (6.9). He is the second Beaver (Philip Ricci) to be named to the all-conference team in as many years. Center Kyle Jeffers was named to the conference's honorable mention freshman team and sophomore guard Lamar Hurd earned mention on the league's honorable mention academic squad.
WHO'S BACK? Eleven of 12 lettermen are expected to return for the 2004-2005 season. The only loss is the expected transfer of sophomore center Kevin Field. The Beavers will return 99 percent of their scoring from the 2004 season, 98 percent of their rebounding, and 100 percent of their assists. A closer look (years as of 2004-2005):
Returning Starters F -- David Lucas, 6-7, 230, Sr. 1st team Pac-10; 17.2 pts (4th in Pac-10), 6.9 reb (9th), .511 FG Pct. C -- Kyle Jeffers, 6-9, 238, So. Hon. Mention Pac-10 Fresh.; 5.1 pts, 4.8 reb, 19 blks G -- Lamar Hurd, 6-4, 190, Jr. 56 career starts; 4.9 asts (2nd in Pac-10); 2.34 ast-to ratio (1st). G -- Chris Stephens, 6-2, 190, Jr., 15.8 pts (8th in Pac-10); 76 3-pt FGs (4th); .822 FT Pct. (4th) G -- J.S. Nash, 6-2, 200, Sr. 10.5 pts; 3.8 ast (10th in Pac-10); 3.6 reb.BUT WAIT, THAT'S NOT ALL! Three student-athletes sat out last season all as redshirts. A closer look:Other Returnees F -- Jim Hanchett, 6-6, 235, Sr. 7.3 pts; 5.5 reb F -- Kenny Hooks, 6-7, 203, So. 2.0 pts; 1.6 reb; 2 starts G/F -- Michael Johnson, 6-4, So. 0.1 pts; 0.1 reb C -- Derek Potter, 6-11, 260, Sr. 1.3 pts; 1.9 reb; 5 starts G -- Vic Remmers, 6-5, 205, Sr. 1.5 pts; 0.5 reb G -- Angelo Tsagarakis, 6-2, 195, So. OSU freshman record 45 3-pt FGs; 6.4 pts.
G -- Jason Fontenet, 5-10, 165, Jr. Redshirt after transfering from New Mexico St.; A potential starter F -- Nick DeWitz, 6-8, 215, Jr. Eligible Dec. 11 after transferring from Iowa; Possible starter C -- Liam Hughes, 7-2, 306, Fr. Much improved in just one year; intimidating force on defense
THE NEW FACE: Guard/Forward Marcel Jones will join the program as a true-freshman from highly-regarded Mater Dei High School in Santa Ana, Calif. Jones was Mater Dei's leading scorer and as of April 5 was selected to the Orange County Register's all-county team and Cal-Hi Sports all-state team..
2004-2005 SCHEDULE: The Pacific-10 Conference portion of the schedule is complete. The non-conference slate will be announced at a later date:
Dec. 31 UCLA Feb. 10 Washington State Jan. 2 USC Feb. 12 Washington Jan. 8 at Oregon Feb. 17 at Arizona State Jan. 13 at Washington State Feb. 19 at Arizona Jan. 15 at Washington Feb. 24 Stanford Jan. 20 Arizona State Feb. 26 California Jan. 22 Arizona Mar. 3 at UCLA Jan. 27 at Stanford Mar 5 at USC Jan. 29 at California Mar. 10-12 at Pac-10 Tournament (L.A.) Feb. 5 OregonPOSTSEASON AWARDS:
Ralph Miller Award (MVP) David Lucas Ed Lewis Award (Leadership) J.S. Nash Paul Valenti Award (Determination) J.S. Nash Lew Beck Award (Newcomer) Jim Hanchett Jim Anderson Award (Improved) Chris Stephens Slats Gill Award (Pride) Lamar HurdTURNOVER TALK: Oregon State turned the ball over less than 10 times in three conference games, all victories (vs. UO, @ WSU, vs. UA). On the other side of the court, the Beavers forced 18-plus in five of the last six games. OSU fininished first in the conference with a plus-2.68 turnover margin and was second in forced turnover average at 16.8.
DOUBLE THREAT: OSU's David Lucas (17.2) and Chris Stephens (15.8) finished the season as one of the top double scoring threats at the school in many seasons. The last time prior to 2004 that two Beavers averaged 15-plus points in the same season was in 1995 -- Brent Barry (21.0) and Mustapha Hoff (18.6).
SECOND CHANCE OPPORTUNITIES: OSU was a force on the offensive boards, highlighted by its conference team-high 19 at Washington. The Beavers had 128 (14.2) offensive boards over the last nine games, compared to 84 (9.3) for their opponents. OSU finished second in the league averaging 13.4 offensive boards per game.
YOUTHFUL LOOK: Three true-freshmen played in 2004, with the trio combining for 25 starts. Oregon State was one of only six schools in the nation without a senior on its roster, joining Pepperdine, Wake Forest, Tennessee, UNC-Asheville, and Harvard.
THE "START" OF SOMETHING: Oregon State's eligible players combined for 193 career Division I starts -- the lowest number in the Pac-10 Conference. The rest of the league featured California (238), UCLA (242), Arizona State (247), Oregon (263), Arizona (270), Washington (281), Stanford (306), Washington State (316), and USC (338).
WELL WORTH THE PRICE OF ADMISSION: Seven overtime periods in 28 regular season games, plus another during the exhibition slate. The Beavers played two single overtime games (at Hawaii/vs. Washington), double overtime (vs. Portland), and triple overtime (vs. Kansas State). The four extra period games are the most since the 1985-86 season. The total of seven overtime periods is a school record, eclipsing the five played by the 1982-83 club.
10TH NO MORE: Oregon State finished the year seventh in the Pac-10 for scoring at 72.1 points per game. Seventh is a significant improvement from recent years. A closer look:
Year Avg. Rank 2004 72.1 7th 2003 68.0 10th 2002 64.3 10th 2001 61.9 10th 2000 69.6 8th
10TH NO MORE, PART II: Further evidence of head coach Jay John's belief in "pushing the ball," Oregon State scored 80-plus points 15 times in the 56-game John era. The program hit the 80-point plateau just six times in 59 games during the two-year reign of Ritchie McKay, and 16 times during the Eddie Payne 130-game tenure.
HOME TEAM: Oregon State's 17 regular season home dates were the most in the program's modern history. The team made only two non-conference road trips, Dec. 1 at Colorado and Dec. 15 at Hawai'i.
TEAM CAPTAINS: Junior guard J.S. Nash and sophomore guard Lamar Hurd served as the team captains for the season.
THE REDSHIRTS: Freshman center Liam Hughes was one of three Beavers who in affect redshirted this season. The 7-2, 306-pound center from Hullbridge, England is in his third year of organized basketball. Junior guard Jason Fontenet sat out after transferring from New Mexico State, and junior forward Nick DeWitz redshirted after transferring from Iowa during the year -- DeWitz will be eligible for competition at the conclusion of fall term 2004 (Dec. 11).
THE MURAL OF THE STORY: A quick peek to the south rafters in Gill Coliseum will present you a look at a mural of some of the Oregon State University men's basketball greats. The recently completed mural includes the 1980-81 team, plus individuals Ralph Miller, Paul Valenti, Slats Gill, Steve Johnson, Charlie Sitton, Gary Payton, Lester Conner, Brent Barry, Scott Haskin, Wally Palmberg, Ed Lewis, Cliff Crandall, Mel Counts, Dave Gambee, Jose Ortiz, Jim Jarvis, A.C. Green, Charlie White, and Red Rocha. The mural was painted by Art FX Murals of Portland.
BEAVERS IN THE NBA: Three former Beavers resided in the National Basketball Association in 2003-2004. NBA all-star Gary Payton is in his 14th year in the league and first with the Los Angeles Lakers. Brent Barry is in his ninth year in the league and fifth with the Seattle Sonics. Lester Conner is in his fifth year as an assistant coach with the Boston Celtics, after a lengthy pro career. A total of 26 former Beavers have played in the NBA.
