UND (6-7) @ Oregon State (9-2) 12/29 5 PM

[SWSiouxMN]

UND went down to Lincoln and did something that no other UND team has done since they have moved to D1: Beat a P5 school.  They led most of the way and held on to a 1 point win to give UND one of its biggest wins in the program's history.  Now, UND heads out west for their final non-conference game to try and do it again against an Oregon State Beavers squad, with a familiar head coach to UND fans. 

About OSU

The Beavers have been a team that has been in the shadow of their in-state rivals for quite a while now.  While the Ducks have been making deep runs in March Madness, the Beaves have been a middle to lower tierd Pac-12 team.  Usually this would mean in certain years that would be good enough to make the NCAA tournament, which it did in 2016.  However, due to the lack of the strength of the PAC 12 (in only getting 2-3 at large bids the previous few seasons), this has relegated them to other postseason tournaments.  However, things appear to be on an upswing.  After a disaster 5-27 mark in 2017, there has been steady improvement since then.  Including a blazing 9-2 start to the season.  There is still questions to how "legit" OSU is this year given that their strength of schedule is very weak.  The Beavers are hoping to make the next step and start to finish in the top half of the conference and start to take some attention away from their bitter rivals. 

About Wayne Tinkle:

Tinkle is now in his 6th year of coaching at Oregon State and 14th overall (238-173 overall, 158-69 at Montana 80-84 at OSU).  He spent the first 8 years at his alma matter, Montana and was quite successful.  Never finishing worst than 4th in the conference and went to the dance 3 times.  His best teams were the 2011-12 and 2012-13 squads with Will Cherry as his best player.  He has gone back to the NCAAs once at OSU, and outside of 1 year, has kept the Beavers around .500.  Despite being picked 7th in the Pac-12 polls, they do have the talent to break through and get to the top of the Pac-12 and once again get them back to the dance.  This year especially, since his son is playing his last year at OSU.

Series History:

This is the first meeting all time between the two squad, but Tinkle has a 5-2 overall record against UND from his coaching days in Montana. 

Key Player: Tres Tinkle (6'7 Senior)

One of the better players in the conference, turn down the chance to go Pro to have one last shot to get OSU into March Madness and one more season with dad on the sidelines (can't blame him for wanting that).  He is a do-it all big, who has adding a deadly shooting stroke to his game (shooting 50% from 3 so far this year).  Teams best rebounder and can also distribute the ball as well (4.1 assists per game).  Started with 4 double-doubles in his first 5 games, but hasn't had one since. Double-Digits in scoring in all 11 games and 6 of them have gone for 20+ points.  Needless to say:  he will be a handful.

Stats:

-Rebraca leads the Summit lead in FG%, Blocks and is 2nd in rebounding.

-Marlon Stewart leads the Summit League in Assists Per game (4.8) and is 8th in 3 point % (tied with Walter with 40.3%)

Milestone Watch:

-Marlon Stewart enters the game with 849 career points (842 at UND, 7 at Creighton).  He just needs 151 points to get to 1000 career points.  So if he can maintain his scoring average, it would be the heart of the conference season when he would get it. (10 games would be at home against Western Illinois).

Keys:

1) Build off of the Nebraska Performance (Keep taking steps forward to conference play)

2) Contain the Coach's Kids (Tinkle and Thompson)

3) Value possession of the ball (keep it around 12-15 turnovers again)

4) The stars need to play like stars (Marlon, Rebraca.. do you thing)

The Call:

Out front, OSU is much better than Nebraska, so this would be a bigger statement win than Nebraska.  Can they do it?  Well OSU has had some struggles against other lower-tiered teams, so it is possible if UND puts together a great effort.  I think UND will put together another strong outing from Rebraca, Stewart and DAE, giving them a nice launching pad to the conference season, but OSU will be too much to handle.

Beavers 87-72

Game is on Pac-12 Network for those who have that. 

[SWSiouxMN]

Also need to add that Summit Play starts as well tomorrow

SDSU @ Omaha

NDSU @ DU

USD @ WIU

 

[SiouxFan100]

Would love to beat Oregon State. Getting blown out would be pretty discouraging. Not the end of the world if we do. Like to see the new coach instill what it takes to compete.

[NewUndFan]

I was trying to find the game on my Dish Net and couldn't find it.  I have the Pac -12 channels.  Anyone else try to find it? 

[Dagger]

Is there video for this game?

[FSSD]

I have sling and I found it on the PAC 12 Oregon Network

[ND-fan]

Just reviewing the stats again the turnover bug is still problem. Oregon had 16 more points of turnovers. I thought we were getting better here again ball security is biting us again. My guess now is this is going to be the story of the season. we will continue to turn over the ball loose basketball games. I don't know why this can't be corrected and this is just fundamental basketball. You can't improve until they solve this problem and this is direct result in coaching I hate to say it but it is. Sather said they were going to work on it but I just don't see where its improving and if this doesn't improve were looking at very few wins in the conference.