INSIDE THE NUMBERS

2000-01 record: 12-17; 4-14 in Pac-10 (9th) Postseason: None. Last NCAA appearance was in 1990. RETURNING LEADERS Points: Ricci 16.2 Rebs: Ricci 7.1 Assists: Ricci 2.2 FG: Jackson 53.9% 3pt: North 43.3% FT: Jackson 80.8% 01-02 Stats: OSU | Pac-10 KEY LOSSES Adam Masten | 7.6 ppg Joe See | 6.1 ppg Brandon Payton | 5.3 ppg PROJECTED STARTERS G | J. Haywood | Senior G | J.S. Nash | Soph G | Floyd North | Soph F | Philip Ricci | Senior F | Brian Jackson | Senior Player to Watch Philip Ricci Senior Forward Showed what he could do when healthy, led OSU in scoring and rebounding as junior. DATE TO REMEMBER Dec. 22 The Beavers go to Kansas State, a winnable road game against a Big 12 opponent, the kind of step a program looking for respect must make.

 

OREGON STATE BEAVERS

Jay John has said all the right things to OSU faithful, both to those who remember the days of winning in Corvallis and those who have never seen them. Now, the first-year coach by way of Lute Olson's staff in Arizona must find a way to improve a program that has 12 straight non-winning seasons. The Beavers will start inside, where two of the league's best reside in senior forwards Brian Jackson and Philip Ricci. John will eventually put the team in the hands of freshman point guard Lamar Hurd, who the coach has already said could one day be the conference's best talent. One thing that will help Hurd is the experience of sophomores like wing Floyd North and guard J.S. Nash. As a group, OSU's five second-year players saw an average of 80.1 minutes per game last season, second only in league to Arizona (105.1). OSU received a lift when John welcomed back oh-so-quick wing/point Jimmie Haywood (9.0 ppg), who didn't mesh with former coach Ritchie McKay. Haywood gives OSU a solid defender who can guard the opponent's fastest player.

TOUGH ENOUGH..............................
You have to like a guy like Ricci, who sets the tone despite being double- and triple-teamed most trips. The 6-7, 250-pounder averaged 16.2 points and 7.1 rebounds last season, and improving those numbers to a double-double this year is not out of the question. If Jackson can stay out of foul trouble and finally discover the skills that saw him average 12.5 points and 5.1 rebounds as a freshman, the Beavers match up with the entire league at the forward spots.

TOUGH ENOUGH?..............................
There is experience and yet question marks with those who handle and shoot the ball outside. Haywood must prove -- at least until Hurd is ready to play significant minutes -- he can offer a steady hand at the point. Nash averaged just 5.7 points as a freshman, but he'll take far more shots. North is a big-time athlete who made 43 percent on 3s, but averaged 4.7 points. Proven depth is lacking in the backcourt, which needs to consistently produce given this league's quality at guard.

BOTTOM LINE..............................
There is no question John already has the program pointed in the correct direction, if for nothing more than the attitude of players. But moving up from the depths of a strong Pac-10 conference can be a slow and deliberate process. The Beavers should be better than 12-17, but how much is anyone's guess. The first winning season since 1990 is more possible than probable, with another lower-tier conference finish likely.