Roundup: Oregon State naturally progresses into Final Four

Mar 29, 2016

Major props to Scott Rueck and Co. – Oregon State women’s basketball is off to the Final Four after defeating top-seeded Baylor 60-57 in Dallas Monday night, the first time in program history the Beavers have made it to the last weekend of the tournament. Read Gina Mizell’s column on the Beavers reaching the Final Four. The Beavs have UConn in the national semis.

Washington basketball’s Chantel Osahor went on “Pac-12 Sports Report” to talk about the Dawgs’ historic run to the Final Four. How ‘bout that – two Pac-12 teams are headed to Indy.

At her introductory press conference Monday, new Colorado women’s basketball coach JR Payne said she wants the Buffs to be a blue-collar team. Brian Howell on the article, and he tells us that the Buffs are spending a good chunk of change on women’s hoops.

Former Arizona State men’s basketball coach Herb Sendek has been named the head coach at Santa Clara, Jon Rothstein of CBS Sports first reported (linked here by The Arizona Republic). Sendek led the Sun Devils to a 159-137 record in his nine years at ASU.

Oregon State men’s basketball coach Wayne Tinkle interviewed at Stanford before deciding to stay in Corvallis, Danny Moran reports. Stanford hired Jerod Haase instead, and Jon Wilner pens this piece on Haase realizing a dream by coaching at Stanford – he wanted to play for the Cardinal growing up, but the recruitment didn’t work out and played at Cal (and later Kansas) instead.

USC men’s basketball coach Andy Enfield received a contract extension through 2021. Enfield led the Trojans to their first NCAA Tournament since 2011 this year, posting a 21-13 mark in 2015-16.

In our latest Bruins in the NBA segment, Russell Westbrook is on the verge of making NBA history – Eric Freeman of Yahoo Sports tells us that Westbrook tied Michael Jordan’s record of seven triple-doubles in a calendar month after going for 26 points, 12 assists and 11 boards Monday night. He also has 16 triple-doubles this season, which is one shy of Magic Johnson’s record for most in a single season over the last 30 years.

Visitors from an American football team in Japan came to watch Washington State practice, notes Chantel Jennings. As the game grows in Japan, teams over there are looking to find new ways to gain a competitive edge (and the Air Raid can provide just that).

Cool read here from Chantel Jennings on Oregon football offensive coordinator Matt Lubick and how he was drawn to the game by his father, Sonny, who was a longtime college coach.