Calvin Haynes and the Beavers Getting An Early Start
The intensity at practice for a non-counting exhibition tour was at midseason level.
“Don't make excuses! Make something happen!” new assistant Jerry Francis exhorted to a defender, after a series in which an offensive player got loose for an easy basket in Friday morning's practice.
The message is clear. An embattled coaching staff that realistically is fighting for its professional life knows that to win this winter, the tone must be set in the 10 pre-tour workouts and on the 12-day sojourn to the Italian cites of Rome , Montecatini, Bologna and Venice .
The players realize that, too, perhaps none moreso than senior forward Marcel Jones, the program's elder statesman and top returning scorer (15.3 ppg) and rebounder (5.7) from an 11-21 club that missed postseason play for the 16th time in the past 17 seasons.
“There's a lot of competition and guys are competing hard,” Jones said. “Guys are on edge because they understand it's time to win. Our backs are against the wall.”
The Beavers leave Tuesday and play their first game on Thursday. They return to the United States on Sept. 2, which, coincidentally, is Jones' 22nd birthday.
They will play six games against opponents from several Italian leagues. Eight players will make the trip: Scholarship returnees Jones, sophomores Calvin Hampton, Roeland Schaftenaar, Josh Tarver and Seth Tarver and redshirt freshman Lathen Wallace. Junior walk-on Joey McConnell and Kyle Bjornstad, a practice player last season, round out the squad.
They will be directed by head coach Jay John and veteran assistants Kevin Mouton and Brian Lloyd. Francis, in his first year at OSU, and new director of basketball operations Marc Hsu will remain in Corvallis , as will newcomers C.J. Giles, Rickey Claitt, Calvin Haynes, Omari Johnson and Michael Stovall.
NCAA rules limit tour participation to players who were eligible to compete the previous season. Giles has practiced since arriving from the University of Kansas last winter, but isn't eligible to play until after the fall term.
John said the 10 practices and tour will help orient the veteran half of the team to a new offense and defense that will incorporate more movement and full-court pressure from what he considers the longest and most athletic of his six OSU teams.
“That's a big deal, especially since other than Marcel, our guys are young and they're in different roles,” John said. “Now they get a mini-season with some consequences, and from a learning standpoint it's going to advance them.
“Offensively we have some flexibility with Marcel and Seth, both can be inside/outside guys, now that Seth is shooting it better. We won't be quite so rigid.
“We're working on some things that have more movement, motion and playmaking. We've been able to put these things in, and work on them in practice. It's going to jump-start us for the season.”
Jones spent spring term working out in Los Angeles , improving his skills in hopes of being selected in the NBA draft. He removed himself from consideration, however, and told John he felt a new vibe when he returned to campus for summer conditioning.
“He noticed an amazing change in the chemistry and community of our guys,” John said. “These guys have a connection and a bond on and off the court. They are the guys who come in on their own and shoot, who stay after practice. You can't get them off the court.”
Added Jones: “Everyone wants to work, they are just hungry to be better, ready to prove to everybody we are an elite team. Everybody genuinely wants to work, they're not just putting on a front.
“I am the only senior. I'm not going to cuss anybody out or undermine anybody, but (his teammates) they're definitely following me because they look to me as a guy with experience.
“I'm going to lead by example, and carry the team on my back.”
It's the second European trip in the past two months for Schaftenaar. He played for the U-20 Dutch national team in a tournament in Poland in July. It's OSU's first overseas trip since a 2002 tour of Australia in John's first year at OSU.
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