Oregon State Coach Starts 5 Walk-Ons For Final Home Game of the Season...Immediately Gets Run Out of the Gym
ESPN – Oregon State coach Wayne Tinkle started five walk-ons Wednesday night in the final home game of the season, which the Beavers lost 65-62 to in-state rival Oregon.
He started four players who made the team in an open tryout Oct. 4 and one who was a practice player last season under former coach Craig Robinson.
“Some people might call me crazy and maybe I am,” Tinkle said, “but it was something our guys deserved.”
He started 6-foot-10 junior Justin Stangel, 6-foot guard AJ Hedgecock and three freshmen: 6-6 forward Matt Dahlen, 6-4 guard Tanner Sanders and 6-3 guard Dylan Livesay. Those players might not be on the team next season due to a strong recruiting class.
“I was thinking about having no seniors to celebrate what would normally be “Senior Night” and I wanted to honor something for this team,” Tinkle told ESPN.com in a text message. “It hit me right away: Honor the walk-ons from Oregon that have been such a big part of our season.
Oregon State pulled to within one with 34 seconds left after a Malcolm Duvivier layup, but Oregon made six free throws in the final 30 seconds to secure the win. The Beavers committed two costly turnovers in the final 1:30.
The Beavers (17-13 overall, 8-10 Pac-12) needed a win to go .500 in conference play for the second time in 25 years. They have lost six of seven.
Absolutely awesome move by Coach Wayne Tinkle here, no question about it. Showing some love to the walk ons who never get to sniff any action on the court in front of the fans but bust their ass every single day in practice. Real class act to let them have this moment especially since apparently they might not even be back on the team next year.
However, even more awesome move by Oregon showing zero mercy and immediately bullying the shit out of these guys. Running a full speed trapping press and snatching the ball away like candy from a baby 2 possessions in a row sending their asses back to the bench in only 28 seconds. So cold blooded and I love it.
I mean…this is a real game here. Not just any game, the Civil War. Has postseason implications for both teams. You want to let your scrubs start that’s nice but don’t be mad when we turn this shit into a varsity vs. JV-B scrimmage.
And not for not nothing but the final score was a 3 point difference….
PS – Needed Bill Walton on this game so bad, but he was busy talking about getting his nips milked.