After Fourth Meeting with Stanford, Oregon State Plays On

Very few knew that Stanford and Oregon State were still playing post-season basketball.  Yes, they are.  And, while probably few care, you gotta put it into perspective.  If you were playing for Division I team, you're about to graduate, would you rather keep playing basketball or go back to class? 

If you're an underclassman, wouldn't you rather keep competing knowing you need to get better?

I thought so.

OSU won the first two meetings between the Beavers and the Cardinal, which was the first time in like 15 years that Stanford lost two conference games to OSU in same season.

The third meeting came in the first round, otherwise known as the play-in game for the Pac-10 tournament.  Stanford was able to win that game at neutral site, Staples Center, 62-54.

Stanford was lucky enough to then play Washington on the 2nd day of the Pac-10 tournament, losing to the Huskies 85-73. 

Neither Stanford nor Oregon State made the NIT.  Only Washington St. Cougars played in NIT.  Rest of Pac-10 went to NCAAs, except for Oregon who were sent home with steak knives after a thoroughly terrible season. 

Strangely enough, the Arizona Wildcats lost five of their last six games, didn't win a single game in Pac-10 tourney, and got into the NCAA at-large bid.  Arizona is only Pac-10 team in Sweet 16.  Nutty.

Which brings us to tonite.  Stanford defeated Boise State in Palo Alto, 96-76.  Then, flew to Kansas to beat the Wichita St Shockers 70-56, which put them into the semi-finals of the CBI against OSU in Corvallis.  OSU beat Houston 49-45 and Vermont 71-70 to get this late season home game, and unheard of 4th meeting with Stanford. 

It was an extremely close game tonite with OSU finally winning in overtime 65-62.  That also makes for Stanford's second loss in Corvallis in same season.   Despite Stanford winning 20 games this year, this is surely a bitter ending.

The Beavers are now in the finals and will host Texas-El Paso on Monday, March 30 in the first game of the best-of-three CBI championship series.