Busting Brackets
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Pac-12 Basketball: Ducks to remain the league’s best

By Carmine Carcieri

March 12, 2016; Las Vegas, NV, USA; Oregon Ducks head coach Dana Altman celebrates after cutting down the net after the championship game of the Pac-12 Conference tournament against the Utah Utes at MGM Grand Garden Arena. The Ducks defeated the Utes 88-57. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
March 12, 2016; Las Vegas, NV, USA; Oregon Ducks head coach Dana Altman celebrates after cutting down the net after the championship game of the Pac-12 Conference tournament against the Utah Utes at MGM Grand Garden Arena. The Ducks defeated the Utes 88-57. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports /
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Jan 30, 2016; Tucson, AZ, USA; Oregon State Beavers forward Tres Tinkle (3) is defended by Arizona Wildcats guard Gabe York (1) during the first half at McKale Center. Arizona won 80-63. Mandatory Credit: Casey Sapio-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 30, 2016; Tucson, AZ, USA; Oregon State Beavers forward Tres Tinkle (3) is defended by Arizona Wildcats guard Gabe York (1) during the first half at McKale Center. Arizona won 80-63. Mandatory Credit: Casey Sapio-USA TODAY Sports /

11. Oregon State Beavers

2015-16 record: 19-12 overall, 9-9 in Pac-12, reached first round of NCAA Tournament

Head coach: Wayne Tinkle 

Key returning players: Tres Tinkle, Stephen Thompson Jr., Drew Eubanks

Newcomers: Three-star PG JaQuori McLaughlin, three-star C Ben Kone’, JUCO transfer SF Keondre Dew, JUCO transfer PG Ronnie Stacy, non-ranked freshman Christian Russell, redshirt freshman Kendal Manuel

Oregon State made the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 1990 last season. Unfortunately for Beaver fans, they ran into a team that has plenty of experience in March in the VCU Rams, and were eliminated from the tourney in the first round.

This season the program will show regression, as the Beavers are not expected to finish .500 in league play like last year. They are likely not even a postseason team in general (NIT included).

The reason: They lost do it all guard Gary Payton II. Payton was the team’s leading scorer, their best facilitator, their top rebounder, one of the most elite defenders in the nation and the leader of the pack.

There is no possible way to replace Payton, which means Oregon State is in deep trouble in 2016-17.

Tres Tinkle, Stephen Thompson Jr. and Drew Eubanks are three talented players and will likely form the team’s ‘Big Three’. However, the Beavers are very top heavy.

Oregon State’s sixth leading scorer from last year, Malcolm Duvivier, won’t be playing this season due to personal reasons. That eliminates further depth from the Beavers’ roster and puts them in an awkward position moving forward.

Oregon State is unlikely to fall into last place with the interior presence of Tinkle, the point guard play of Thompson and the improvement of sophomore forward Eubanks. But they won’t be returning to March’s grand event for the second straight season.

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