Thanks to the current hiatus for the Pac-12, Oregon State played last season in the WCC and it wasn’t bad a season at all. Wayne Tinkle’s squad had really struggled, finishing near or at the bottom of the league standings for three straight years in the Pac-12 before a 20-win campaign and 5th place in the WCC. Technically a mid-major at the moment, Oregon State fielded a more competitive team and finished over .500 for the first time in four years, but suffered an all too familiar type of offseason.
All five starters from last year’s team entered the transfer portal and found new homes in the recent months. Leading scorer Michael Rataj was the most critical departure after being Oregon State’s leading scorer and rebounder last season. Former impact players like Parsa Fallah and Nate Kingz moved on to their new homes, though the Beavers did return both Josiah Lake and Isaiah Sy, who each picked up a few starts and decent minutes as sophomores.
Neither the recruiting nor transfer class really jumped off the page, but Tinkle and his staff filled this roster with some intriguing new pieces from all over the country. Dez White becomes a major factor in the backcourt after work as Missouri State’s point guard last season. The frontcourt gets all kinds of new faces, starting with Jorge Diaz Graham from Pitt as well as Stephen Olowoniyi from Southern Indiana. Keziah Ekissi comes from Howard College and could fight for starting minutes, but there’s a big man we’re really excited to see in Corvallis.
Size cannot be taught and it’s easy to think big when seeing 7-2 center Noah Amenhauser. An Arizona native, he began his career as a backup player at Grand Canyon before spending his sophomore year at Coastal Carolina. Last season with the Chanticleers provided an opportunity and a chance to prove himself. He took advantage, averaging 10.8 points and 6.0 rebounds for some quality production in the Sun Belt.
When all is said and done, Amenhauser likely isn’t the best or most talented offseason addition but his importance lies in opportunity. Sy is the only notable returner in the frontcourt and Amenhauser showed promise last season out east, but can he replicate that success in the WCC? He’s not just the likely starter at center but somebody that the Beavers will depend on as a rebounder and paint presence all season long, needing him to continue growing and developing his strength and athleticism.
With what Oregon State lost to the portal, another 20-win season certainly doesn’t feel attainable, but it’s far too easy to cast doubts on these Beavers. Lake and Sy both had their moments last season and will need to step up in bigger roles. What transpires with Amenhauser won’t just be important to the team but interesting to watch, as he’ll certainly have his chance to standout as one of the best bigs in the WCC. Doing so could result in another solid season for these new-look Beavers.