Revamped and Ready: Oregon State Beavers Tackle New Challenges in the WCC
Oregon State Beavers Basketball 2024: New Roster, International Talent, and WCC Challenges Ahead
As the Oregon State Beavers enter a new chapter in the WCC, they enter with both a revamped lineup and tempered expectations.
Coming off a challenging season and significant roster turnover, Head Coach Wayne Tinkle’s squad has its work cut out in a competitive WCC.
The Beavers’ roster boasts nine international players bringing unique skills and fresh perspectives to Corvallis. With standout transfer Damarco Minor looking to take the reins and junior forward Michael Rataj emerging as a potential scoring leader, the Beavers are embracing the challenge. Here’s a closer look at what lies ahead for Oregon State this season.
Overview
Oregon State Beavers (Corvallis, OR)
2x Final Four
7x Elite Eight
15 NCAA Tournament appearances
Last season: 13-19 (5-15), 12th in Pac-12
Coaching Staff
Head Coach: Wayne Tinkle (10 seasons at Oregon St., 298-270 (.525)).
Assistants: Marlon Stewart, Stephen Thompson, Chris Haslam.
Offseason Changes
Key Departures: Jordan Pope (Texas); Tyler Bilodeau (UCLA); Dexter Akanno (Utah State); KC Ibekwe (Washington); Christian Wright (Louisiana); Justin Rochelin (UC San Diego); Jayden Stephens (Idaho)
Incoming Transfers & Freshmen: G Damarco Minor (SIUE) (15.5 ppg, 8.5 rpg, 3.1 apg); F Parsa Fallah (Southern Utah) (13.2 ppg, 6.0 rpg, 1.6 apg); C Matthew Marsh (Wake Forest) (1.7ppg, 2.4 rpg); F Johan Munch (Orangeville Prep); F Isaiah Sy (Cloud Community College); F Ja’Quavi Williford (Red Rock Academy); F - Liutarius Lelevicius (Lithuania); F - Maxim Logue (France).
Key Returning Players: F Michael Rataj (8.3 ppg, 5.8 rpg), F Gavin Marrs (.8 ppg, 1.0 rpg); F Thomas Ndong (1.8 ppg, 2.0 rpg); W Nate Kingz; G Josiah Lake II (3.5 ppg, 2.0 rpg, 1.3apg); DaJohn Craig (2.7 ppg, .5 rpg, .3 apg).
Projected Starting Lineup
G - Damarco Minor, 6-0 (Sr.) (15.5 ppg, 8.5 rpg, 3.1 apg)
G - Nate Kingz, 6-5 (RS Jr.) (Missed entire sophomore season)
F - Parsa Fallah, 6-9 (RS Jr.) (13.5 ppg, 6.0 rpg, 1.6 apg)
F - Michael Rataj, 6-9 (Jr.) (8.3 ppg, 5.8 rpg)
F - Isaiah Sy, 6-7 (So.) (11.2 ppg, 47.1% 3PT)
Three Points
Damarco Minor may be the team’s leader. After losing the team’s two top scorers to the transfer portal (Jordan Pope and Tyler Bilodeau), Damarco Minor is the team’s most experienced player in the starting five. The transfer from Southern Illinois averaged 15.5 points, 8.5 rebounds, and 3.1 assists per game, which earned him All-Ohio Valley Conference First Team honors. His rebounding average is impressive given his height and position. A little over half of his made field goals came at the rim last season.
International Beavers. The Beavers roster boasts nine international players from eight different countries. Junior forward Michael Rataj, from Germany, is expected to emerge as one of the team’s top scorers. In the Beavers’ exhibition game against Montana State-Billings, Rataj led Oregon State with 18 points on 8-for-12 shooting and grabbed 8 rebounds. Another international player to watch is redshirt junior forward Parsa Fallah from Iran. Fallah averaged 13.5 points and 6 rebounds per game at Southern Utah last season while shooting 57% from the field.
Oregon State picked to finish in the bottom half of the WCC. The transfer portal decimated the Beavers roster, and while some outgoing transfers may have benefited Tinkle, losing Pope and Bilodeau hurts the Beavers significantly. Whether they can overachieve and compete in the top half of the WCC will depend on its upperclassmen being able to gel together and learn Tinkle’s system during the non-conference portion of the schedule.
And one fun fact . . . The Beavers are 104-62 at Gill Coliseum during Tinkle’s tenure. Tinkle is the third-winningest coach in Oregon State men’s basketball history (140 wins) behind Hall of Famers Slats Gill (599 wins) and Ralph Miller (359 wins).
