Before the game even started Saturday, the Oregon men’s basketball team had a huge advantage against Washington State.
That’s because the Cougars could hardly fill out the starting lineup card.
Six Washington State players — including head coach Paul Graham’s son, Nick — were suspended prior to the game for violating a team rule, leaving just seven players to suit up in the 81-66 loss to Oregon (11-4 overall, 2-3 Pacific-10 Conference).
“We are a team, and any time players’ actions take away from what the program is trying to accomplish, those players must be held accountable,” said Graham, who is in his second year as the Cougars’ head man. “Sometimes young people don’t do what they should do, and when they don’t, they get punished.”
The Cougars (7-8, 1-5) were given no breathing room against an Oregon squad that was looking to prove itself after a close loss to Washington two days earlier. Five Cougars played more than 33 minutes, with three — Milton Riley, Marcus Moore and Mike Bush — resting for no more than two minutes the entire game.
“They played their ass off and never complained,” Graham said. “They were out there fighting, and that’s all I ask them to do, and that’s the reputation I want our team to have.
“Let’s not make any excuses. We got beat and our guys screwed up, and we might’ve got beat anyway, but at least we would’ve had some more horses to suit up.”
Oregon head coach Ernie Kent knows what Graham is going through, and knows what it’s like to establish that desired reputation.
“Paul is a great guy and a really good coach,” Kent said. “And he’s doing all the right things he needs to do to establish his program. I’ve been in that exact same situation. I’ve even had to let some guys go because of some serious problem, and he’s done the same thing. And I understand that.”
The six suspended players were sent back to Pullman, Wash., before the game. Coach Graham would not comment on the severity of the violations, but said that no criminal activity was involved.
“You gotta have rules, and you gotta have discipline, and you gotta have somebody in charge,” Graham said. “Whatever it is, you lay down the guidelines, and that’s what it is. And you know it must be true if I sent my son home.”
And it didn’t help that Washington State’s 7-foot-1, 301-pound center Paulo Rower fouled out with 12 minutes remaining in the game, leaving the Cougs with just one substitute.
Despite the short roster, Washington State kept the contest fairly competitive. Trailing by 10 at halftime, the Cougars silenced the 8,861 at McArthur Court after a David Adams jumper cut the lead to just five early in the second.
But the Cougars’ command didn’t last long on such little wind. Oregon went on a 13-2 run to all but close the door on its opponent, who didn’t have the legs for a 14-point comeback.
“They weren’t able to get up and down the court as much as they normally do,” said Oregon guard Freddie Jones, who did not start for the first time this year, but led the Ducks with 19 points, eight rebounds and eight assists. “But those guys came out hard and gave it a lot of effort, and that shows a lot for them.”
As for the remaining members of the team, Graham said he will discuss further action with them, but will concentrate on taking the experience in stride.
“We’ll talk to them when we get back and try to put this behind us,” Graham said.