The dismissal of Ian Crosswhite from the men’s basketball team has left me in a daze.
What happened?
This guy was one of the most popular players on and off the court, and he has descended from an all-conference-type player to a bench player.
Was it the pressure of leading a team?
Last year he was a role player next to standout Luke Jackson and seemed to thrive in that position. He got his points and rebounds and seemed content.
This season, with more pressure to
contribute every night and to lead a big-man corps anointed by head coach Ernie Kent “the most athletic” since he’s been at
Oregon, Crosswhite seemed to fade into
the background.
His lack of productivity seemed to aggravate everyone from the casual fan to the coaching staff.
But maybe there was too much pressure for him to succeed.
None of that matters now that he’s is gone.
Quite frankly, he was my favorite player to interview, as he would say whatever was on his mind. He never tap-danced his way around questions. If you got something wrong, he would tell you.
While many say his dismissal is good for the program, I vehemently disagree. He still had another year of eligibility left and there aren’t many 7-footers who can shoot the three, dribble to the basket and have a great post-up game like Crosswhite had.
Consistency might have been his worst enemy. While his game would come in good streaks, it would also hit terrible stretches when the only time you realized he was on the floor was when he was turning over
the ball.
The team is on the rise and playing better, but if the real Ian Crosswhite was present — the one who trained all summer to slim down and be in shape — it would be that much better.
So Ian, your game on the court will be missed, and I only wish the best for you.
I will never forget seeing you at Rennie’s one night after an interview, drinking straight from a pitcher of beer. You gave me a smile and a nod, and we chatted for a bit.
I remember seeing fans with T-shirts bearing photos of you preparing to do a keg stand and the phrase “Crosswhite: Australian for
Final Four.”
People see you playing fetch with your yellow lab on the grass fields behind Mac Court, as it is hard to miss a 7-foot man throwing a ball to dogs.
These are the little things people don’t see in box scores or in a scouting report. These are the things that make you so personable and well-liked in this community.
Scouts will call you soft on defense or say something else about your inability to
rebound well for your size, but they don’t
see the man off the court that University
students love.
Sure this year has been tough, and obviously you made some choices that might not have benefited you or the team. But I hope you can finish your degree and continue on in the game of basketball, because the talent is there for you.
But now that you’ve been
dismissed from the team, students and other fans have lost their fun-loving giant.
And the next time I see you at a local watering hole, the next one is on me.

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