Pac-10 Tourney or Bust

Remember 2 weeks ago when the Cats were coming off a four game winning streak, were in first place in the Pac-10 and had broken into Joe Lunardi's Bracketology? Well that is all dead and gone. The Cats have lost 3 of 4 culminating in an embarrassing home loss against the Beavers in which the Cats couldn't seem to figure out something as simple as the backdoor cut.

In the past 4 games, the Cats began by playing their best ball all season. They ran into a foul plagued game in Seattle, a terrible night in Pullman, an impressive win against a bad Oregon team and a befuddling loss at home to the Beavers. That last game was especially perplexing because we are a better team that Oregon State, particularly at home. Since watching the game I have been struggling to understand how we lost. We made an impressive comeback in the second half in which we equalized the game only to see the Beavers respond and convert 3 backdoors and rebuild an 8 point lead. The Oregon State slow down scheme seemed to confuse our freshmen and it exploited their impatience. It was like they were asking, "Why can't we use the same slash and dish tactic that worked against Oregon?" The answer Oregon State is longer and taller.

Maybe I am giving the coaching staff too much credit but I thought the Cats players were put in a position to win. They made the adjustment and they seemed to have Oregon State's number but when the Beavers fought back it was like our guys couldn't elevate their game to match.

With the loss the Cats are looking at the Pac-10 Tournament as their only option to keeping the streak alive. I am planning on attending with Phil and hopefully our drunken cheering will be enough to inspire our Freshmen to rise to that next level. If not we may just have to suit up.