Oregon State Basketball Coaching

Oregon State basketball is 0-5 in the Pac-12, and a 10-8 overall record.  The team boasts impressive non-league victories over a slew of below-average mid-majors.  Yes, that was sarcasm.  While there have been bright spots this season, including a 6-point loss to juggernaut Kansas, the team is not playing well in conference, and ended non-conference season to Towson, who won only 1 game last season.  In fact, we allowed one of Towson's big men to score 20 and grab 20 rebounds against us.  Post play was supposed to be this team's strength.  Guard play has been poor, headlined by Roberto Nelson and Ahmad Starks taking turns shooting contested threes.  Post play has been decent, though Moreland's recent suspension (rumored around campus to be a failed drug test) hurt the team in the 3 games he missed.  Nothing against these players, as these role has been forced on them.  In Craig Robinson's offense, there is little movement, and the offense is initiated by big men who cannot handle the ball particularly well.  Robinson has done a good job over the past few years of creating a marginal team.  As an Oregon State student, and avid college basketball fan and analyst, I think it is time for change at head coach.  The presidential ties are cute, but Oregon State basketball needs a better coach.

Potential candidates?

Ernie Kent- I know, the former Duck coach would be a controversial hire, but he knows how to recruit to the area, and led a few teams deep into the NCAA tournament.  He went 235-174 in his 13 years at U of O, including 5 NCAA tournament berths and 2 elite 8s.  He would bring a new system to Corvallis, which would be refreshing.

Randy Rahe- Rahe is in his 7th year at Weber State, and has posted a 120-67 record, not counting this season.  Despite losing Damian Lillard to the draft, Weber State is 13-3 this year, and 8-0 in conference, including a solid win over Dayton.  If Weber State makes the tournament, Rahe could get some looks.

Larry Eustachy- Eustachy is in only his first year at Colorado State, but he has the team in position to make a run in the NCAA tournament.  He is 417-260 in his long career as a head coach, including a notable stop at Iowa State.  Another offer from a major conference could be tempting, though I admit the Mountain West is playing better basketball than the Pac-12 right now.

Greg Marshall- Marshall may be a bit of a reach, but his name should come up anyways.  After a great tenure at Winthrop, Marshall has been great at Wichita State, winning 2/3 of his games and positioning his team this year for a run in the tournament.  Dana Altman left Creighton for Oregon, maybe Oregon State's AD De Carolis can raid the Missouri Valley conference for another great coach.

Randy Bennett- The St. Mary's coach will need a large offer, but he could be persuaded.  Like the MWC, the WCC is playing really good basketball right now.  St. Mary's has become a mid-major that is expected to make the tournament every year.  A Pac-12 offer would mean a pay raise, but it's hard to make that decision given the success he is having at St. Mary's.

Kevin O'Neill- Has Pac-12 experience, though disappointed at USC.  Could another fresh start be ideal?  His overall win percentage is not ideal (at under .500), though he learned from one in the best in Lute Olson.  A solid recruiter, just as Craig Robinson is, O'Neill might be able to run his system with better big men.  He isn't a great fit, but would come cheaper than the others on this list.

Seth Greenberg- The former Virginia Tech coach always had his team in contention for a tournament berth, could he do it again out west in Oregon?  If he would accept a deal, Greenberg would be my favorite candidate for the job (which isn't a real opening right now, remember?).  He has had success on the West Coast, at Long Beach State in the early 1990s, and could be a good fit.

Finally, there are promising assistants around the country who would love an opportunity to be a head coach for a major conference team.  Robinson has been decent in Oregon State, but, given the talent he has recruited (and that his early success was with Jay John's players), it is time for a change.

Thoughts?  Post in the comments if you think Robinson should stay HC, or if there is another candidate I left off this short list.