Howard Fights Through Uneven Play to Secure Pac-10 Win

Ron Bailey, Publisher

November 15, 2008 – Friday night Howard University’s Burr Gymnasium was filled with fans anticipating an opportunity to see First Lady-elect Michelle Obama, giving the event an expectant atmosphere. The school’s match up with Oregon State, one of the rare times a major conference team travels to the gym of a Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference school, initially was viewed as second fiddle to the possible Obama visit.

Though she didn’t show up, Howard’s hoops team did, notching a 47-45 victory over the Pac-10 school.

“It says that we were serious, that coach prepared us” said senior forward Eugene Myatt (13 points, 6 rebounds) afterward of the win. “It said that we just want to play, want to play to our full potential”.

Eugene Myatt (right) shoots a free throw, while Seth Tarver looks on.

Not only did the game, Howard’s season opener, function as a good starting off point for the Bison, it also boosted the MEAC generally, as that league, in large measure due its school’s challenging early season loses playing power conference schools for money, is always seated at the bottom of the NCAA tournament (known euphemistically as ‘revenue games’, these contests, generally guaranteed losses, are scheduled as a money making venture, necessary to finance athletic budgets).

Myatt, well aware of this phenomenon, noted “In the past, the MEAC hadn’t been getting big wins (early), but we did today”.

On paper the victory probably shouldn’t have occurred, given Howard’s 35.3% shooting clip and scoring droughts of over four and five minutes. Second half hustle and moxie secured the win for the Bison.

“All the hustle plays is how you win basketball games” said senior guard Curtis White (13 points, 5 assists) of his team’s scrapping for loose balls and key offensive rebounds. “That’s what it takes to win”.

A key play with 2:22 to go illustrates this perfectly: Senior guard Randy Hampton (4 points, 5 rebounds) snagged an offensive rebound after a missed foul shot, with his team up only a single digit, 42-41. The carom was crucial, as it led to a subsequent three pointer by Myatt, producing a critical four point bulge.

Despite their scrap and verve, Howard could have either lost the game or been taken into overtime twice within the last 10 seconds by the Beavers, as Oregon State missed point blank looks both times. On the first, junior forward/center Daniel Deane (7 points, 9 boards) was whistled for traveling while attacking the rim. After a Myatt hit one of two free throws, Deane again had an at-the-rim look, but missed the possible tying chippie at the buzzer.

Oregon State’s coach, Craig Robinson – Obama’s brother, hence the expectation of her arrival – refused afterward to blame Deane, noting instead he informed his team the game should not have come to that. In his first year at Oregon State Robinson is engaged in not only installing a Princeton offense, but a new organizational modus operandi as well.

Craig Robinson (left) and staff.

“We’re trying to change a culture from being tremendously losing” he said “to one where out there you saw great effort, you saw some smart playing, some mistakes that were important but I think all-in-all, they handled the pressure just fine”. Further highlighting his challenge is a 0-18 Oregon State Pac-10 record last year in addition to the throng of media attention the team receives, in large part due to his familial associations.

Led Friday, the team’s first regular season contest by junior swingman Seth Tarver (10 points, 5 rebounds) and Deane, it’s clear, as to be expected, Robinson’s crew is early in the learning curve. It would seem his mandate can be superficially compared to that of his brother-in-law’s, President-elect Barack Obama - great change must be effectuated if prosperity is to return.