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Date Posted: 08:48:15 04/06/02 Sat
Author: Jon Ralston
Subject: Latest on the OSU situation
In reply to: Jon Ralston 's message, "More on Thomason and OSU" on 07:41:19 04/04/02 Thu

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Originally Published Saturday, April 6, 2002
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Oregon State job drawing attention here in Stockton

Another day, and still no word on who will be the next men's basketball coach at Oregon State.

The situation is being closely monitored here because University of the Pacific's Bob Thomason appears to be one of a few candidates remaining to succeed Ritchie McKay, who bolted for New Mexico after two years.

Thomason has said he's ''intrigued'' and flattered by the possibility, but that he has deep ties to Pacific and Stockton. Pacific athletic director Lynn King and Oregon State athletic director Mitch Barnhart have been tight-lipped in order to protect their concerns.

Obviously, Thomason, who has one year left on his contract, can't comment. He has his current players and an incoming recruiting class to think about. The winter signing date is Wednesday. King and Barnhart don't want to ruffle any feathers, either.

Here are some facts that have come to light:

Friday, it was learned Thomason did interview with Barnhart during the Final Four last weekend in Atlanta, and Barnhart and an assistant athletic director from Oregon State met with Thomason briefly at the Atlanta airport. Tuesday, Oregon State received permission from King to pursue Thomason, the Tigers' 14th-year head coach.

Beyond that, not much is certain.

Reporter Ken Goe of The Oregonian discovered Friday that a Bob Thomason was registered at the Embassy Suites Hotel near the Portland airport. A call to the room was answered by a man saying, ''You've got the wrong guy.'' The man immediately hung up. When a second call was made, the hotel operator said no one with that name had registered.

Thomason didn't return calls and reportedly wasn't in his office Friday. He might have been golfing, or worked away from the office. His whereabouts weren't confirmed.

At least it appears a decision will be made soon.

''Hopefully by the middle of next week,'' Barnhart told Jeff Welsch of the Corvallis Gazette-Times.

The other candidates rumored to be among the final cut with Thomason are 39-year-old Bobby Braswell of Cal State Northridge, Seattle Sonics assistant Dean Demopoulos, former Oregon State star and Boston Celtics assistant Lester Connor and Milwaukee Bucks assistant Don Newman.

Braswell is an alum of Cal State Northridge and a former Oregon assistant, Demopoulos was John Chaney's top assistant at Temple for 17 years, Connor has obvious ties with the Beavers, and Newman was head coach at Sacramento State, an interim head coach at Arizona State and an assistant with Ernie Kent at Oregon.

Demopoulos specializes in zone defenses and breaking zone defenses. His style might not be a good fit at Oregon State, whose players told Barnhart during a meeting earlier this week they want a coach who will let them run. The other candidates, including Thomason, would have no problem with that, based on their styles of play.

The only area where Thomason might fall short is Pac-10 coaching experience. He already has the right wardrobe. Oregon State's colors also are black and orange.

Highfill covers college sports for The Record. Mail: P.O. Box 900, Stockton, CA 95201; Phone: 546-8299; Fax: 547-8187; E-mail: bhighfil@recordnet.com

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