Spring Break
Five players leave men's basketball team
Junior forward Sasa Cuic tops list of players not returning for next season
The Daily Barometer
Issue date: 4/11/07 Section: Sports
Oregon State men's basketball coach Jay John announced Tuesday that five players will not be returning for next season. Junior Sasa Cuic has decided to start a professional career. Juniors Angelo Tsagarakis and Liam Hughes will graduate and then transfer to play their final years at other schools. Junior Wesley Washington did not meet eligibility standards and did not enroll for spring quarter. Freshman Vojin Svilar has elected to return to his native Serbia.
Both Hughes and Tsagarakis will leave Oregon State after earning their degrees this spring. They both expect to transfer to NCAA Division-II schools, which would allow them to play right away. A rule allowing graduated players to transfer to other NCAA Division-I schools without penalty was recently rescinded.
"These five players gave us varying levels of production this past season," John said. "Sasa felt it was time to turn pro, and we are supportive of his decision. Sasa is a fantastic shooter, and he shouldn't have a problem making a successful career for himself somewhere. It's great that Angelo and Liam have been able to graduate in four years. They weren't able to get the playing time that they would have liked recently, and they want their last year in college to be at a place where they can play a lot of minutes. We wish them well, and we're doing whatever we can to help them make their next step. Wesley's situation is difficult, and it's unfortunate that his career is ending this way. We offered Vojin the opportunity to return on scholarship, but he has decided to go home.
"The look of next year's team will be very different, though I really like where we are headed. Our returning group is still very strong, and the newcomers that will be added to the mix will give us an exceptional group of basketball players. I am really looking forward to next season."
Cuic, a 6-foot-10 forward from Rijeka, Croatia, became the 33rd career 1,000-point scorer in Oregon State history this past season. A prolific long-range shooter, he ended his three-year stint in third place on OSU's career three-point percentage list (38.7 percent) and ninth in both three-pointers made (105) and attempted (271). Cuic's best season was his sophomore year in 2005-06, as he averaged a team-high 13.5 points and led the Pac-10 in three-point percentage (49.3 percent). His scoring average dropped to 11.6 points this season.
Both Hughes and Tsagarakis will leave Oregon State after earning their degrees this spring. They both expect to transfer to NCAA Division-II schools, which would allow them to play right away. A rule allowing graduated players to transfer to other NCAA Division-I schools without penalty was recently rescinded.
"These five players gave us varying levels of production this past season," John said. "Sasa felt it was time to turn pro, and we are supportive of his decision. Sasa is a fantastic shooter, and he shouldn't have a problem making a successful career for himself somewhere. It's great that Angelo and Liam have been able to graduate in four years. They weren't able to get the playing time that they would have liked recently, and they want their last year in college to be at a place where they can play a lot of minutes. We wish them well, and we're doing whatever we can to help them make their next step. Wesley's situation is difficult, and it's unfortunate that his career is ending this way. We offered Vojin the opportunity to return on scholarship, but he has decided to go home.
"The look of next year's team will be very different, though I really like where we are headed. Our returning group is still very strong, and the newcomers that will be added to the mix will give us an exceptional group of basketball players. I am really looking forward to next season."
Cuic, a 6-foot-10 forward from Rijeka, Croatia, became the 33rd career 1,000-point scorer in Oregon State history this past season. A prolific long-range shooter, he ended his three-year stint in third place on OSU's career three-point percentage list (38.7 percent) and ninth in both three-pointers made (105) and attempted (271). Cuic's best season was his sophomore year in 2005-06, as he averaged a team-high 13.5 points and led the Pac-10 in three-point percentage (49.3 percent). His scoring average dropped to 11.6 points this season.
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Viewing Comments 1 - 2 of 2
Nancy J. Reece
posted 4/11/07 @ 10:42 AM PST
Wow, any wonder players are leaving? I don't have any doubt in my mind that they aren't inspired to "make grades" or "stay and play"! When are Bobby D and Jay John going to go instead? Wouldn't the whole program be better off if they left instead?
R.M. Anthony
posted 4/11/07 @ 8:52 PM PST
Reminds me of the line to the lifeboats on the Titanic.
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