Oregon State's mediocre basketball program seemingly had a dull future, as the Beavers lost all five of their top scorers from a team that was bounced by Radford at home in the lower-tier College Basketball Invitational last season. That outlook should brighten Monday.
Wayne Tinkle, the coach who led Montana to three NCAA tournament appearances, is expected to be announced as the next head coach in Corvallis, a source told The Oregonian on Sunday.
Tinkle and Syracuse assistant Mike Hopkins were the two finalists for the job, which opened May 5 when Oregon State fired Craig Robinson, according to the report.
Tinkle will attempt to pull OSU out of a 24-year NCAA tournament drought. Freddie Owens, a Beaver assistant who spent four years under Tinkle on the Montana staff before heading to OSU a year ago, will reunite with his old boss.
Tinkle compiled an impressive 158-91 record in eight seasons at Montana, his alma mater.
Robinson had brought prestige to the Beavers, but the coach failed to get to the Big Dance during six seasons in Corvallis.
The brother of First Lady Michelle Obama, Robinson was hired during President Barack Obama's first presidential campaign in 2008 and gave the university some added attention that summer. Robinson also played basketball with the president on Election Day in 2012 and was with him during his private oath of office for the start of his second term.
The results on the basketball court didn't match what he was able to accomplish from a public-relations standpoint. The Beavers went 16-16 last season, including 8-10 in the Pac-12.
Robinson went 94-105 overall — 39-69 in conference — with Oregon State after spending two seasons as Brown's head coach. Oregon State will pay $4.2 million to Robinson over the course of a contract that runs through 2016.
The Beavers will add Maryland transfer Nick Faust, but will have no returning starters in 2014-15 after Eric Moreland declared early for the NBA draft, Hallice Cooke decided to transfer and Challe Barton left to play professionally overseas. Leading scorer Roberto Nelson, Devon Collier and Angus Brandt were seniors last season and won't be back, either.
Contributing: The Associated Press