2000-01 record: 10-20; 4-14 in Pac-10 (t9th) Final Ranking: NR Postseason: None. RETURNING LEADERS Points: Jackson 9.7 ppg | Rebounds: Masten 4.5 rpg | Assists: Masten 3.0 apg | FG %: Masten 51.9% | 3pt %: Masten 42.1% | FT %: Haywood 76.7% 00-01 Stats: Oregon State | Pac-10

		Monday, Nov. 5 The single biggest key for Oregon State is health and Brian Jackson. The Beavers played more of a controlled pace, Princeton style game last year, but should quicken up this year. To do that, Ritchie McKay will need healthy bodies, and for Jackson to play to All-Conference levels. Jackson has every post move in the book and the ability to make plays, but has to do it with the lights on.

Outlook
Finally, OSU gets a chance to see what life with Philip Ricci means. The team's best player last season never took a shot or grabbed a rebound, redshirting with a knee injury. Things only got worse from there.

The Beavers figure to be better than the 10-20 team of last season because they figure not to have as many injuries. Three starters return to join the likes of Ricci and UC Santa Barbara transfer point guard Brandon Payton, younger brother to NBA star Gary Payton.

"I have never seen anything like the setbacks this team experienced last season," said second-year coach Ritchie McKay, who at times only had seven scholarship players available. "The good news is, we were able to keep our heads up and progress as a program, and our returning players persevered and have become stronger. We have to shed the negativity that has grown around this program since the last winning season (1990). The only way you accomplish that is a change of attitude on how you approach the season."

The 6-foot-7 Ricci (who McKay says is the best big man he has ever coached) will likely have to start inside. But he is versatile enough to take slower defenders away from the key, as far out as the three-point line. A smoother Brian Jackson (he took up yoga and karate in the offseason) moves from center to power forward and the team's perimeter shooting improves greatly with freshmen Joe See and J.S. Nash.

What we like: All the new faces. We will include Ricci and Payton here, even though they dominated in practice last season. See and Nash are big-time shooters and athletic players in freshman wing Floyd North and sophomore transfer forward Jerman Sample offer some matchups problems. It's more about talent than anything. There is a lot more of it now.

What we don't like: Center. Who is it? Jason Heide is gone and while Ricci is good enough to play any spot, it would benefit OSU if he is allowed to free-lance. Jackson still has to prove he can stay out of foul trouble. Chris Manker, a 6-10 sophomore who played in 21 games last season, recently left the team.

The bottom line: McKay should be able to play more his style this season -- push tempo and win from the perimeter. It might be tough to finish in the top half of the conference, but don't be surprised if the Beavers pull more than a few upsets. They are likely still a year away from making the NCAAs, but going from 10 wins to, say, the NIT, would be a major first step in building a contender.

Key Players Returning
Player	Yr.	Pos.	Ht./Wt.	Comment
Brian Jackson	Jr.	F	6-9/239	PTS: 9.7 | REB: 4.2 | AST: 1.9
Jimmie Haywood	Jr.	G	6-2/166	PTS: 8.9 | REB: 2.8 | AST: 1.8
Adam Masten	Sr.	G	6-5/200	PTS: 8.4 | REB: 4.5 | AST: 3.0
Philip Ricci	Jr.	F	6-7/252	DNP in 2000-01 due to knee injury

Key Losses
Player	Pos.	Ht./Wt.	Comment
Jason Heide	C	6-9/256	PTS: 13.8 | REB: 5.5 | AST: 1.3
Deaundra Tanner	G	6-1/205	PTS: 10.9 | REB: 4.2 | AST: 3.5

Oregon State Signings
Player	Pos.	Ht.	High School/College
Floyd North	G	6-5	San Diego/St. Augustine
J.S. Nash	G	6-3	Moreno Valley, Calif./Rancho Verde
Joe See	G	6-0	Concord, Calif./De La Salle H.S.
Jarman Sample	F	6-9	Macon, Ga./Colby (Kan.) CC