CORVALLIS - On multiple occasions over the past two weeks, Wayne Tinkle has used the word "emotional" to describe his team's journey through the season.
In the short term, Oregon State men's basketball has dealt with sophomore point guard JaQuori McLaughlin's midseason departure. In the long view, the Beavers have gone through a majority of their non-conference games at times uncertain of the path forward after a 5-27 season they try not to speak about.
"It's been a grind on all of us," the head coach said. "... And you look at what we've been through, we weren't teetering, but we had some guys wondering, 'Are we going to be capable of winning?