On Las Vegas Bowl, Lillard’s record, D-I hoops and Les Schwab Invitational

Tidbits on a number of items around Christmas time …

• The Eggers, Kerry and wife Steph, took a short vacation to Las Vegas last week.

Yes, we stopped in to watch Oregon State pummel Florida 30-3 in the (whatever the naming rights are) Vegas Bowl.

It was the first time I have sat in the stands as a spectator at a bowl game since the 2001 Fiesta Bowl. That, Beaver Nation might remember, was a good one.

Part of the spectator gig was good; I didn’t have to write a story. Normally, it might mean quaffing a frosty or two, but with an 11:30 a.m. start, that wasn’t in the cards, at least for me.

The viewpoint, after moving from our end zone seats to a section from which we could actually see the other side of the field, was good. Allegiant Stadium, capacity 65,000 and just two years old, is impressive. Attendance was announced at 29,750, which seemed a little generous. Beaver orange outranked Florida blue by at least a 3-1 margin in the stands. It was almost like a home game for Jonathan Smith’s crew.

A note on ticketing and security operations: Buffoons on parade.

I brought a pair of binoculars, an apparatus always necessary at a football game unless you’re walking the sidelines. Steph brought a medium-sized stuffed beaver that she carried around for fun all weekend. Brother Brent had our digital tickets on his phone. He went through the turnstile first; no problem. I went through next; no problem. Steph, however, was detained by a female official who said something like, “I’ve never seen this before.” She said, “Let me ask.” Her evident superior came in saying, “No, can’t bring that in.” There was no further explanation.

So we walked back through and to the outside of the stadium. I said, “Let’s try another gate.” Sure enough, Steph went first and cruised right by security. I walked behind her, and the male guarding the turnstile nodded and said, “OK.” Then another security guy came over and said, “Sir, you can bring the binoculars in, but not that.”

He pointed to the binocular case.

Say what?

I showed him that the case was empty — no explosives, no nothing — and was used to carry the binoculars. He wasn’t going to have it. “Can’t bring it in.” Why? No reason given. I pleaded for common sense to prevail. Several security staffers were now in the vicinity, and a woman said I could bring it to Gate A for storage. I had no idea where Gate A was and was in no mood to find it. We went outside and I stored it under an advertising sign, thinking no one could see it (or would want it) and it would be there when we left the stadium at game’s end. Alas, when we departed, it was gone. Somebody now owns a pretty standard binocular case that doesn’t belong to them.

Cohort Dan Harmond was shaking his head, too, about those manning the various entrances. He pulled out his iPhone 7 to show his digital ticket upon being checked for contraband outside the gate, was asked to show it again once inside the gate and then was asked again as he entered his VIP section.

“It’s easier to get into Fort Knox,” Harmond lamented.

One would think that what is legal for Gate A would be legal for Gate B, and vice versa. For sure, the attendants seemed to enjoy enforcing — or perhaps making up — the rules with customers. That’s not something the Vegas Bowl, or Allegiant Stadium, should want to be known for.

What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas? Not this time.

•

As for the game, one team seemed in it to win, the other merely to go through the motions.

Without its first two quarterbacks, Florida’s impotent offense managed but 219 yards total offense, 121 of it in the fourth quarter when the issue had long been decided.

But Oregon State’s defense was solid and relentless, stuffing the run (39 yards) and sacking Florida QB Jack Miller four times. This defense is going to go down as one of the best in program history.

The 2000 Beavers, who went 11-1, won the Fiesta Bowl and finished with a No. 4 ranking, featured stars on the defensive side including Nick Barnett, Richard Seigler, DeLawrence Grant, LaDairis Jackson, Dennis Weathersby, Terrence Carroll and Darnell Robinson. All but Robinson spent time in the NFL.

The 2008 Beavers, a 9-4 team that beat Pitt in the Sun Bowl, were loaded on the defensive side. Safety Greg Laybourn led the team with 113 tackles and was flanked by safety Al Afalava, cornerbacks Keenan Lewis, Brandon Hughes and Brandon Hardin, tackle Stephen Paea and linebacker Keaton Kristick. All but Laybourn played in the NFL; it might have been the tightest defense Oregon State has ever had.

But the 2022 Beavers etched their spot in school history, too. They led the Pac-12 and ranked 19th nationally in scoring defense (20 points) and were second in the conference behind Utah in two other categories — total defense (332.8, 26th nationally) and rushing defense (108.2, 18th nationally).

The players I’ll remember on the defensive side are linebackers Omar Speights and Kyrie Fisher-Morris and five guys in the secondary — Jaydon Grant, Kitan Oladapo, Rejzohn Wright, Ryan Cooper and Alex Austin. But those guys in the trenches played a powerful role in the defense’s success, too.

The Beavers lose some key players, including Jack Colletto, the Paul Hornung Award winner as the nation’s most versatile player. I’m of the mind that he is the school’s most popular football player since Terry Baker. I’d love to hear what readers think about that.

If Smith doesn’t look major pieces to the transfer portal — he has been fortunate in that end so far — he has plenty of star power returning, especially on offense. Damien Martinez was the Pac-12 Offensive Freshman of the Year; it’s a shame he got hurt early in the Vegas Bowl and fell 18 yards short of 1,000 yards for the season. Also, burners Anthony Gould and Silas Bolden, first- and second-team All-Pac 12 specialists, respectively, and both excellent receivers. And promising freshman tight end Jack Velling.

Quarterback Ben Gulbranson played well in the bowl game and deserves to be the starter come spring. OSU returns four starters on the offensive line that did such a bang-up job this season — Jake Levengood, Taliese Fuaga, Josh Gray and Marco Brewer, along with several others who drew extensive playing time.

What I’d like to see Smith snatch from the transfer portal or via the JC route: A quarterback to compete with Gulbranson for the starting job, a placekicker to beat out inconsistent Everett Hayes, a receiver with size, a stud or two at defensive line and a punter to replace the underappreciated Luke Loecher, the greatest at his position in school history.

Six points from a one-loss season; it’s heavy stuff. Jonathan Smith is the mayor of Corvallis. Now all he must do is do it all over again, or better.

•

Damian Lillard is the greatest career scorer in Blazer history, and at 32, he’s not close to being done (courtesy Trail Blazers)

What struck me most about Damian Lillard setting the Trail Blazers’ career scoring record Monday night at Oklahoma City was the way the offense was spread out.

Lillard and his teammates knew he needed 21 points to reach 18,041 and pass Clyde Drexler on the Portland scoring list. The supporting cast didn’t feed Dame, though, even in the third quarter after a 3-point bomb had put him at 20 points and tied for the record. Jerami Grant and Anfernee Simons were looking for shots and taking it to the basket.

They were trying to win a game, and that was good to see.

It didn’t happen, however. The Thunder pulled it out 123-121; the Blazers will rarely have a stat line like they did Monday and lose. They shot .500 from the field, .432 from 3-point range and .810 from the foul line. They had 26 assists, won the rebound battle 45-39 and got big offensive games from Lillard (28 points), Grant (26) and Simons (19). Grant took 18 shots from the field, Lillard 17, Simons 16. That’s the kind of balance they want to have.

The big negative was 16 turnovers, including seven in the fatal fourth quarter.

Lillard has shaken off the effects of a calf injury. In his first eight games in December, he is averaging 31.1 points and 7.0 assists while sporting remarkable shooting stats — .497 from the field, .480 from the 3-point line and .939 from the charity stripe.

If the Blazers can stay healthy, they’re a load for anybody. They’ll go into the New Year with a winning record, then have 11 of 15 games at home in January, including a six-game homestand at the end of the month. In the crowded Western Conference — with 11 of the 15 teams within five games of the lead — Portland could enter February looking down at everyone else from the mountaintop.

By the way, an almost unheard of display of parity: Through Tuesday, 14 of the 15 teams in the West had either gone 6-4, 5-5 or 4-6 in their last 10 games. The exception was Memphis, which was 7-3. I wonder if Adam Silver likes it.

•

Dana Altman’s Oregon Ducks are off to an uncharacteristic 7-6 start (courtesy Oregon athletics)

After watching the University of Portland in the PK Legacy tournament, I was shocked to see the Pilots drubbed 78-56 at Oregon last Saturday.

It was a cold shooting night for the Pilots, who shot .377 from the field and were 5 for 23 from beyond the arc.

The Ducks shot very well (.531 from the field, .545 on 3-point attempts) and showed great balance, with seven players scoring seven points or more. Three nights later, Utah Valley came to Matt Knight Arena and came away with a 77-72 victory. Oregon’s shooting numbers were much different — .353 from the field, and a chilly 3 for 19 on 3’s.

Oregon is 7-6 heading into its New Year’s Eve Civil War home matchup with Oregon State. The Beavers are also 7-6 after their victory over Denver Wednesday night. Portland is 8-6 heading into Thursday’s matchup with Cal Riverside.

Portland State is 5-7 going into Thursday’s road test with California Baptist; two of the Vikings’ wins came against the Beavers in November.

Not sure which team is the state’s best Division I club, but I know this: There is a lot of mediocrity there.

•

Bronny James — LeBron’s son — will be in Portland next week to participate in the Les Schwab Invitational at Liberty High

The Les Schwab Invitational boys basketball tournament is one the neat — as well as the last — sporting events on the calendar in the state of Oregon.

Since 1996, some of the best prep talent in the country has been displayed in this post-Christmas extravaganza now held at Liberty High.

Some of the greats of the game have participated, including Carmelo Anthony, Kevin Durant, Kevin Love, Tyson Chandler, Jaylon Brown, Ben Simmons, Dejounte Murray, Kemba Walker, Marvin Bailey, Michael Porter, Kyle Singer, Aaron Gordon and Mike Dunleavy Jr. Several heralded teams from out of state are always included in the 16-team field.

This year’s event — set for Dec. 26 to 30 — includes Sierra Canyon of Chatsworth, Calif., featuring 6-3 senior Bronny James, son of LeBron James. Other national teams include Duncanville, Tex., Brophy College Pre of Phoenix and Bishop Gorman of Las Vegas. Oregon teams are West Linn, Tualatin, Beaverton, Barlow, Central Catholic, Cleveland, Grant, Jesuit, Lake Oswego, Lincoln, Roosevelt and Tigard.

If you’re in town that week, this is a tournament you don’t want to miss.

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