OSU seniors Hurd and Fontenet work together to improve

One of the areas that needs improvement for the Oregon State men’s basketball team to reach its potential is production from the point guards.

Lamar Hurd and Jason Fontenet are seniors who have started slow with a combined 55 turnovers to 63 assists. They know that how the season turns out will depend on them, and they are trying to change what’s happening.

Hurd has made progress as a defender and running the offense, but Fontenet is in a season-long shooting slump, and it’s affecting his point guard duties.

The next opportunity for the two to return to form is during this weekend’s Bay Area trip, beginning tonight at Stanford and ending Saturday evening at California.

“There has to be some development and growth there,” coach Jay John said. “When the point guards play well, then we are pretty good. We are hard to beat when the point guards play well.”

John has been experimenting with how to use his players at that position, and has settled with Fontenet starting and Hurd coming off the bench. Both are playing significant minutes with more than 22 a game.

They began the season as starters and shared the role, but Fontenet was pulled after three games due to his shooting woes. He’s still at only 24 percent from the field, after shooting better than 40 percent the last two seasons.

After three more games, Fontenet returned to the starting lineup and Hurd sat to begin. That’s how it has been the last six games.

“It’s competitive between us, but right now he’s the starter,” Hurd said. “I’ve been told to come off the bench. But he and I support each other. We are not making it a competition. Coach John is looking for the right rotation he wants.”

Their styles differ, so John tries to play them at the right time. Hurd runs the offense and has to be reminded to take his shot when it’s open. Fontenet, however, is more offensive-minded and tries to create openings for his teammates.

Hurd, at 6-foot-4, is used when there’s a bigger point guard to defend or as a part-time wing player. However, Fontenet is the quicker of the two. When the Beavers run the court, he gets it going.

“Neither Jason and I are sure of what the coaches are looking for, yet,” Hurd said. “They wanted me to score more. I tried to do that, but that wasn’t what the team needed. And he’s scoring less. That’s not allowing us to get over the hump. So we are still searching for what they want from us and what’s right.”

Since Fontenet’s shots haven’t been falling, he’s not as effective. Doubt about his ability to be a scoring threat crept into his mind, and he became tentative to the basket. When that happens he’s unsure about shooting or passing, which has led to his team-leading 37 turnovers.

It’s a vicious circle he is desperately trying to break.

“What makes me angry, this whole season I haven’t been playing the way I should be playing in terms of being aggressive and going to the basket, penetrating,” Fontenet said. “My shot, everything is going in-and-out. I’m just going through something right now. I spend day-in and day-out working on my shot. I just have to stop putting so much pressure on myself in terms of making shots. Eventually, hopefully, they’ll start falling.”

In Saturday’s Civil War game, which the Beavers lost 70-64, the team committed 17 turnovers and had a poor showing at the free-throw line and from 3-point range.

Performance from the point guards was inconsistent, reaching both extremes. There were slow starts to begin each half due to turnovers. The 7-0 run by the Ducks in the second half gave them enough cushion to win the game.

“In a game like that, that’s a big deal,” John said. “Our efficiency can’t be that poor for stretches of time. We have to get shots. The point guards are responsible for that, especially on the road. I think they are working hard, but they have to do better.”

That game was the perfect example of Fontenet’s problems. He had a team-high five turnovers and backed off from his shooting, going 1-for-3 from the field, and never made to the free-throw line.

“The more turnovers I have, I seem like I’m being tentative at times getting the ball to people,” Fontenet said. “If I’m not penetrating and doing things I’m capable of, I’m going to have turnovers. That’s not the style I play. I was embarrassed with the way I played against Oregon. I thought I let my teammates down. I’m going to try and pick it up in practice and get something going.”

John will keep using Fontenet. He considers him the best shooter on the team, and one of the hardest workers.

After each practice Fontenet takes more than 100 shots on his own time. He works on his free-throws, 3-pointers and driving to the basket.

“Jason has been an offensive machine his whole life,” John said. “He’s never been in an extended shooting slump like this before. And there’s no question it impacts him. We are trying to get him back. He’s missing shots by inches, so he’s not that far. We have to get that squared away. He’s too good of a shooter. We have to get him back to a year ago.”

Hurd has had to make an adjustment to his role as the Beavers work through Fontenet’s issues. He’s started 83 of 85 games before this season.

Even though he’s not the starter anymore, he’s close to the same minutes from last season. After an initial lull, he worked through the approach to coming off the bench and improved in several areas.

“It’s very weird,” Hurd said. “It’s taken a mental toll on me a little bit, but I was able to get adjusted for this last Civil War game. It’s a tough thing, but you have to get it done.”

Hurd is averaging 6.2 points a game by driving to the basket more and has improved his free-throw shooting as a benefit of added fouls drawn. He was 56.5 percent from the line his first three seasons and is at 69.8 percent this season.

His overall court presence improved against Oregon, and that’s what John is looking for in him.

“If we compete that hard and work that hard all year long then I’m comfortable with the progress we’ll make,” John said. “There are some execution issues that hurt us that resulted in the 17 turnovers. Besides from that we needed more shots, get to the free-throw line and get 3-point looks. We are not that far away.”