Beavs Star Michael Rataj Talks Gonzaga Thriller And Building Momentum For Oregon State Hoops
750 The Game Staff
Oregon State junior Michael Rataj had a game-high 29 points in Oregon State’s thrilling overtime win Thursday night over No. 16 Gonzaga in front of a sellout crowd at Gill Coliseum.
The third-year Beav has seen a number of iterations of the men’s basketball program under head coach Wayne Tinkle. Rataj talked about the respect for his head coach, the importance of the win over Gonzaga, and the focus of the team on a tight turnaround on the road.
Rataj joined John Canzano (Afternoons 3-6 p.m. on 750 The Game) just prior to boarding the plane with the team headed to the Bay Area.
“We already met today as a team and talked about everything,” Rataj said. “We’re all locked in to our next game on the road. Obviously we’re happy and gained experience with our game against Gonzaga. But we’re down now, grounded, and ready to go again.”
Rataj was key in the overtime period for Oregon State, where he scored 10 of his 29 points.
“At some point, I talked with Polo (teammate Damarco Minor) on the bench, and he was like ‘Mike, just try to make winning plays’. And my teammates trusted in me. So I was just trying to step up and just make the right play.”
The enthusiasm from the first sellout crowd in five years at Gill Coliseum was key in the Beavers performance, Rataj said.
“It definitely gave us a lot of energy. Especially when Gonzaga had their runs. Just knowing you have all the students, all the fans and Gill having full capacity, everything was just great.”
OSU’s selfless, fluid style of play on offense and quality defense are no accident, Rataj said, as he and his teammates bond naturally off the court.
“You see it on the court, we all share the ball, we all play for each other. And it’s exactly same off the court,” the Augsburg, Germany native said. “We’re all brothers to each other. We all talk, we play cards, we have fun. And in the right situations when we have to lock in, we are really tight. It’s like a bond of brothers. Just trying to accomplish the same goal and just all aim for that.”
As for his head coach Wayne Tinkle, Rataj was effusive in his praise.
“I’ve been here three years now,” said Rataj. “I love the way how he approaches games, how he teaches us. I think the thing I like the most about my head coach is that he just wants us to be right husbands, he wants to make us better men every day. And he’s really bought into that. And he comes in every day showing that, representing that, and he’s just a great role model to have in my life. I’m really grateful for him.”
Now the key for Oregon State is to keep the momentum going from one big win at home to a tough road test in less than 48 hours.
“Obviously our game yesterday was big, it was a good win against a ranked team in the country, but now going to San Francisco we have to validate that win,” Rataj said. “We can’t just come up, have a good game, go to San Francisco and don’t show up. So our goal is to find our composure, find our discipline, and go out there and win in San Francisco again.”
The Beavers and Dons tip off at 7:00 p.m. on Saturday night on ESPN+.
Listen to the full interview with Michael Rataj below. And hear John Canzano deliver the Bald Faced Truth afternoons 3-6 p.m. on 750 The Game.