THE BULLETIN • THURSDAY, MARCH 25, 2021 A7
MEN’S COLLEGE BASKETBALL | OREGON STATE
DEAR ABBY
Write to Dear Abby online at dearabby.com
or by mail at P.O. Box 69440, Los Angeles, CA 90069
Dear Abby: I am a faithful
male reader of your column.
I lost my beautiful wife of 40
years last year.
During our marriage, I had
prostate cancer and decided
to have the surgery to remove
it. I was told by my doctor
that there was a chance I
would never again be inti-
mate with my wife, and she
was OK with it.
Now that she’s gone, I have
grown close to her childhood
best friend. I don’t know
whether a relationship is in
the making, but I’m afraid
once she finds out I’m unable
to perform, the relationship
will die.
I have tried every pill on
the market, pump, etc. Is it
possible to have a good rela-
tionship with someone with-
out intercourse? Or do you
think I’m doomed?
— Going Forward in Virginia
Dear Going: I do NOT
think you are “doomed.” If
you are under the impression
that all women your age (and
younger) would reject you
because you can no longer
have sexual intercourse, al-
low me to reassure you. Many
women would value warmth,
affection, compatible ethics
and morals and an intellec-
tual equal to share their life
with.
So be honest, and you may
be pleasantly surprised to dis-
cover that not only are you
eligible, but that you are also
in demand.
Dear Abby: I have a friend
who is really popular. We
have been best friends since
third grade, but when we
started ninth grade, she really
changed.
She started hanging out
with the “cool” kids and act-
ing weird. She told me that
because I was her friend, I
had the automatic right to
hang out with them.
I don’t like to hang out
with large groups of peo-
ple because I’m afraid of big
groups, but I still want to be
friends with her. When I told
her I’d think about it, she sud-
denly turned cold. I’m con-
fused. I don’t know what I
should do. She was there for
me since third grade, and I
was there for her, and now
she seems to be fading really
fast — six years of friendship
just forgotten. Please give me
some advice.
— Friend Drama in Michigan
Dear Friend Drama: Some-
times when a person says
“I’ll think about it,” it comes
across as a negative reply.
Your friend’s feelings may
have been hurt because she
interpreted it as a rejection.
It would have been better if
you had explained that you
are uncomfortable in large
groups and would prefer to
see her one-on-one if she was
willing.
It may not be too late to get
that message across to her. If
the price of her company is
that you will have to learn to
be more social, you will then
have to decide which is more
important.
Dear Abby: I have a co-
worker who just built a
house. When I asked her
what she would like for a
housewarming gift, she told
me a nice wine carafe with a
stopper. So that’s exactly what
I got her.
I recently found out she
had a housewarming party,
and I wasn’t invited. I had
asked her when it was going
to be, and she didn’t mention
a word about it. Am I still ob-
ligated to give her the gift I
got for her? Or should I write
her off and give it to some-
one else?
— Excluded in Corpus Christi
Dear Excluded: Ouch!
Write her off and regift it.
YOUR HOROSCOPE
BY NICK DASCHEL
The Oregonian
INDIANAPOLIS — As
Oregon State has made its run
in winning the Pac-12 tourna-
ment championship and two
NCAA Tournament games, a
central question has formed.
Where did this come from?
How did a team picked to
finish last in the Pac-12, that
lost in December to one of the
country’s worst teams in the
Portland Pilots, figure it out?
A late-season fire ignited on
Oregon State’s three-game road
winning streak in February. But
the genesis of this surge more
likely occurred on Jan. 14,
when the Beavers hit bottom in
a 98-64 loss to Arizona in Cor-
vallis. That night and into the
early morning hours, the OSU
coach staff huddled, trying to
figure how to make something
of the 2020-21 season.
The conversation wasn’t al-
ways pleasant. Players were
brought into the discussion the
following day before practice.
Things were simplified. Atti-
tudes corrected. There was a
lineup change.
Jarod Lucas made his first
career start the following
game against Arizona State.
Since then, the Beavers haven’t
looked back. Lucas has started
21 consecutive games as OSU’s
shooting guard. The Beavers
are 14-7 with Lucas as a starter.
There was never a ques-
tion about Lucas’ primary as-
set, shooting from long range.
But it was other intangibles
that kept coach Wayne Tinkle
from pulling the trigger ear-
lier. Tinkle felt the day after the
Arizona loss Lucas’ game had
come far enough in other areas
— defense, playing off the ball
on offense — to merit an op-
portunity.
When Tinkle broke the news
to Lucas about the promotion
to start, the conversation was
simple.
“He believed in me,” Lucas
said.
Lucas signed at Oregon State
following a star-studded high
By Madalyn Aslan
Stars show the kind of day you’ll have
DYNAMIC | POSITIVE | AVERAGE | SO-SO | DIFFICULT
HAPPY BIRTHDAY FOR THURSDAY, MARCH 25, 2021: En-
trepreneurial, passionate and direct, expressing your creative voice is high on
your priority list. This year, you connect with artistic groups through the mag-
ic of technology without sidestepping professional obligations. Continue to
keep a watchful eye on your finances. When life gets tough, your optimism
infects those around you. If single, online dating sites may intrigue you. If at-
tached, carve time in your schedules for romantic date nights. SAGITTARIUS
challenges you.
ARIES (March 21-April 19)
Today, share spare time with a friend who makes you laugh and smile.
Avoid religious and political topics. Try walking, biking, dancing or any other
physical activity that you can enjoy doing together. Tonight: Send family a
photo collage.
TAURUS (April 20-May 20)
A piece of furniture or decorative art may tempt you to overspend.
Watch your impulses. What you love today you might not like tomorrow.
Show your family in words and action how much you appreciate them. To-
night: Answer texts and email.
GEMINI (May 21-June 20)
Catch up on reading. If the sun is shining, take your book or device
outside. Return communication you may have forgotten about. Meet up
with friends who love stimulating conversation and a friendly debate about
hot topics. Tonight: Vegetarian meal.
CANCER (June 21-July 22)
Walk where you can smell fresh flowers. That may remind you to
buy a bouquet for your home or office. Treat yourself to a frivolous item that
won’t impact your finances but you will enjoy. Tonight: Start a mystery novel.
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22)
Pat yourself on the back. A project you have been working on will
reach its conclusion. Attend a gathering where you can network with people
whose interests mirror your own. An important contact might emerge. To-
night: An emotional discussion brings closure.
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22)
Today might bring vacillating moods. Excuse yourself politely from an
appointment and take alone time. Your imagination may be especially ac-
tive. Catch up on journal entries and jot down creative ideas you want to run
by your team. Tonight: Dance movements.
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22)
Plan to visit a friend who lives out of town. In the meantime, set a
time to connect online. Someone you did a favor for may write a note that
could bring a tear to your eye. Tonight: Calm your nerves.
SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21)
Expect the unexpected in all areas of life. Your career may take a
surprising new turn. Adapt to current trends, and you will fit right in. Stay
focused and continue to be a team player. Tonight: Add to your playlist.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21)
Someone might ask you to mentor them. Accept the challenge. You
may discover teaching skills you doubted you had. Talk to people from other
cultures. Learn a language online through lectures and recordings. Tonight:
Dinner will be waiting for you.
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19)
Today you want to be where the action is, whether at home or
work. Enter an online game or tournament. You are a healthy competitor, so
anyone who stands in your way better watch out. Tonight: Invite friends to
dinner.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18)
Someone might break a promise or cancel an appointment without
notice. Be compassionate rather than judgmental. There may be extenuating
circumstances. Make the first move to get in touch. You always know the
right things to say. Tonight: Sweet-smelling incense.
PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20)
Strong opinions could get you in hot water. Keep provocative ideas
to yourself for now and you will succeed. Show others by example how to
be diplomatic and charming. You will get rewarded for your efforts. Tonight:
Pet love.
Sharpshooter Jarod Lucas has stepped it up on D
Ducks
Continued from A5
“Any time you take points off
the board, does it change mo-
mentum? Sure it does,” Georgia
coach Joni Taylor said. “It’s a tie
ballgame at that time and then
it turns into a four-point swing
for them.”
Georgia opened the fourth
quarter with an 8-2 run to get
within 42-41 with about six
minutes to go, and it was back
and forth from there until Sa-
bally came through for Oregon.
The Ducks relied on their
starters, and only four players
scored. Taylor Mikesell had 11
points and Erin Boley finished
with nine.
Poor long-range shooting
hurt Georgia, which went 1 of
13 from 3-point range.
Promoting the game
Prince has been a vocal advo-
cate for the sport, and her social
media video highlighting the
disparities between the wom-
en’s and men’s weight rooms at
the tournament went viral and
started a dialogue about the in-
equities in NCAA basketball.
She knows some people who
don’t normally watch women’s
basketball might have tuned in
to watch her play this week and
hopes her outspokenness has
taught them something about
the game.
“I hope they see that wom-
en’s basketball is not boring,”
she said. “It’s fun. It’s exciting.
It’s different than men’s basket-
ball but in an amazing way. …
We just wanted to show that
we’re fun to watch.”
Double Ducks
Both the men’s and women’s
Oregon teams are in the Sweet
16 after the seventh-seeded
men beat No. 2 Iowa on Mon-
day to advance.
“This has been a great cou-
ple of days for the University of
Oregon,” Graves said.
Next up
Oregon vs.
Louisville
When: 4 p.m.
Sunday
TV: ESPN
Paul Sancya/AP
Oregon State’s Jarod Lucas celebrates a basket against Tennessee in
the first round of the NCAA Tournament in Indianapolis on Friday.
school career at Los Altos,
where he set a Southern Cal-
ifornia career scoring record
with 3,356 points. The 6-foot-3
guard was money from 3,
making 384 during his high
school career. It was more of
the same as a freshman at OSU.
Lucas hit 3s in spurts, and
made the most dramatic one of
the season, a shot from beyond
the arc to help the Beavers beat
Utah in a first-round Pac-12
tournament game.
But to gain Tinkle’s faith and
attention, Lucas had to become
more than a shooter. Lucas had
to show he could offer some-
thing on the defensive end.
“In high school I averaged
OSU hopes to reap fringe benefits of tourney run
INDIANAPOLIS — Scott Barnes is like the rest of Oregon State’s fan
base for the rest of the Beavers men’s basketball NCAA Tournament
run.
The OSU athletic director will watch Saturday’s Sweet 16 game
against Loyola of Chicago in Bankers Life Fieldhouse with some 350
Beaver fans who have tickets.
Basketball has suddenly added a few items to Barnes’ plate. He says
he’s hearing from those connected with Oregon State from far and
wide, including former players and boosters who haven’t reached out
in years.
“As you can imagine, hundreds of text messages,” Barnes said.
The Oregon State fan Barnes is most thinking about is Bud Ossey,
the Beavers’ 101-year-old equivalent to Loyola of Chicago’s Sister
Jean. Ossey, for obvious reasons, is not in Indianapolis but watches
the games from his home in Tualatin. The 1943 OSU grad often calls
coach Wayne Tinkle after basketball games.
Barnes believes the exposure Oregon State receives during its
postseason run will show up down the road in terms of future student
interest.
“We’re introducing the multitudes to our university through ath-
letics’ door right now. That’s one of the roles we serve,” Barnes said. “A
lot of prospective students that may not have even been looking our
way as a prospective student to Oregon State will now.”
— The Oregonian
a lot of points. I didn’t play
too much on defense,” Lucas
said. “Quickly learned that at
Oregon State that it’s not just
offense. Coach Tinkle helped
me realize that to stay on the
floor, I’ve got to play hard de-
fensively. … It wasn’t quick, it
took some time, but I eventu-
ally caught on to some of the
defensive concepts.”
There’s a lot to like about Lu-
cas in Tinkle’s mind. Lucas is
the team’s best 3-point shooter,
so much so that he shoots bet-
ter from behind the arc (.376)
than on two-point shots (.366)
during his OSU career. Six
times this season Lucas has
hit at least four 3-pointers in a
game. Tinkle loves Lucas’ con-
fidence, and his energy because
it’s contagious, though there
are times when the coaches
need to calm him down a bit.
The tipping point was de-
fense.
“Defensively, I told him,
you’ve got to give me a reason
to put you on the court when
you’re not hitting shots,” Tin-
kle said. “He came back a little
while later and said, ‘Coach,
I don’t want to come out of
games late in the game on the
defensive end.’ I said, that’s
great. Great players want to be
both sides.”
Since becoming a starter,
Lucas has played at least 29
minutes in every game but one.
Lucas has scored in double fig-
ures in OSU’s last nine games;
perhaps it’s coincidence, but
during that stretch, Oregon
State has won eight of nine
games.
Lucas doesn’t wonder why
many prominent programs
didn’t come calling while he
was putting up the eye-catch-
ing high school numbers. Lu-
cas is where he wants to be.
“All you need is one coach,
one university, to believe in
you,” Lucas said. “All of us at
Oregon State have one coach
who really believes in us. I
know I can say for my team
that we all made the right de-
cision.”