It's a good time to be going to Eugene. The Ducks are IMO, the most athletic team in the Pac 12 and right with Arizona and Cal as the most talented. However, they are just now easing Villanova transfer Ennis into the mix and Jordan Bell is still not 100% health wise. They have a bunch of new and younger pieces and their chemistry has not been good, thus the rough loss to Oregon State on Sunday.
I'd bet a lot of money that Altman will get the chemistry figured out, he's worked with huge turnover almost every year he's been at Oregon and his teams have gotten better and better as the season has progressed. They will be up for Cal and hopefully their chemistry issues will continue, the lack of fan interest will linger (only drawing 6k a game) and we can get a win tomorrow night.
Matchup wise, they are not a big team. They have a ton of athletic 6'6 and 6'7" kids with long arms. They will switch everything in man to man and like to zone where their size and quickness bothers 3 point shooters. Chris Boucher is a newcomer that has played lights out for them. Skinny 6'10" kid who is super bouncy (3+ shots a game) and can hit threes (33%). Bell is not a beefy guy either but a great natural shot blocker and rebounder in the post, albeit only 6'9". They play good defense albeit the zone gives up a lot of threes. They don't foul much and they are a momentum team that thrives on transition and hitting the open three.
Oregon State has quietly become a solid team. Smart, tough and defensive minded, they now have enough talent to play with the big boys. We outclass them yet they will not give you anything, you need to bring your A game as Oregon learned on Sunday.
Both Oregon and Oregon State are loved right now by RPI so road wins against both would be huge for us.
I'd bet a lot of money that Altman will get the chemistry figured out, he's worked with huge turnover almost every year he's been at Oregon and his teams have gotten better and better as the season has progressed. They will be up for Cal and hopefully their chemistry issues will continue, the lack of fan interest will linger (only drawing 6k a game) and we can get a win tomorrow night.
Matchup wise, they are not a big team. They have a ton of athletic 6'6 and 6'7" kids with long arms. They will switch everything in man to man and like to zone where their size and quickness bothers 3 point shooters. Chris Boucher is a newcomer that has played lights out for them. Skinny 6'10" kid who is super bouncy (3+ shots a game) and can hit threes (33%). Bell is not a beefy guy either but a great natural shot blocker and rebounder in the post, albeit only 6'9". They play good defense albeit the zone gives up a lot of threes. They don't foul much and they are a momentum team that thrives on transition and hitting the open three.
Oregon State has quietly become a solid team. Smart, tough and defensive minded, they now have enough talent to play with the big boys. We outclass them yet they will not give you anything, you need to bring your A game as Oregon learned on Sunday.
Both Oregon and Oregon State are loved right now by RPI so road wins against both would be huge for us.
Hope we can humiliate them further this evening