MBB Game 20 Preview: Oregon vs UCLA

by Matt Daddy on Jan 28, 2010 10:00 AM PST

Tipoff: 7:30pm, TV (FSN Fox Sports NW), Radio, Satellite, Internet (Live Audio/Video & Stats)

So the first b**** slapping of the weekend games the Oregon men's basketball team will have to endure should come from the hand of UCLA this evening. Now, this is not your father's UCLA team that we've all come to love. UCLA has been a staple in the diet of the NBA feeding frenzy from the Pac 10 over the last couple of years leaving them another rather young and inexperienced team (only 3 seniors).

However, Ben Howland has finally started to get his guys playing better as of late. UCLA has won six of their last nine games. They also have five guys averaging double digits. Oregon will have a hard time trying to figure out who to concentrate on to keep the game close as lately UCLA has done a good job of moving the ball to find the open shooter. I would expect Oregon to play more ¾ court press and ½ court zone throughout the game. UCLA has some inexperienced ball handlers and is 7^th in the Pac 10 in three point shooting. Plus, the more big guys Oregon can keep on the floor and out of foul trouble the better Oregon will be.

At this point in the season I am not convinced that Oregon should even attempt to play up tempo again. I would rather see Oregon walk the ball up, pound it down low and on defense fall back into their 2-3 match-up zone and make teams beat them deep (except Cal, that one didn't work out too well). Oregon has a distinct advantage down low in the Pac this year, and the sooner they realize it and try and exploit it, the better.

Keys to the Game

New look same dead team. Oregon will don their new Twizzlers jerseys this evening because apparently there is one kid in Vietnam who will be watching the game who isn't aware of breast cancer. Let's hope they find a new game plan to go with the new look.

For the love of juju GO INSIDE! I don't know how many times I can continue to write this. UCLA is not as physically dominant as they have been in the past down low, and Oregon should try everything they can to try and attack inside. I swear to god, if I see a three point shot hoisted in the first 15 seconds of the shot clock in the first half, I will personally drive to Eugene and steal everyone of those player's Mac Books, guitars and projector screens.

Have a lead in the game that isn't 2-0. After not holding a lead for two games in a row, then holding only a 2-0 lead for two games in a row, I would really like to see Oregon be competitive late in a game. I could ask for a fast start, but that hasn't worked out the last couple of games. Instead I'm only going to ask Oregon to show some heart, scrap, and fight like hell to be competitive late in a game.

As Always, enjoy the stats:

Oregon Ducks

			FG			3PT			FT			Rebounds			Misc
	G	M	M	A	Pct	M	A	Pct	M	A	Pct	Off	Def	Tot	Ast	TO	Stl	Blk	PF	PPG
Tajuan Porter	15	27.6	4.4	11.7	37.5	2.5	7.0	36.2	1.2	1.5	81.8	0.6	1.8	2.4	2.1	2.2	0.9	0.0	2.1	12.5
Malcolm Armstead	19	30.3	4.6	9.7	47.0	0.7	2.0	36.8	1.5	2.1	70.0	0.6	1.8	2.4	3.7	2.2	2.1	0.1	2.3	11.4
Michael Dunigan	17	20.8	3.6	6.4	56.5	0.0	0.0	0.0	3.9	5.9	65.3	1.9	3.7	5.6	0.1	1.5	0.8	1.5	2.5	11.1
Teondre Williams	19	19.4	3.0	6.8	44.2	0.6	1.6	40.0	1.5	2.3	67.4	1.4	1.4	2.7	1.0	1.3	0.5	0.4	1.4	8.2
LeKendric Longmire	18	19.0	2.9	6.8	42.3	0.1	0.8	13.3	1.4	2.1	70.3	1.8	1.7	3.5	0.6	0.8	1.1	0.1	2.1	7.3
Jeremy Jacob	19	14.5	2.4	4.7	51.1	0.0	0.1	0.0	1.1	1.6	67.7	1.4	2.3	3.7	0.0	0.8	0.1	0.2	1.3	5.9
Garrett Sim	19	19.6	1.9	5.1	38.5	1.2	3.2	36.7	0.8	1.2	72.7	0.8	1.4	2.2	1.5	1.0	0.6	0.1	2.4	5.9
Joevan Catron	4	21.3	1.0	3.0	33.3	0.0	0.3	0.0	3.5	4.0	87.5	1.8	4.0	5.8	0.8	1.5	1.0	0.5	3.0	5.5
EJ Singler	19	22.2	1.7	3.8	44.4	0.2	0.9	23.5	1.6	1.9	83.3	1.3	2.9	4.2	1.5	1.3	0.4	0.3	2.4	5.2
Jamil Wilson	19	18.4	1.9	4.7	41.1	0.4	1.5	28.6	0.8	1.1	75.0	1.5	2.3	3.8	1.0	0.8	0.6	0.5	1.9	5.1
Matthew Humphrey	6	8.3	0.8	3.0	27.8	0.5	2.2	23.1	0.5	0.7	75.0	0.2	1.0	1.2	0.5	0.7	0.3	0.2	1.8	2.7
Josh Crittle	12	7.9	0.9	1.8	52.4	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.8	1.3	56.3	0.8	0.5	1.3	0.1	0.6	0.1	0.1	1.7	2.6
Drew Wiley	16	8.3	0.8	2.0	40.6	0.6	1.6	36.0	0.2	0.3	75.0	0.4	0.4	0.8	0.3	0.6	0.1	0.3	1.1	2.4
John Elorriaga	3	2.7	0.3	0.3	100.0	0.3	0.3	100.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.3	0.0	0.0	0.7	1.0
Nicholas Fearn	3	2.3	0.0	0.3	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	1.3	1.3	0.3	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0

UCLA Bruins

			FG			3PT			FT			Rebounds			Misc
	G	M	M	A	Pct	M	A	Pct	M	A	Pct	Off	Def	Tot	Ast	TO	Stl	Blk	PF	PPG
Malcolm Lee	19	34.8	4.6	10.4	44.4	1.2	3.9	29.3	3.1	4.6	66.7	1.2	3.3	4.5	3.6	2.8	1.3	0.5	2.2	13.5
Michael Roll	19	34.8	4.8	10.5	46.0	2.3	5.4	41.7	1.1	1.4	74.1	0.3	2.3	2.5	3.4	2.1	0.9	0.1	1.9	13.0
Drew Gordon	6	24.5	4.8	8.5	56.9	0.0	0.3	0.0	1.5	2.3	64.3	2.7	2.7	5.3	0.8	1.0	0.5	2.0	3.5	11.2
Nikola Dragovic	17	30.8	3.5	9.4	37.5	1.5	4.7	31.3	2.5	3.2	77.8	0.7	4.1	4.8	1.4	2.1	0.7	0.4	2.4	11.0
Reeves Nelson	19	22.8	3.9	6.3	62.5	0.0	0.0	0.0	3.1	5.6	54.7	1.9	3.7	5.6	0.2	1.4	0.9	0.7	2.1	10.9
Jerime Andersen	17	27.6	2.3	4.8	47.6	0.5	1.2	40.0	1.1	1.9	57.6	0.2	1.8	2.0	3.9	2.8	1.3	0.2	2.1	6.2
Tyler Honeycutt	13	23.5	1.9	4.6	41.7	0.4	0.9	41.7	0.9	1.7	54.5	1.9	4.2	6.1	1.5	1.8	1.1	0.8	1.3	5.2
Mustafa Abdul-Hamid	12	10.1	1.3	2.3	59.3	0.3	1.0	33.3	0.1	0.3	33.3	0.1	0.2	0.3	0.7	0.7	0.0	0.0	0.8	3.1
James Keefe	16	16.1	0.9	1.9	45.2	0.1	0.3	20.0	0.3	0.9	35.7	0.9	2.1	3.0	0.8	0.9	0.4	0.8	1.9	2.1
J`mison Morgan	13	7.8	0.8	2.2	39.3	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.3	0.7	44.4	0.5	0.8	1.2	0.0	0.4	0.2	0.8	0.8	2.0
Brendan Lane	17	7.6	0.7	1.5	48.0	0.1	0.5	22.2	0.3	0.5	62.5	0.5	0.8	1.2	0.3	0.3	0.2	0.5	0.7	1.8
Mike Moser	10	5.7	0.4	1.9	21.1	0.1	1.0	10.0	0.0	0.3	0.0	0.0	0.6	0.6	0.4	0.8	0.3	0.0	0.6	0.9
Blake Arnet	2	1.5	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0
Spencer Soo	1	2.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	1.0	1.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0
Tyler Trapani	1	1.0	0.0	1.0	0.0	0.0	1.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0

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Comments

Just to clarify, the game’s starting at 10:30 Bizzaro Texas time?

It's spelled "T-H-E-I-M-P-A-C-T"

I support Roger Kieschnick in his quest to becoming the best Kieschnick ever to play professional baseball.

Addicted to Quack, the home of Tako Tuesdays

by Takimoto on Jan 28, 2010 10:35 AM PST reply actions

Oregon is favored to win tonight...

I know, I couldn’t believe it either. But the money line for the game is -185/+155 in favor of Oregon. That seems insane to me.

In other news, we’re going to win, since ntrebon’s in Vegas and put money on UCLA.

--AddictedToQuack, SBNation's Oregon Ducks blog

by jtlight on Jan 28, 2010 12:11 PM PST reply actions

Spread is Oregon giving 4, too

Which amounts to a pick ’em when you take out the 3-4 for home court. Interesting in that UCLA has been playing well and Oregon has not.

by Brian Floyd on Jan 28, 2010 12:15 PM PST up reply actions

Well, it is the Pac-10.

--AddictedToQuack, SBNation's Oregon Ducks blog

by jtlight on Jan 28, 2010 12:17 PM PST up reply actions

In that case

I could see Oregon winning by 30, OSU beating USC, Stanford beating Arizona, and both Cal and ASU having season ending injuries to both of their starting 5’s to open the door for anyone to take the title.

by Brian Floyd on Jan 28, 2010 12:19 PM PST up reply actions

Hmmm,

WSU is conspicuously left off the list…

LaMichael James + Kenjon Barner + Lache Seastrunk + Dontae Williams + Remene Alston + Kenaon Lowe + ...

by CaDuck on Jan 28, 2010 4:52 PM PST up reply actions

naturally

Can’t win when we don’t play….or can we

by Brian Floyd on Jan 28, 2010 4:58 PM PST via mobile up reply actions

Well,

As a Charger fan, I am still bitter about that “QB” you cougs called Ryan Leaf.

And there is my comment that makes no sense whatsoever for the day.

LaMichael James + Kenjon Barner + Lache Seastrunk + Dontae Williams + Remene Alston + Kenaon Lowe + ...

by CaDuck on Jan 28, 2010 5:03 PM PST up reply actions

If you go to cougfan.com

You can read a new interview with him. I was impressed by it. I’ve met and talked to him a few years ago and he was an asshole. Sounds like he’s growing up

by Brian Floyd on Jan 28, 2010 5:07 PM PST via mobile up reply actions

Growing up meaning

Stealing Vicodin from peoples’ houses?

by HoodRiverDuck on Jan 28, 2010 5:13 PM PST up reply actions

Read it first and it will answer that

by Brian Floyd on Jan 28, 2010 5:18 PM PST via mobile up reply actions

I did read it

Pretty much a complete puff piece.

He stole painkillers from someone’s house [b]while in rehab[/b] for being addicted to painkillers. I’m happy for him if he’s been clean for the six months since then, but I’m not sure I’m ready to buy that his past is behind him quite yet.

by HoodRiverDuck on Jan 28, 2010 5:22 PM PST up reply actions

HTML TAG FAIL

See? The level of my reply fail knows no bounds.

by HoodRiverDuck on Jan 28, 2010 5:23 PM PST up reply actions

Puff piece yes

Rehab seemed to get serious after that when he went to canada for it. He’s fucked up and I don’t know if he’s changed yet but as a person I hope so

by Brian Floyd on Jan 28, 2010 5:26 PM PST via mobile up reply actions

I hope so, too

But to be honest, he seems like he has real mental illness, as opposed to just being a dick and a drug addict. Granted, he has been the media’s whipping boy since NFL draft day, which would fuck up a fucked up person even more.

by HoodRiverDuck on Jan 28, 2010 5:34 PM PST up reply actions

shouldn’t you be more bitter with Kaeding?

by westspec on Jan 28, 2010 5:30 PM PST up reply actions

For his second playoff implosion against the Jets?

No.

Penalties are what killed us. If we didn’t shoot ourselves in the foot and move 5-15 yards back every time we got near the red zone, we might have actually been able to score more than one touchdown and keep Kaeding off the field.

LaMichael James + Kenjon Barner + Lache Seastrunk + Dontae Williams + Remene Alston + Kenaon Lowe + ...

by CaDuck on Jan 28, 2010 5:44 PM PST up reply actions

I must admit,

I would put a good chunk of change on the Bruins to win.

LaMichael James + Kenjon Barner + Lache Seastrunk + Dontae Williams + Remene Alston + Kenaon Lowe + ...

by CaDuck on Jan 28, 2010 4:52 PM PST up reply actions

Getting it down low is easier said then done

UCLA is going to run a 2-3 for most of the game, essentially baiting Oregon into shooting over it. It’s going to be hard to post Dunigan against the zone, even with his distinct advantage.

Instead, they need to move Dunigan to the high post and use him as a point center, with other guys making cuts to the basket. This should also free up him inside, as well. If Oregon takes the bait and tries to shoot over the zone, they’re probably screwed. Unless they get an all around hot shooting night, of course.

by Brian Floyd on Jan 28, 2010 12:18 PM PST reply actions

This is my point. I want Oregon to go away from that. Three point jacks will always be available, just TRY something else. Especially against a team that doesn’t have a physical force inside. If UCLA goes zone, fine move the ball, get in the lane and get to the hole. Don’t settle.

I support the calls to fire Matt Daddy
Addicted to Quack

by Matt Daddy on Jan 28, 2010 1:12 PM PST up reply actions

I wish it were that easy

The only way that’s going to happen is if Kent restricts the offense and starts yanking players for bad shots, which may not be a bad idea.

What this game will tell you is how Dunlap does as a coach. They know UCLA is going to go zone, therefor they should have a zone offense prepared.

by Brian Floyd on Jan 28, 2010 3:04 PM PST up reply actions

It’s not hard, it’s just difficult. You have to have discipline and follow thru with your message. If you tell the team to shoot inside, drive, pound it down low and then your guy goes out and jacks a three with 24 seconds on the shot clock… he needs to sit. You cannot have 4 guys playing within the offense and 1 guy not. It throws everything off and underminds the effort that the other guys on the floor are putting forth.

That’s not hard, just difficult.

I support the calls to fire Matt Daddy
Addicted to Quack

by Matt Daddy on Jan 28, 2010 4:13 PM PST up reply actions