Mens' Basketball Preview and Open Thread: Concordia Cavaliers at Oregon Ducks

Concordia Cavaliers at Oregon Ducks

7:00 PT :: Matthew Knight Arena

Pac-12 Network Digital Stream

The exhibition season kicks off for the Oregon mens' basketball team as the Concordia Cavaliers take the drive down I-5 to Matthew Knight Arena. Concordia plays in the NAIA Cascade Collegiate Conference, with such schools as Northwest Christian, Southern and Eastern Oregon Universities, and OIT. Concordia was 14-16 last season, and plays in four exhibition games this year against Division I opponents. They had their exhibition opener last week, an 87-69 loss to the Portland Pilots.

Such exhibitions are not usually terribly competitive, but they offer a chance to play against an actual opponent before counting games begin. Concordia plays an uptempo style, averaging 80.5 ppg last season. Adam Herman, a 6'6" forward averaged nearly 20 points per game last sason on 68% shooting and also ripped down seven rebounds. The Cavaliers lose all of their other major scorers from last season, but have some size in 6'10" Justyn Searle, 6'8" Esvan Middleton, and 6'7" Justin Ramirez.

This game shouldn't be competitive, but gives us a good chance to look at some of the major question marks with this Oregon team. It will be our first look at freshman PG Dominic Artis, who must have an outstanding season for Oregon to make the NCAA Tournament. Two issues I'll really be looking at is whether E.J. Singler or Carlos Emory get minutes at shooting guard, if Tony Woods and Waverly Austin see the court together in a twin towers lineup, and if Jonathan Loyd looks substantially improved. Since the game is nearly a guaranteed win, those are the significant things that you get out of this kind of matchup