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Oregon Basketball Game Preview and How to Watch: Oregon Ducks vs. Jackson State Tigers

Oregon basketball returns with high hopes for the 2015-16 season.

Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports
Oregon Ducks vs. Jackson State Tigers
7:00 PM PT - Matthew Knight Arena - Eugene, OR
TV: Pac-12 Networks - Online:Pac-12 Networks Live

Oregon Category Jackson State
75.4 Points Per Game 60.7
.463 Field Goal Percentage .387
.362 3-Point FG Percentage .274
.761 Free Throw Percentage .647
36.1 Rebounds Per Game 37.1
14.1 Assists Per Game 10.1
11.7 Turnovers Per Game 14.3
5.8 Steals Per Game 6.3
4.4 Blocks Per Game 2.5

The Oregon Ducks kick off their 2015-16 campaign tonight at 7:00 PM PT against the Jackson State Tigers. This is the first ever meeting between the two schools. With key returning players like Dillon Brooks and Dwyane Benjamin along with new potential stars such as Tyler Dorsey and Kendall Small, this looks like it could be a fun year of Oregon basketball.

Oregon Notes

PROBABLE STARTERS

Position Player
F Elgin Cook
F Dillon Brooks
F Chris Boucher
G Casey Benson
G Tyler Dorsey

The Ducks have won 17 straight home openers dating back to 1997. The last time Oregon lost a home opener was against Portland State, falling to the Vikings 56-54 to open the 1997-98 season.

There are plenty of new faces on Oregon's roster this year. Tyler Dorsey, Kendall Small and Trevor Manuel are a trio of highly talented freshmen that should make an immediate impact with the Ducks. Dorsey and Small were both ranked in the ESPN 100 (38th and 84th, respectively) while Manuel was ranked as the third best prospect in the state of Michigan.

A couple of new transfers should also make an impact in their brief time with the Ducks. Chris Boucher, a 6'10'' forward from Montreal, was named the 2014-15 Spalding NJCAA Division I Player of the Year with Northwest College in Wyoming, averaging 22.5 points and 11.8 rebounds per game. Dylan Ennis, a 6'2'' guard from Villanova, should provide an offensive spark and potentially fill the void left by Joseph Young's departure.

The Ducks are coming off a 26-10 season in which they appeared in the NCAA Tournament for the third straight season. If Oregon is as good as they appear to be on paper, they should be gearing up for another tournament run, potentially to the Sweet 16 or beyond.

Jackson State Notes

Position Player
F Treshawn Bolden
F Janarius Middleton
G Chace Franklin
G Raeford Worsham
G Paris Collins

The Jackson State Tigers went 11-20 last year with a 9-9 conference record, falling to Prairie View A&M in the semifinals of the SWAC Tournament.

Jackson State returns four of five starters from last season, including senior guard Raeford Worsham, who led the Tigers with 13.5 points per game and 7.9 rebounds per game. Their one starter lost was Derell Taylor, who averaged 7.6 points and 4.8 rebounds per game in 26 games, 23 of which he started.

The Tigers added four JUCO players, including Chace Franklin, who averaged 16.7 points and 7.2 rebounds per game at Seminole State Community College. Paris Collins, another JUCO transfer from Des Moines Area Community College, will provide some help from beyond the arc. Last year, Collins shot 40 percent from three-point range.