Oregon men’s basketball has lost three consecutive games, but is looking to turn things around this weekend when it faces Pac-12 opponents USC and UCLA.
Currently, the Ducks and Trojans are hovering around the bottom of the Pac-12 standings, while the Bruins have turned things around after a rough preseason and are currently on a three game win streak.
If the Ducks are going to get back to their winning ways after losing three of the last four games, it’s going to take a combination of things.
Here’s a preview of each game:
Oregon vs. USC – Jan. 22 at 8 p.m.: It’s hard to tell who needs the victory more. Both teams are in the midst of a tailspin and if it doesn’t get righted, it could lead to the total collapse of the season.
How Oregon can win:
– Get out and run: If the Ducks can force the Trojans to play at an up-tempo speed, it will eliminate USC’s superior height advantage (three players who are 6-foot-9 or taller), over Oregon and force the young guards to play at a collegiate speed they might not be comfortable with.
– Defend: USC does not shoot the ball well (42.6-percent per game). This is a game where the Ducks should use pressure from their three guards to force USC into bad shots early. Because of the Trojans’ size advantage, head coach Dana Altman should employ a zone-defense to take away the offensive rebounding and make USC win by out-shooting Oregon.
– Joe Young has got to get going. In his last six games, Young has scored 19 points or less in four of them. He’s so important for Oregon’s offense that he needs to get going quick.
Oregon vs. UCLA – Jan. 24 at 1 p.m.: UCLA got off to one of its worst starts in a decade when it was 8-7 midway through the season. But the Bruins have since regained traction by winning three in a row. This is a big game for both teams and has the potential to propel the victor into a strong second half of the season.
How Oregon can win:
– Win the rebounding battle. UCLA enters the weekend as the No. 6 team in the nation with 41.3 rebounds per game while the Ducks are No. 19 with 39.8 rebounds per game. The winner of this battle will probably win the game.
– Defend the guards. Bryce Alford and Norman Powell of UCLA combine to average 31 points per game, making them the highest scoring backcourt in the conference. The Bruins’ offense runs through their guards so if Young, Casey Benson, Ahmaad Rorie and Jalil Abdul-Bassit can slow down this dynamic duo and hold them under that average, Oregon will have a good shot at winning.
– Attack. The Bruins have a seven man rotation. If Elgin Cook, Dillon Brooks, Dwayne Benjamin and Jordan Bell can consistently attack down low and get the Bruins in foul trouble, UCLA will have nobody to turn to.
Follow Ryan Kostecka on Twitter @Ryan_Kostecka
GameDay: A look at Oregon men’s basketball’s weekend
Ryan Kostecka
January 21, 2015
0
More to Discover