If there was ever a time for the Oregon wrestling team to break out of its slump, this would be it.
Pacific-10 Conference powerhouse Arizona State visits McArthur Court at 7:30 p.m. today for a key matchup of ranked teams. The Ducks hope to snap their three-match losing streak at home. Oregon is 7-6 overall with a 7-2 record in the state of Oregon.
Both teams are in their home stretch of the season with only two dual matches remaining before the Pac-10 Championships.
“We’ve got to keep our eye on the prize,” Oregon head coach Chuck Kearney said. “We’ve got to have short memories and keep preparing for the Pac-10 Championships and the NCAA Tournament.”
Arizona State recently disposed of No. 22 Fresno State, a team Oregon lost to on Friday.
With seven ranked wrestlers across the board, the Sun Devils are strong where Oregon isn’t. No. 14 Arizona State is led by Steve Blackford and Eric Larkin, both top-five wrestlers. The Sun Devils are 2-0 in the Pac-10 and 7-3 overall.
In the 184-pound battle, seventh-ranked senior Doug Lee takes on Arizona State’s R.D. Pursell, ranked No. 13. Lee has hit his stride lately since an injury-plagued preseason. The All-American has been victorious in his last nine matches.
Another key matchup is the 157-pound battle between No. 20 junior Eugene Harris and the Sun Devils’ No. 13 Rocky Smart.
No. 4 sophomore heavyweight Eric Webb, winner of his last seven matches, takes on his ninth ranked opponent of the season against No. 10 Kellan Fluckinger. Webb recently knocked off No. 2 Billy Blunt of Fresno State and No. 19 Bart Johnson of Boise State.
“The one guy that has been going out there and doing it every single match is Eric Webb,” Kearneysaid. “He doesn’t let anything get into his head and he gets it done.”
No. 10 sophomore Brian Watson takes on No. 15 David Douglas at 133 pounds in another key battle.
Curtis Owens, ranked No. 20, takes on Oregon freshman Luke Larwin at 174 pounds.
In tournament matches this season, Ducks wrestlers have faced Arizona State wrestlers six times, winning three times. Lee split matches with Pursell, while Williams and senior Chael Sonnen have each won once.
“We need to compete better every time we step onto the mat,” Kearney said. “We have got to figure out a way to not concede points. We just have to get tougher.”
The Ducks are looking forward to the return of junior Shaun Williams, who sat out Oregon’s last two matches with a concussion. Williams is ranked No. 5 at 125 pounds and will take on Chris Knox.
Arizona State upended the Ducks last season, 31-12, in Tempe, Ariz., en route to a second-place finish in the Pac-10. The Sun Devils have also won the last 15 matches against the Ducks, with the last Oregon win in 1974.
The match will be Oregon’s last regular-season appearance at McArthur Court before the Ducks host the Pac-10 Championships on Feb. 25-26.