The Oregon men’s basketball locomotive keeps on chugging through the preseason.
The latest victim? Louisville. Tonight’s candidate for steamrolling is Massachusetts.
The Ducks already ran over the Minutemen once, last season at the Papé Jam, 91-76, the same tournament where Oregon (4-0 overall) toppled Louisville on Saturday, 90-63.
The most important part of the Ducks’ trip to Massachusetts may be the trip itself.
“It’s good to get out by ourselves,” Oregon head coach Ernie Kent said. “Typically, my teams have really grown together when they can just be the guys out there.”
The Ducks flew out to the East Coast on Sunday after their game Saturday night, and have spent their time touring the Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield, Mass., among other things.
“It’s a good chance for them to go back there and get a little sense of history,” Kent said. “Hopefully they’ll learn a new respect for the game and how it all started.”
On the court, the game should be hard-fought. The Ducks embarrassed the Minutemen last year in Portland, and UMass will be looking to avenge that loss.
Even without the revenge factor, tonight’s game could be gritty. The Minutemen play tough defense, and have given up just 59.5 points per game this season. Oregon has also found defensive intensity this season, as the Ducks allow 57.5 points per game. That number is drastically reduced from last season’s four-game average of 71.5.
“We feel like we’ve come a long way since last year, especially defensively,” Oregon guard Luke Ridnour said. “This is a whole different team this year.”
On offense, the Minutemen get their scoring from two main sources, while the Ducks have spread the ball around. Massachusetts guard Shannon Crooks averages 15 points per game, while 6-foot-11 forward Micah Brand averages 16.5 points per game.
Oregon, conversely, has five players averaging double figures, and seven players are averaging more than nine points per game. Guard Freddie Jones leads the Ducks with 14 points per game.
One reason for Oregon’s offensive surge has been the play of guards Jones, Ridnour and Luke Jackson. The players have used a full-court, run-and-gun mentality that has produced spectacular baskets and loads of points.
“We feel like we’re in as good shape as anyone in the country,” Jones said. “We can keep running the whole game. That’s something we pride ourselves on.”
The Ducks think that their offensive output and defensive intensity could lead them to their second NCAA Tournament in three years.
“Everybody on our team thinks we’re an NCAA team,” Jones said. “And we’re not just going for the first round of the NCAAs. We’re looking to make some noise nationally.”
Oregon’s road to the 2002 NCAA Tournament will have to go through Massachusetts. The Ducks will take on the Minutemen in Springfield, not UMass’ normal home of Amherst.
Tonight’s game will be broadcast in Oregon on the Oregon Sports Network. It is the third broadcast game for the Ducks this season. Tipoff is scheduled for 4 p.m. today.