The Oregon men’s basketball team’s offense is so dangerous that they’re able to put points on the board even before tip-off.
So what if it was a technical foul on part of University of San Francisco’s coaching staff for not submitting its starting lineup on time? It still speaks about the Ducks’ ability to score unopposed en route to a 110-79 victory over the visiting Dons – the sixth highest point total in school history as seven Ducks scored 10 points or more in front of 7,033 fans at McArthur Court.
Oregon’s defense on the other hand, could learn a thing or two from the football team on how to make stops. San Francisco’s Manny Quezada and Dior Lowhorn scored 30 and 29 points, respectively.
“The first half they put on a little show, those two players scoring almost all their points,” senior forward Maarty Leunen said. “That was kind of a poor effort on us, but we made our adjustments in the second half and played great team defense.”
Leunen said the adjustments were to “limit their touches” and keep the ball out of those two player’s hands. It worked as Quezada was five-of-five from the three-point line before the half and didn’t make another afterward on three attempts. Lowhorn, meanwhile, scored only six points after halftime.
“If we can get stops and get out and run and share the ball, we make it real tough on teams,” Leunen said. “Every player is skilled and can shoot, pass and dribble.”
Leunen especially. It was his third consecutive double-double with 18 points and 10 rebounds. Sophomore Joevan Catron also had a double-double with 14 points and 14 rebounds. Catron said he didn’t respect Lowhorn’s jumper in the first half but made an effort to shut it down in the second.
Another important part of the game for Oregon was its ability to get the bench extended playing time. Mitch Platt, LeKendric Longmire and Kamyron Brown each saw over 13 minutes of action against San Francisco, which will allow coach Ernie Kent to use his bench more frequently in the future.
“That takes us to eight deep. I’d like to get one more guy,” Kent said. “I was pleased with those three guys that they made the most of their minutes.”
The return of senior guard Bryce Taylor too, was a boost for the team. Kent said Taylor’s presence in the rotation more than his 13 points and five rebounds benefited the Ducks more than anything.
“You can rest Malik and rest Tajuan Porter,” Kent said. “You can move guys in and out of the game more freely.
“What that gives you offensively is more firepower and what it gives you defensively is more energy.”
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