The Oregon men’s basketball team begins preseason@@m-w@@ play tonight @@changed from “tonight”@@ against Grand Canyon University at Matthew Knight Arena. It is the first of two exhibition games before the nonconference season starts at Vanderbilt on Nov. 11.
The Ducks, who were picked to finish fifth in the Pac-12 Preseason Media Poll for men’s basketball@@http://www.goducks.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=500&ATCLID=205324028@@, will showcase a revamped squad that includes eight newcomers, including four true freshman. Oakland, Calif., native Jabari Brown, a five-star recruit who headlines Oregon’s freshman class, is set to make his debut at Matthew Knight Arena, as are transfers Tony Woods and Olu Ashaolu@@CE all, changed from “Asholu,” http://www.goducks.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=4295&SPID=235&DB_LANG=C&DB_OEM_ID=500&ATCLID=205185494&Q_SEASON=2011@@.
The newcomers will be flanked by a number of key returners, including forwards Tyrone Nared and E.J. Singler, guards Garrett Sim and Johnathan Loyd,@@leaving this comma in for readability -mw@@ and Jeremy Jacob@@CE all@@, a versatile forward who was hampered by injury most of last year.
Oregon’s last game action came during a summer tour in Italy on which the team went 2-3@@http://www.goducks.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=4297&SPID=235&DB_LANG=C&ATCLID=205325705&DB_OEM_ID=500@@. Brown wasted no time making his presence felt, leading the team in scoring with 15.4 points per game@@see previous@@. Woods, meanwhile, averaged two blocks per game@@see previous@@, while Ashaolu led the team with a .464 shooting percentage@@same as field goals? CE in previous link@@.
Tonight’s matchup against Grand Canyon University begins at 7 p.m., while the second and final exhibition game takes place Sunday against Lewis and Clark College at 3 p.m.