As much as the three-point shot has been the sizzle of the Oregon offense this season, the three-point effort on defense has been the team’s steak.
The Ducks, already known as one of the top sharp-shooting teams in the nation, have also turned the tables on opposing teams this season. While Oregon has shot 42.4 percent from the three-point line — good for third in the nation — it has held opponents to 29.1 percent defensively.
That figure places the Ducks first in the Pacific-10 Conference, a good five percentage points higher than second place Arizona.
“It’s a big focus, because one of the things I think you have to do defensively is field goal percentage defense, both from the field and the three-point line,” Oregon assistant coach Fred Litzenberger said. “I think it’s improved this year. One of the big reasons is that our defensive transition has gotten more consistent.”
Oregon has been known as a fast-paced running team under head coach Ernie Kent, and now it is beginning to pay off defensively. Last season, the Ducks allowed opposing teams to shoot 34.9 percent from beyond the arc, seventh in the Pac-10.
Overall, opposing offenses were successful on 42 percent of their shots last season.
Now, in the third year under defensive guru Litzenberger, the Ducks are showing the capability to stop opposing teams.
“We’re getting back to where we’re supposed to more consistently,” he said. “Both at the wings and on top. One of the most important things is to give up no open shots. No open looks, no easy baskets. To me, it’s just like a lay-up, except it counts for three points because it’s outside the arc. I think it’s really important you get the floor covered outside the three-point arc.”
With the capability of being able to stop opposing teams up high, the Ducks, theoretically, have the opportunity to outpace teams in the long run. A three-pointer is always worth more than a lay-up.
Remember, Oregon averages 9.1 three-pointers per game. That’s nine more points than teams that take those same nine shots from inside the three-point line.
“If you do the math, that sounds good,” Oregon guard James Davis said. “Definitely we just try to key on the great shooters. We just try to take out their best perimeter players and just go from there.
“We know that’s a huge advantage for us and we know there are some great shooters in this league as well. If we take away the three-point shot, it will definitely help our chances.”
Count the development of Ian Crosswhite, Mitch Platt and Jay Anderson as keys to Oregon’s success this season.
Crosswhite has become the inside threat the Ducks have been looking for in recent years and Platt is playing well in his freshman season. Anderson has come off the bench to supplant the two at times and played a season-high 30 minutes against California last week.
With the three becoming physical posts for Oregon, the team has had to worry less about its inside game, allowing Davis and the rest of the guards to worry more about opposing team’s perimeter players. With that, they don’t have to collapse down as much.
“I think that’s really an important part because if an offense can come down and throw it inside real easy and get an easy basket, then a foul, that’s a three-point opportunity too,” Litzenberger said. “You need inside players who won’t let it go inside and that’s one of the things that Mitch, Ian and Jay have really done a good job of this year.”
That will be key for the Ducks against Oregon State on Saturday. The Beavers connected on just 25 percent of the their three-point attempts in a nine-point win on Jan. 10, but hit four in the first half to keep the game close.
As a team this season, Oregon State has shot 32.6 percent from beyond the arc. Like the message has been all season for opposing teams, though, the Beavers cannot be underestimated.
“It’s a good matchup for them because their perimeter players are all pretty athletic and active like ours,” Litzenberger said. “They can shoot it a little bit, they can put it on the floor a little bit and they can all pass it. That makes kids and teams tougher to defend.”

Brooks getting better
Freshman guard Aaron Brooks had the pins removed from his right wrist Monday, and a CT scan taken Wednesday showed good results, Kent said.
The hard cast Brooks had been wearing up until Monday was replaced with what Kent called a “soft splint.” Brooks will next see a hand specialist later this week and if all goes well, could begin rehabilitation with the team on Monday.
Kent did rule out a return to the lineup for Brooks next week in Seattle — his hometown — against Washington on Thursday, and no definite timetable for his return has been set. It could be anywhere from two to four weeks, possibly more.
“I just want to get ready for Arizona (on Feb. 19),” Brooks said. “Seattle would have been nice but I know that would have been kind of pushing it.”