After a pair of intrasquad scrimmages, the Oregon men’s basketball team is ready to face an opponent outside of the program.
The Ducks open their season Sunday with an exhibition game against Trinity Western at McArthur Court at 3:30 p.m. The university from Langley, British Columbia, which pushed Georgia to double overtime last week
before falling 75-63, should provide an early challenge for Oregon.
“I’m looking forward to being in front of the crowd and not playing against our own team,” sophomore point guard Aaron Brooks said. “It’s going to be exciting to finally put on the uniform.”
Oregon displayed an up-tempo brand of basketball during its two scrimmages and doesn’t plan to change Sunday. Brooks, who is coming off a 40-point performance during Wednesday’s scrimmage, is expected to lead an offense full of young, athletic players with unlimited potential.
Included in the group are the four freshmen who constitute Oregon’s greatest recruiting class ever. Guards Malik Hairston, Bryce Taylor, Chamberlain Oguchi and forward Maarty Leunen are expected to play major roles in how much the Ducks are able to accomplish this season.
“Coaches went out and recruited guys who are going to run,” Brooks said.
“That’s the kind of game we’re going to play. It’s fun to finally get the pieces in there.”
Head coach Ernie Kent said Sunday’s exhibition game will be a good reference point for how far the young Ducks have come, as well as a chance for players to continue getting in shape.
“Sunday, for us, is a track meet conditioning game,” Kent said. “We want to really get up and down (the floor) and use the game to get our work in, in terms of conditioning. We want to see how well we play in front of a crowd, in terms of our new guys, and how we handle things.”
Though the season has yet to start, the Ducks are already battling injuries. Forwards Ian Crosswhite and Mitch Platt were held out of Wednesday’s scrimmage with ailments. Platt re-aggravated a left foot injury from last season during practice last week, while Crosswhite slipped on wet steps outside his home Tuesday and suffered a slight injury to his left ankle. The status of each player for Sunday’s game is undetermined.
Oguchi was also held out of Wednesday’s scrimmage after experiencing an abnormally rapid heartbeat Monday. The Houston native received medical clearance, however, and should be available to play Sunday barring any setbacks.
Oregon’s second exhibition game will be Sunday Nov. 14 against Western Oregon at Mac Court. The Ducks’ regular season opener is Nov. 19 against Idaho State at Mac Court.

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