At first glance, the injury to Aaron Brooks during Oregon’s loss to UCLA looks like it will throw a wrench into Oregon’s postseason plans.
But if Brandon Lincoln has anything to say about it, the team will still have a strong season.
The sophomore is slated to earn his first career start against Oregon State on Saturday in Corvallis. He filled in for Brooks after the injury, scored three points and dished out three assists in 26 minutes against the Bruins.
“The UCLA game was kind of tough because we were kind of in a fog,” Lincoln said. “UCLA was getting a lot of things done on us. Basically, I just came in and tried to be solid, but I could have done a lot more.”
The Ducks say they feel comfortable with Lincoln at the point. Senior James Davis is set to be Lincoln’s backup.
That should mean more playing time for Jordan Kent, and it will force Luke Jackson to stay on the perimeter to make up for any outside shots that Davis will have to pass up while running the offense.
“You’ve got to get used to a new point guard,” senior Andre Joseph said when asked if any changes could be in store on offense. “Brandon has to get used to pushing the ball a little faster, like Aaron. We’ll be all right.”
When Luke Ridnour was charged with two first-half fouls against Stanford at McArthur Court last season, Lincoln admirably filled in. He scored four points in 19 minutes against the Cardinal and helped to get the 79-64 win.
“Brandon is a good shooter and he’s a smart player,” Jackson said. “He’s had some experience at the one, behind Rid last year and then a little bit this year, so I think he’s definitely capable of stepping in and being a real good contributor for us.”
Brooks returned home from the hospital yesterday, head coach Ernie Kent said, and doctors said surgery went smoothly. He is set to be evaluated on Jan. 14, and if all is well, he will be fitted for a hard cast.
The initial estimate of a six- to eight-week time period for Brooks’ return is still accurate, Kent said.

Platt gets back to action
After missing the previous four games because of a high ankle sprain suffered at the Papé Jam on Dec. 6, freshman forward Mitch Platt saw action against USC and UCLA last week.
He scored two points against the Trojans and six against the Bruins in a losing effort.
“(The ankle) feels pretty good,” Platt said. “It takes a little while to get warmed up, but once I’m warmed up, I feel pretty good.”
Against UCLA, Platt played 15 minutes but fouled out.
He still isn’t at 100 percent, but he said he’s close, estimating his health at 80 to 85 percent of normal.

“I definitely need to get into better shape so I can get up and down the floor a little quicker,” Platt said. “I think that’s what caused all the foul trouble. I was just a little slow-footed.”
So far this season, the Henderson, Nev., native is averaging 4.8 points and 3.8 rebounds per game.
The Ducks were 2-2 without him in the lineup.

Lee induction
Former Oregon star Ron Lee is set to be inducted into the Pac-10 Hall of Fame during the conference tournament in March.
Lee, who played for the Ducks from 1972-76, is first in the program’s history in scoring with 2,085 points for his career. His 41 points against Seattle in 1976 stands as the second-most points in a single game by a Duck.
Other Pac-10 notables to be inducted include former California guard Jason Kidd and Washington State’s George Raveling. Each conference team will be represented with one induction.

Bracket buster
Joe Lunardi, bracket master at ESPN.com, came out with his first regular-season Bracketology report on Monday.
Lunardi has the Ducks opening the NCAA Tournament as the No. 11 seed in the South, set to play against No. 6 Wisconsin in the first round in Seattle.
“Ducks haven’t really done enough to earn this spot, but I can’t — even with this earliest projection — include only two Pac-10 teams,” Lunardi wrote in his report. “But the immediate league schedule is kind, so Oregon may get on the kind of roll it needs to solidify their position.”
If the projection is indeed correct, and the Ducks were to win their first game, it could possibly set up a Northwest battle. Gonzaga, projected as the No. 3 seed, plays No. 14 Boston and would be a runaway pick to win against the Terriers.
Arizona was selected as the No. 1 team in the West region, set to open against Weber State. Stanford, the only other team from the Pac-10 to get a nod, is the No. 2 seed in the Midwest and would play the Patriot League’s Lafayette.