Many asked how Oregon basketball was going to deal with bigger, taller teams. The tallest Oregon player stands at an exaggerated 6-feet-9 inches.
That’s forward Jordan Bell. At least that’s his listed height on the roster. But the freshman is probably one or two inches shorter, as reported by other media outlets, like SB Nation’s Addcited to Quack. Forward Dwayne Benjamin, 6-foot-7, and Elgin Cook, 6-foot-6, were supposed to hold down the post and become the paint protectors for Oregon.
The Ducks expected to get a boost from 6-foot-10 center Michael Chandler — if he was healthy to play. So far, Chandler sees limited minutes and is still working himself back into shape.
But in the first half of the season, the Ducks have dealt with their lack of size.
Led by Bell and his seven rebounds per game, the Ducks have five players averaging at least five rebounds a game. The Ducks are the top rebounding team in the Pac-12. They’re also fifth best in the nation. Additionally, every person in the current nine man rotation is grabbing at least two rebounds a game.
While Oregon head coach Dana Altman is critical of the defense — which is ranked ninth out of the 12 conference teams — the tenacity the Ducks’ display for rebounding on offense and defense cannot be understated. All five players relentlessly fight for rebounds on defense, particularly guards Joseph Young and Ahmaad Rorie.
Young and Rorie combine for eight rebounds a game, and they’re often the two smallest players on the court. With Young and Rorie getting rebounds, it allows the Ducks to transition because the primary ball handlers already have the ball and are looking up court.
In eight of Oregon’s 14 games, the Ducks have been led by someone who had double digit rebounds. Bell has led the team in six games and freshman forward Dillon Brooks has the season high of 14 rebounds. Oregon has been out rebounded only once all season (loss to Ole Miss) and tied once (win over Illinois) while grabbing a season high 60 rebounds in a win over Concordia and holding Oregon State to a low of 28 rebounds.
Oregon has been able to keep opponents from scoring, and Bell has turned into one of the most feared blockers in the nation.
Bell averages 3.4 blocks per game which places him second in the conference, tied for fifth in the nation and first among all freshmen. His 48 blocks this year is three short of tying Oregon’s single season record, and Bell still has 17 games left.
While Oregon is doing a great job controlling the paint and rebounding, the previous dominance is expected to be tested as the competition will get tougher. Nearly every team in the conference is taller and bigger than the Ducks. There are 11 players listed before Bell for averaging more rebounds per game, and nine teams have players grabbing more individual rebounds.
A lot of Oregon’s postseason will rely on its ability to defend the bigger teams and prevent second chance opportunities. If the Ducks can do this simple task, look for them to be playing late in the season with the record-setting Bell leading the way.
Follow Ryan Kostecka on Twitter @Ryan_Kostecka