After a frustrating but competitive loss at the hands of Vanderbilt last Saturday, the Oregon men’s basketball team returns to action tonight at home against Eastern Washington.@@http://www.goducks.com/SportSelect.dbml?&DB_OEM_ID=500&SPID=235&SPSID=4294@@
The Eagles (1-1) may not carry much name recognition, but they certainly won’t lay down without a fight against Oregon (0-1). Eastern Washington lost by just eight points on the road against No. 22 Gonzaga to open the season and boasts a group of long-range shooters that has already totaled 24 three-point field goals through just two games.@@http://www.usdcoyotes.com/events.asp@@ @@http://www.goeags.com/sports/m-baskbl/2011-12/schedule@@
“Eastern Washington played Gonzaga awfully close,” Oregon head coach Dana Altman said. “They’re a very athletic team and we’re gonna have our hands full.”
In a game against South Dakota on Tuesday, the Eagles made 11 three-pointers and edged out a 70-61 victory despite being outscored 37-32 in the second half. For the Ducks, this particular matchup will come down to each individual playing his part.@@http://www.goeags.com/sports/m-baskbl/2011-12/Statistics/11-15-11.htm@@
“We’ve just got to know our roles,” junior forward E.J. Singler said, “know who really wants to shoot and know their tendencies.”@@http://www.goducks.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=500&ATCLID=3748530@@
If the first two games are any indication, junior college transfer Collin Chiverton will be doing most of the shooting. The forward has score 25 points in each of his first two games as an Eagle and has nearly double the amount of shot attempts (45) to the next closest player (Cliff Colimon, with 24). Yet the entire Eastern Washington team is formidable, and one that the Ducks certainly can’t approach lackadaisically.@@http://espn.go.com/mens-college-basketball/player/_/id/42117/collin-chiverton@@ @@http://espn.go.com/mens-college-basketball/player/_/id/51118/cliff-colimon@@
“We can’t overlook them,” Singler said. “It’s going to be a big test for us and I’m excited to play at home (tonight).”
Oregon returns to Matthew Knight Arena after a 78-64 loss to Vanderbilt in Nashville, Tenn., that was closer than the final score indicated. Were it not for 20 costly turnovers and a woeful 6-17 performance at the free throw line, the Ducks could have pulled much closer to what was then a top-10 team. And they know it.@@http://www.goducks.com/SportSelect.dbml?&DB_OEM_ID=500&SPID=235&SPSID=4294@@
“You just can’t win a game turning the ball over 20 times,” Altman said. “I was pleased with the fact that we got down and it looked like we were completely out of it and worked our way back. And if we hit any free throws at all, that ball game is tied with four minutes to go.”
Sophomore guard Johnathan Loyd was at the center of the action last Saturday, collecting a game-high eight assists and pushing the tempo on offense. Like Altman, he saw some positives in what could have been a discouraging 14-point loss.@@http://www.goducks.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=500&ATCLID=204965535@@ @@http://www.goducks.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPID=235&DB_OEM_ID=500&ATCLID=205332115@@
“We realize that we had some opportunities and we let a big one get away,” Loyd said. “So we’re just trying to come back and have a bounce-back game, show everybody that we’re ready for the season.”
After a set of practices leading up to the Vanderbilt game that Singler termed “lackluster,” the Ducks hit the court with a purpose this week and it has shown.
“(Practice has) been really good,” Singler said. “Really high intensity, haven’t turned the ball over quite as much, so that’s a positive. I think our group is meshing better.”
The true test of that theory will come at 7 p.m. tonight, when the game tips off.@@http://www.goducks.com/SportSelect.dbml?&DB_OEM_ID=500&SPID=235&SPSID=4294@@
“We’re just trying to take care of the ball and mix up the plays until we get a better feel for each other,” Loyd said. “Then we’ll be able to do anything we want.”