=Ernie Kent was determined to get his point across.
As the Oregon men’s basketball team practiced at McArthur Court Tuesday, the Ducks’ head coach was relentless in instructing his guards to fulfill their defensive responsibilities in transition.
Players like freshmen Malik Hairston and Bryce Taylor were told to defend the perimeter — more specifically the wings — at all costs and always know the whereabouts of a certain someone.
“You have to get out there,” Kent yelled to his young guards. “If you don’t, he will light you up.”
No. 13 Arizona comes to Eugene tonight at 7:30 p.m., and that means Salim Stoudamire’s scoring talents will be on display.
Yes, Stoudamire is the certain someone Kent wants the Ducks to keep an eye on. And yes, Kent’s concern is warranted.
The senior guard torched the Ducks for six three-pointers and 37 points during last season’s 100-87 Wildcat win at Mac Court and he doesn’t appear to be cooling off anytime soon. The Portland native connected on 4 of 7 three-pointers and scored 32 points during Saturday’s come-from-behind victory against UCLA. For the season, he’s averaging 15.7 points per game and shooting an impressive
56 percent from behind the arc.
“To me, (Stoudamire) is the best shooter in the country when you look at his numbers,” Kent said. “He has an incredible ability to take over a game and to dominate a game. We really have to work to limit his touches and his shots. If you don’t find him quick in transition, he has the ability to shoot it
beyond the NBA three-point line.”
But limiting Stoudamire’s touches doesn’t guarantee much of anything. The Wildcats are loaded with talent at every position, including center Channing Frye (14.3 ppg), forwards Hassan Adams (12.2) and Ivan Radenovic (8.5) and guard Mustafa Shakur (8.5). Arizona (14-3 overall, 4-1 Pacific-10 Conference) can score from anywhere on the court and will push the youthful Ducks in every facet of the game.
“It’s one of the teams you watch growing up,” Taylor said. “Now we get our chance to go at them. We’ll definitely be ready to play on Thursday.”
Other than a slow start in Seattle last week, Oregon (11-3, 3-2) has received strong performances from its freshmen of late and will need more of the same tonight. Taylor dropped a career-high 26 points Saturday against Washington State, while Hairston added a solid 10. And while many of the Ducks struggled on Thursday against Washington, forward Maarty Leunen stayed consistent inside, grabbing 10 rebounds against
the Huskies.
“UCLA had some good freshmen
in (the McKale Center), but you’ll
see three up in Oregon that will matchup with anybody in Bryce Taylor, Malik Hairston and Maarty Leunen,” Arizona head coach Lute Olson said. “Their freshman group is outstanding.”
With both teams coming off narrow victories, Olson said he expects
a dogfight.
“It will be the typical kind of Oregon game and crowd,” Olson said. “I’m sure they are already excited about us coming in. It starts with us getting off the bus, where the students are lined up and passing out all kinds of pleasantries to all of us. It’s a great atmosphere. It may be the toughest place (to play) in
the country.”

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