CORVALLIS — He was missed.
Freshman point guard Aaron Brooks sat at the end of the Oregon bench in his warmups Saturday night. His right wrist fully encased in a cast, Brooks could do nothing to help his Oregon team as it lost 90-81 to Oregon State.
“We miss Aaron,” senior Luke Jackson said. “We miss his quickness and the energy that he brings. At the same time, we’ve got to move on past that. We’re just going to have to learn how to play without him.”
Oregon’s first taste of a Brook-less offense was no stunning accomplishment.
Sophomore Brandon Lincoln earned his first career start for Oregon, and he is expected to continue as the starting point guard with Brooks out six to eight weeks.
“Coming out it was kind of an adjustment for me,” Lincoln said. “I’m used to coming out and getting a feel for the game by seeing how it’s going from the bench.”
Lincoln struggled early. In the first half, he had no rebounds, no points, one assist and two turnovers in his 12 minutes.
“It took me until the second half to shake all that stuff off,” Lincoln said.
Lincoln found his game in the second half. Three minutes in, Lincoln drove up under the hoop and scored his first two points on a reverse layup.
Lincoln scored six points and earned two steals in the second half. All his points were from close range; he went 0 for 3 from the three-point line. But Lincoln did not turn the ball over in the second half.
“With Aaron going down last week everybody knew they had to step up,” Lincoln said. “They just have to make the adjustment and this game we didn’t make the adjustment.”
Senior James Davis alternated on the point with Lincoln. When Oregon kept to a small lineup — which was often — both were in the game.
Davis had a solid night with five three-pointers, helping him to 17 points. His other numbers are identical to Lincoln’s with two assists and two turnovers.
Oregon had a season-low 10
assists on the night. Coming into the matchup, the Ducks averaged a little more than 18 assists per game.
“It was definitely an adjustment,” Davis said. “I think it’s something we’re going to overcome. It’s someone we’re definitely going to miss. We’re praying he gets better every day.
“Me and Brandon are going to have to step up and carry the load a lot better than we did tonight.”
When Lincoln and Davis weren’t bringing the ball up, Jackson took over the point guard duties. More often than not down the stretch, Jackson had the ball in his hands coming up the court.
“I was just bringing the ball up for a different offensive look,” Jackson said. “I kind of like bringing the ball up. I did it in high school. I’m used to it.”
Lincoln said he’ll be better prepared for the next game and for now it is time to go back to the drawing board and put in the work. Lincoln is averaging 5.8 points, 1.6 rebounds and 1.6 assists per game, including Saturday’s contest.
It was apparent in Gill Coliseum on Saturday night that Oregon still has some kinks to work out in the point guard spot. Oregon needs to find a way to maneuver the ball like they once did.