Who: No. 10 Oregon vs. No. 20 Colorado
Where: Coors Event Center
When: 2 p.m. PST
TV: FOX Sports 1
After grabbing a last second overtime win against Utah in their Pac-12 opener, the No. 10 ranked Ducks (13-0, 1-0) are headed to face No. 20 ranked Colorado(12-2, 1-0) for their second consecutive road game. Colorado is coming off their first conference win against Oregon State and has yet to lose a game at home this season.
Since joining the Pac-12 in 2011-2012, Colorado is 4-1 against Oregon and has proven to be a difficult opponent every year. While the Ducks have a chance to be 14-0 for the first time since the 1937-38 season, they will need to find a way to get past a Buffalo team that defeated the previously No. 6 ranked Kansas Jayhawks.
Oregon
Following a perfect start in non-conference play, the Ducks understandably struggled on the road in their first Pac-12 game of the year. Having played the majority of their games at home, the Ducks were inexperienced on the road as a team and it showed in a game where they shot a season-low 38.7 percent from the field; something they cannot afford to do against the Buffaloes.
The keys to the game for the Ducks will lie in their recovery on the offensive end, specifically Joseph Young and Mike Moser, who were both held to under 10 points against Utah. Damyean Dotson and Dominic Artis may have stepped up in their absence, but it is something the Ducks will need to figure out moving forward.
Players to watch
Joseph Young: 19.3 (PPG), 3.6 (RPG), 54.3 (FG%), 46.0 (3P%)
Mike Moser: 13.1 (PPG), 7.7 (RPG), 48.9 (FG%), 35.7 (3P%)
Colorado
The Buffaloes don’t boast any one particular stat that stands out, but their collective effort is something that has landed them in the top 25 once more. Colorado played three ranked teams in non-conference play and are one of the more tested teams in the Pac-12. Combine that with having the luxury of playing at home and they will have as good a chance as any to knock off Oregon for the first time this season.
For the Buffaloes, the key to the game will be to take control of the paint and force Oregon to shoot jumpers. After struggling against Utah, the Buffaloes will need to try and implement a similar strategy against the Ducks and clog the middle lane as much as possible where the Ducks are at their best. Colorado is averaging 39.5 rebounds per game, so look out for them to try and make a difference on the boards this game.
Players to watch
Spencer Dinwiddle: 15.3 (PPG), 3.9 (APG), .460 (FG%), 40.0 (3P%)
Josh Scott: 13.3 (PPG), 9.3 (RPG), 53.8 (FG%), 80.7 (FT%)
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Follow Hayden Kim on Twitter @HayDayKim