Just when he thought he had left it behind for good, Oregon head coach Dana Altman is set to return to Omaha.
With a 79-71 victory over Boise State last Wednesday at Matthew Knight Arena, the Oregon men’s basketball team advanced to the College Basketball Invitational Championship Series against Creighton, the school Altman coached at for 16 years before arriving in Eugene. With the first matchup taking place in Omaha tonight, it is a homecoming that has Altman feeling uncomfortable.
“I don’t want to play Creighton,” Altman told the Omaha World-Herald. “I know all the guys, the staff … you never like playing people that you’re that close to.”
Nonetheless, Oregon (19-17) earned the right to play the Bluejays with impressive tournament wins over Weber State, Duquesne and Boise State. With two wins in a best-of-three series against Creighton, the Ducks could be crowned champions of the CBI.
“We’re battling to the end,” senior forward Joevan Catron told The Register-Guard. “Hopefully, we can finish it out the right way.”
It certainly will not be easy. Aside from the coaching subplot, Creighton (22-14) presents a genuine challenge and knows Altman’s system backward and forward.
“We know a little bit about them,” Altman told the Omaha World-Herald. “But they know our system. I’m not smart enough to have another system, so I don’t know if either team really has an advantage over the other.”
For their part, the Bluejays tallied victories over San Jose State, Davidson and Central Florida to reach the championship series. Junior guard Antoine Young played a starring role in each win, entering Monday with 27 assists and zero turnovers throughout the tournament.
In addition to Young’s prowess at the point, Creighton boasts an imposing inside presence with 6-foot-9, 270-pound Gregory Echenique and 6-foot-9, 250-pound Kenny Lawson. Catron will have his hands full, but Altman is fully confident that the senior is up to the task.
“He’s a savvy basketball player,” Altman told The Oregonian. “There’s a lot there. He’s underappreciated, even with all he’s done.”
Those skills have been on full display throughout Oregon’s run through the tournament. Catron compiled a double-double in each of the three games, including a 24-point, 11-rebound performance against Boise State. His imposing presence opened the floor up for perimeter players such as sophomore forward E.J. Singler, who added 18 points in the Boise State victory.
“We know Joe is going to get double-teamed every time,” sophomore forward E.J. Singler told The Register-Guard. “I just find an open spot and Joe finds me, and I was fortunate enough to hit my shots.”
It was Garrett Sim who played the starring role March 21 against Duquesne. The junior guard had a season-high 20 points as Oregon narrowly edged the Dukes 77-75. Catron added 14 points and 11 rebounds, while Singler scored 11.
Oregon had 5,369 fans in attendance for the game at Matthew Knight Arena, and Altman came away impressed.
“For them to come on a Monday night and get involved like they did, that excites the players,” Altman told The Register-Guard. “Our team is excited to play, but the fans have really helped.”
The fans also turned out for the tournament opener against Weber State on March 16, a 68-59 Oregon victory. The Ducks trailed 28-26 at halftime, but finally began to warm up after the intermission. Catron hit a free throw to give Oregon the lead with 13:05 remaining, and the Ducks never relinquished it.
In the end, Catron came away with 24 points and 12 rebounds. Singler added 16 points, and as a team Oregon shot 89 percent from the free-throw line.
“This isn’t the NCAA Tournament,” Altman told The Oregonian. “It’s not even the NIT. But the passion Joe showed for the game … E.J. and some of the guys … that’s what you’re looking for.”
For Catron, the motivation was simple.
“I just don’t want to see it end,” Catron told The Oregonian.
[email protected]
Dana Altman prepares Ducks for CBI matchup versus former team Creighton
Daily Emerald
March 27, 2011
More to Discover