Over the last three weeks, Oregon head coach Dana Altman has led some inspired practices, which has translated into better performance in games. This sounds simple enough, but when the second team — wearing yellow jerseys and acting much like a scout team does during football season — doesn’t bring the same intensity to practices each day, the occasional drop-off generally results.
This was much the case Tuesday afternoon at Matthew Knight Arena, when Altman told reporters after practice that he wasn’t pleased with the team’s focus coming off two big wins over the Washington schools this weekend.
“They’ve grown with their confidence,” Altman said. “Now it’s just a matter of continuing to improve, and that’s why having a bad day like we had today worries me. We haven’t had many of those days recently.”
One sloppy practice didn’t have Altman overly concerned, and he expects an improved workout tomorrow afternoon before flying to Los Angeles to face UCLA and USC.
Senior Joevan Catron, the reigning Pacific-10 Conference Player of the Week, said he noticed the letdown but doesn’t anticipate it becoming routine.
“I don’t think we were lackadaisical,” Catron said. “You know, past weeks our yellow team definitely pushed the green team. I think today, yeah, we did lose a little bit of focus, but I think we’ll be fine and get it back.”
After a 17-point, nine-rebound performance in the win over Washington State and a 20-point, nine-rebound showing against Washington, Catron arrived at practice on Monday afternoon unaware he was tabbed as the league’s top player last week. Altman greeted Catron by congratulating him on the selection. After stressing the importance of the senior in Oregon’s success to reporters last week, the award seemed to come right on cue.
“I’m excited for him,” Altman said. “He’s done a great job, and I think he’s underrated. I think all the double-teams and everything he’s faced for our team really distorts his numbers. But even at that he’s (averaging) 16 (points) and close to seven rebounds a game.”
His teammates were equally happy to see Catron rewarded for his efforts.
“I’m happy for him,” junior guard Garrett Sim said. “He’s been through a lot with last season with the back injury … he’s been working his tail off ever since I’ve been here, so that’s a big accomplishment for him.”
Catron, who missed the L.A. series earlier this season with an injury, will be expected to help the Ducks crash the boards, which was a clear weakness in the second half against UCLA the first time around. Oregon did have junior forward Jeremy Jacob for that game, but it’s unclear, and unlikely, that he’ll return to the lineup this weekend.
Jacob saw limited action in the Stanford and California games two weeks ago, and was in street clothes for the Washington series. Altman said it would ultimately be Jacob’s decision as to when he feels healthy enough to come back.
“I was really surprised he didn’t play last week,” Altman said. “I think he was hurting, but he kind of got himself geared and then game day he just couldn’t go. I trust his judgment; it’s his decision whether he can go. I know that if he can go he’ll be there.”
Freshman point guard Johnathan Loyd also sat out practice on Monday and Tuesday with pain in his lower leg. Altman said they had the leg X-rayed earlier this week, revealing no serious injury, but instead flared-up soft tissue.
Regardless of who will be available, Oregon and UCLA enter the game on similar hot streaks. The Ducks have won five of their last seven games, while the Bruins have taken seven of their last eight. Their only loss came at Arizona on Jan. 27, when they fell 85-74. The team rebounded, beating Arizona State by one point in double-overtime two nights later.
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