– University of Oregon Athletic Director Rob Mullens was named to the the College Football Playoff selection committee on Thursday. Mullens will serve on the committee for three years along with three other newly-appointed members. Mullens will help preside over which top four teams make the semifinals of the College Football Playoff. He will also help in selecting the match-ups for the New Years Six Bowls.
“It is truly an honor to serve on the College Football Playoff selection committee,” Mullens said in a release. “I am looking forward to serving alongside the other distinguished members.”
– After getting its first Pac-12 win against Cal on Sunday, Oregon women’s basketball is hoping to rediscover the early season mojo that led to an 11-0 start. The Ducks travel to play Colorado and Utah this weekend, where they lost to both teams on the road last year. According to forward Jillian Alleyne, the team’s morale was high this week in practice.
“Coming to practice right now, it’s a super good vibe,” Alleyne said before Tuesday’s practice. “People are really happy-go-lucky right now. I think that will cause us to work a lot harder this week.”
– Newly-hired Oregon football defensive coordinator Brady Hoke’s contract is worth $1.8 million guaranteed over three years, according to The Oregonian’s Andrew Greif. Hoke’s annual $700,000 salary will be the highest ever for an Oregon defensive coordinator and isn’t far behind former offensive coordinator Scott Frost’s $755,000 salary in 2015. The contract can be found in its entirety here.
– Early into his collegiate career, men’s tennis freshman Thomas Laurent is proving to be a difference-maker for the team, writes the Emerald’s Jarrid Denney. Laurent is 3-0 in singles matches, having just arrived on campus at the start of winter term. The Montpelier, France native saw plenty of time on court no. 1 in last weekend’s victories over Seattle University and UC Santa Barbara. Going forward, head coach Nils Schyllander sees Laurent and senior Daan Maasland interchangeable in the top spot.
“For coaches, I think it’s good to have tough decisions to make in the lineup,” Oregon sophomore Simon Stevens said. “That means that a lot of players are ready to play and they are able to compete in every spot … That’s a good weapon to know that we can change a little bit. It’s definitely a luxury to put [Maasland] on two.”
– Oregon men’s basketball head coach Dana Altman was not pleased with his team picking up technical fouls in each of its last two games. The first incident occurred on Thursday against Utah after Jordan Bell converted a lay-in to put the Ducks up 16-7 and was subsequently whistled for a technical. Then in the first half of Saturday’s road game at Colorado, Dillon Brooks blocked a shot and also received a technical. Altman didn’t ask officials for an explanation on either call, though both likely came as a result of Bell and Brooks trash talking.
“We pride ourselves on not getting technicals and we had two in two games, so I was really disappointed there,” Altman said.
Follow Will Denner on Twitter @Will_Denner