Oregon Basketball: Kent's Cougars Get Past Ducks in Overtime Thriller
Jan 16, 2015
Jan 15, 2015; Pullman, WA, USA; Washington State Cougars guard Dexter Kernich-Drew (10) blocks the shot of Oregon Ducks guard Joseph Young (3) during the second half at Wallis Beasley Performing Arts Coliseum. The Cougars won 108-99 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: James Snook-USA TODAY Sports
First-year Washington State head coach Ernie Kent got his first crack against his former school and took full advantage of it as his Cougars knocked off Oregon in overtime 108-99 at Beasley Coliseum Thursday night.
Kent played at Oregon from 1973 to 1977 and was the head coach of the program from 1997 to 2010 before being let go after two disappointing back-to-back seasons.
The Ducks needed a win in order to boost their NCAA tournament resume, but they fell just short, as a surging Cougars squad reeled off its third straight conference win to get to 3-1 in Pac-12 play.
Washington State and Oregon went back and forth throughout the entire game in what was a fast-paced scoring spree. The first half especially showed off an impressive shooting display from both teams.
Oregon shot a solid 55.3 percent from the field and also made six of its 11 three-pointers (54.5 percent), but Washington State was even better, shooting 72.4 percent from the field and going 7-of-9 (77.8 percent) from beyond the arc in the half. The Ducks trailed 57-52 heading into halftime.
Once the second half began, the two squads exchanged leads 10 different times before drama ensued in the final minute of regulation. With 42 seconds left and the Cougars leading 93-91, a questionable foul called on Washington State’s Josh Hawkinson, who led the team with 26 points and 13 rebounds, resulted in a disallowed Jordan Bell layup.
Bell went to the free-throw line in a one-and-one situation and missed his second free throw, meaning the Ducks still trailed 93-92.
DaVonte Lacy would make a free throw on the other end to give the Cougars a 94-92 lead with 40 seconds remaining, but a key play from Joseph Young to Elgin Cook for a left-handed layup knotted things up 11 seconds later and forced overtime.
In overtime, Washington State would go on to outscore Oregon 14-5, snapping a seven-game losing streak against the Ducks and matching its conference win total of three from last season.
By scoring 108 points, the Cougars surpassed the 100-point mark for the first time since 2002. The team's 108 points were the most points scored by Washington State since it racked up 114 points on Grambling State back in 1998.
Washington State finished the game by shooting 58.9 percent, while Oregon finished with a 49.4 percent shooting percentage.
Despite the disappointing loss, Young matched a season-high 32 points, while Cook scored a career-high 26 points and recorded 10 rebounds.
Oregon will look to bounce back Sunday night when it travels to rival Washington. It has won four of its last five meetings against the Huskies.
University of Oregon Sued over Basketball Players' Alleged Sexual Assault
Jan 9, 2015
Oregon head coach Dana Altman directs his team during the first half of a second-round game against the BYU in the NCAA college basketball tournament Thursday, March 20, 2014, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)
An alleged sexual assault led to the dismissal of three University of Oregon men's basketball players in May, but the school and head coach Dana Altman remain under fire.
According to Andrew Greif of The Oregonian, the accuser has filed a lawsuit against both the University of Oregon and Altman:
BREAKING: Oregon and Dana Altman have been sued by the alleged victim of last spring's sexual assault http://t.co/tXCk3Wjo4d
Per Greif, the plaintiff, who is a University of Oregon student, claims the alleged assault was a result of both Oregon and Altman violating Title IX rights by ignoring the fact that Brandon Austin, who was among the accused attackers, was accused of sexual assault at Providence College previously.
Austin, Damyean Dotson and Dominic Artis were all released from Oregon's basketball program due to their involvement in the alleged March assault, according to ESPN.com's Myron Medcalf.
The accuser's attorney, John Clune, stressed the importance of pursuing this case due to the precedent it could ultimately set, per Greif.
"This is a very important case that needs to be litigated," Clune said in a statement. "It is time for athletic departments to stop trading the safety of women on campus for points on a scoreboard."
Interim University of Oregon president Scott Coltrane disagrees with the suit, however, as seen in this statement, courtesy of KEZI 9's Mike Skow:
While both the university and Altman stand to be negatively impacted financially should the accuser win this case, it remains to be seen how this will affect Altman's job status.
John Canzano of The Oregonian is among those who believe that Altman should be removed from his post as head coach of the men's basketball team:
Ducks basketball coach Dana Altman should have been fired — months ago. http://t.co/rbaLS5TcrV
The 56-year-old coach has certainly enjoyed on-court success with the Ducks, as he orchestrated four 20-win seasons and two trips to the NCAA tournament in his first four years, and his team is 11-4 in 2014-15.
If he was aware of the potential dangers Austin posed on the University of Oregon campus as alleged in the lawsuit, however, the school may have no choice but to make a change.
BYU vs. Oregon Betting Line, West Region Pick, Analysis
Mar 18, 2014
Members of the Oregon Pit Crew cheer on the Duck basketball team during their game against Arizona in an NCAA college basketball game in Eugene, Ore. on Saturday, March 8, 2014. (AP Photo/Chris Pietsch)
The Oregon Ducks beat the BYU Cougars in a wild contest back in December, so the Cougars will be looking for revenge on Thursday night when the schools meet again in West Region action at the NCAA tournament.
Lots of early money went behind the Ducks, who have been money makers lately with an 8-2-1 against-the-spread run.
After missing the NCAA tournament last year, the No. 10 Cougars are back, earning an at-large bid by playing a tough nonconference schedule and going 13-5 in the West Coast Conference. BYU owns wins this season over Stanford, Texas and Gonzaga, and six of its losses have come against tournament qualifiers Iowa State, Wichita State, UMass, Oregon and the Zags.
The Cougars have won 10 of their last 12 games, and in a pinch, they've got a kid in Tyler Haws (23 PPG) who can throw it in the hole from almost anywhere.
Why pick Oregon to cover the spread
After making it to the Sweet 16 last year, the No. 7 Ducks are back looking for more, earning an at-large berth by going 13-1 in nonconference play and 10-8 in a tough Pac-12. Oregon started 13-0, lost eight of 10, then won eight in a row before falling to UCLA in the conference tournament. The Ducks start three seniors and have 10 guys averaging at least 10 minutes per game.
As usual, Oregon likes to shoot it often and has made enough to average 82 points per game. The Ducks have also been beating expectations lately, going 8-2-1 ATS over their last 11 games. BYU, meanwhile, has struggled to cash in at tournament time.
Smart betting pick
Oregon beat BYU back in December in Eugene 100-96 in overtime, and the Ducks are favored for Thursday's game. The Cougars suffered a blow when guard Kyle Collinsworth, who averaged 14 points and eight boards per game this season and tallied 15 and five in the loss to Oregon, went down and out with a knee injury in the conference championship game.
His absence will be felt. Take the Ducks, minus the points.
In just four seasons, Dana Altman has done a fantastic job of re-establishing Oregon Ducks basketball. He led the program to a CBI championship in 2011 and the NIT Quarterfinals in 2012...
Oregon vs. Arizona: Score, Grades and Analysis
Feb 6, 2014
Better late than never.
No. 2 Arizona was ice-cold from the field and the free-throw line for about 39 minutes against Oregon on Thursday night at the McKale Center, but T.J. McConnell nailed a late three-pointer and Nick Johnson buried a couple of clutch free throws to help the Wildcats escape with a 67-65 victory.
"Our offense was a little out synch play-wise, but we battled back," McConnell said, according to the Associated Press (via ESPN.com). "We've done that so many times this year, been in games like that before, so I think we're a battle-tested team."
With the win, the Wildcats improve to 22-1 and 9-1 in Pac-12 play. Meanwhile, Dana Altman's squad (15-7, 3-7), which let a second-half lead slip through its fingers, continues to struggle to finish games in conference play.
According to KenPom.com (subscription required), the Ducks entered ranked just 152nd in America in effective field-goal percentage defense, but for much of the game, Arizona simply couldn't take advantage.
Playing without Brandon Ashley for the first full game, the 'Cats shot just 40 percent from the field, 25 percent from beyond the arc and 54.3 percent from the free-throw line.
Johnson, who has been so good for the Wildcats this year, was just 5-of-16 from the field for a game-high 18 points, although he showed off his unbelievable athleticism in the first half.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v46p-IUEDeg
McConnell made just two of his nine shots for six points and Aaron Gordon was dreadful from the free-throw line, converting just two of 11 attempts.
Fortunately for the Wildcats, Rondae Hollis-Jefferson (14 points, 10 rebounds) and Kaleb Tarczewski (12 points, 7 rebounds) did just enough to keep Arizona close before McConnell hit the go-ahead shot with 1:33 remaining and Johnson shut the door with late free throws.
Coincidentally enough, just as the Wildcats started hitting shots in the final minute, Oregon fell victim to the same mistakes Arizona was committing earlier.
Joseph Young and Jason Calliste led the Ducks with 14 points each, but Young threw up an errant three-point attempt and Calliste—along with Dominic Artis—missed late free throws to seal an ugly-yet-thrilling contest.
CBSSports.com's Jeff Borzello pointed out the shocking statistic that defined a game both teams can't wait to move on from:
Player Grades
Jason Calliste, Oregon: B
Feb 6, 2014; Tucson, AZ, USA; Oregon Ducks guard Jason Calliste (12) shoots a free throw during the first half against the Arizona Wildcats at McKale Center. Mandatory Credit: Casey Sapio-USA TODAY Sports
Calliste, who comes off the bench for the Ducks, is very quietly one of the most efficient offensive players in America. That was once again evident on Thursday night.
On his way to 14 points on just seven shots, the Detroit transfer knocked down shots from the outside (2-of-4) and got to the foul line (seven attempts). He also added six rebounds, two assists and three steals.
However, he was quiet in the second half and missed three free throws, which brings his grade down a touch.
Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, Arizona: A-
Receiving just his third start of the season because of Brandon Ashley's injury, the true freshman didn't disappoint.
Hollis-Jefferson still doesn't really have a consistent jump shot, but that didn't stop him from making an impact all over the court. Whether he was crashing the offensive glass, playing lockdown defense on the perimeter or on the interior, or just setting hard screens, he brought constant energy.
He finished with 14 points, 10 rebounds (four offensive), one steal and two blocks, and was a major reason why Arizona won this game.
Joseph Young, Oregon: C+
Oregon's leading scorer got into early foul trouble, and as a result, he entered halftime with zero points on just one shot.
However, he got a chance to be a little more aggressive on the offensive end in the second half, finishing with 14 points and two rebounds.
While he was a big part of Oregon's second-half offense, poor shot selection (14 points on 13 shots) stands out.
Aaron Gordon, Arizona: C+
There are times when Gordon looks like the most dominant player on the floor—like when he uses his unbelievable athleticism to dunk over someone or sky for a rebound. Or when he shows off his impressive dribbling for a big man.
It's all a joy to watch, but then he goes to the free-throw line.
Gordon finished with six points and eight rebounds, but he was an atrocious 2-of-11 from the charity stripe. With Arizona's depth hurt by the absence of Ashley, it was difficult for Sean Miller to justify taking Gordon out of the lineup and his free-throw shooting made him a liability on the court.
What's Next
Oregon looked like a real threat come March after it won its first 13 games of the season, but with this lost opportunity at a resume-building win, the Ducks can't afford any more defeats down the stretch. On Saturday, they will continue their trip through the Grand Canyon State with a contest against Arizona State.
Meanwhile, life without Ashley didn't start all that well for the Wildcats. They'll look to continue to adjust when they host Oregon State this Sunday.
As for what's next for Ashley himself, he made it clear the NBA isn't on his mind, telling ESPN.com's Jeff Goodman he'll be back in Tuscon for the 2014-15 season:
"I wasn't 100 percent (about coming back) before the injury," Ashley told ESPN.com. "But I've thought about it, and there's a very, very, very strong chance I'll be back at the University of Arizona next year."
Judging by tonight's struggles offensively, that should enthuse Wildcats fans.
Oregon Ducks vs. Ole Miss Rebels Live Blog: Instant Reaction and Analysis
Dec 8, 2013
The Oregon Ducks are now 8-0 and off to their best start since the 2006 season, when they started 13-0. The Ducks needed overtime but finished off the Rebels 115-105. This was the first true road game for the Ducks this season.
Marshall Henderson lead the Rebels with a career-high 39 points but it wasn't enough and the Rebels have dropped their second straight. Ole Miss was an incredible 62-2 against non-conference opponents at home under coach Andy Kennedy. Henderson scored 13 in the first half to lead the Rebels to a one point advantage.
Oregon had lost four of its last six road games against unranked opponents. Mike Moser heated up late for the Ducks who dominated the overtime period.
The 13th-ranked Ducks usually defend the three-point line as well as any team in the country, holding opponents to 26 percent from beyond the arc. They struggled defensively today and allowed the Rebels to shoot 43 percent from beyond the arc which included 15 made three-pointers.
The Ducks rose to the occasion late and put the pedal to the floor in the overtime period. Ole Miss played well but in the end the Ducks showed why they are undefeated and ranked 13th nationally.
This was one of the most exciting games of the season thus far. The game really had a March Madness feel to it. All instant reactions and analysis are available below following a 115-105 Ducks win in overtime.
No. 19 Oregon made a season-opening statement by holding off Georgetown 82-75 at Camp Humphreys in South Korea.
After losing sophomores Dominic Artis and Ben Carter for the first nine games of the season due to NCAA violations this week, Dana Altman’s squad was lifted by Houston transfer Joseph Young, who scored an impressive 24 points.
The Ducks were able to get off to a quick 18-7 lead in the first half, but Georgetown clawed its way back into the game and were only down 37-34 heading into halftime.
In the second half, the Hoyas took an early three-point lead with the help of UCLA transfer Joshua Smith, who scored 25 points and recorded four rebounds, and Markel Starks, who had 16 points.
Oregon, though, was tough on the boards defensively and knocked down key jump shots on the offensive end. Young played a major role in the Ducks’ success, but UNLV transfer Mike Moser and Johnathan Loyd were big playmakers as well.
Moser scored 15 points, recorded seven rebounds and had six steals, while Loyd scored nine points and had seven assists.
The bench was a contributing factor too, as sixth man Jason Calliste scored 16 points and went a perfect 11-for-11 from the free-throw line.
Oregon was able to hold a close lead almost the entire second half, and eventually put Georgetown away with 55 seconds remaining when Loyd knocked down two free throws to take a 77-71 lead.
It’s the first time Oregon has been ranked in a preseason AP Top 25 poll since 2007. A win over a Hoya team that has made seven NCAA tournament appearances and averaged 23.9 wins since 2006 should be a big boost for this program heading forward.
The Ducks will host Western Carolina on Nov. 13 at Matthew Knight Arena.
Armed Forces Classic 2013: Key Storylines for Oregon vs. Georgetown Tilt
Nov 8, 2013
Whenever teams from opposite coasts in the Pac-12 and Big East face off, the visiting team usually has an arduous road trip ahead. However, when Oregon and Georgetown play each other at 8 p.m. ET in the Armed Forces Classic, both squads will be battling jet lag.
The Ducks and Hoyas tip off their respective seasons on a U.S. Army base in South Korea at Camp Humphreys as a way of entertaining and showing support for troops overseas. If there was ever a good reason to start the college basketball season thousands of miles away, that is certainly it.
Let’s dig into a few key storylines as the road to March begins.
Oregon Suspensions
Oregon is coming off a Sweet 16 appearance in the 2013 NCAA tournament and is ranked No. 19 in the initial AP Top 25 poll. However, off-court issues present coach Dana Altman with a difficult challenge early.
Sophomores Dominic Artis and Ben Carter will both miss Friday’s game and are suspended indefinitely after breaking NCAA rules by selling team-issued apparel. It is a crippling blow, especially in the case of Artis, for a team that lost much of its frontcourt and will be relying on its guards.
Artis averaged better than eight points and three assists as a freshman and played well down the stretch. He was anticipated to have an even more significant role this year (and probably still will upon his eventual return). Furthermore, the loss of Carter off the bench leaves the Ducks even thinner down low.
Keeping the Big East Legit
No league lost as much as the Big East did once the conference realignment merry-go-round finally came to a rest (for the time being). Powerhouse programs Louisville, Syracuse, Pittsburgh and Notre Dame all bolted for the ACC, although the Cardinals are stuck in American Athletic Conference purgatory this year.
Georgetown, Villanova and Marquette are the three remaining mainstays from recent years. Yes, the Big East added former mid-major darlings Butler, Xavier and Creighton, but those names don’t quite pack the same punch as the teams that left.
The Hoyas will be asked to carry the league’s flag on Friday after losing Otto Porter to the NBA and Greg Whittington to knee surgery. Markel Starks, Jabril Trawick and company will have their hands full with the athletic Ducks.
There has been a debate about who the top conference is between the Big East, Big Ten and ACC the past couple of seasons, but the Big East is likely out of those discussions for now. However, a flagship program getting a nonconference win against a ranked team from another power league would provide a solid public perception boost.
Ducks Proving Mettle
Regardless of the fact that Stanford has its number, Oregon has established itself as a football powerhouse. However, it doesn’t get the same respect on the hardwood.
Last year the Ducks won the Pac-12 tournament in impressive fashion and had as much momentum as almost anyone else in the country heading into the Big Dance. However, they were rewarded (punished?) with a No. 12 seed by the selection committee and still battled their way to the Sweet 16. They even gave eventual national champion Louisville a run for its money.
This year Oregon is ranked No. 19 and has a chance to prove it is worthy of more respect in a marquee nonconference tilt. The suspensions will hurt, but transfers Joseph Young and Mike Moser, along with Damyean Dotson and Johnathan Loyd, will provide plenty of firepower.
Louisville Defeats Oregon to Move on to the Elite 8
Mar 29, 2013
Top-overall-seed Louisville continued its run towards a national title by securing a spot in the Elite Eight with a dominant 77-69 win over No. 12 Oregon.
Russ Smith led the the way for the Cardinals on offense, and Gorgui Dieng took care of the defense. Smith finished with a game-high 31 points, while Dieng dominated down low with nine rebounds, two steals and four blocks.
The Ducks proved conclusively in their first two games that they were under-seeded, but the Cardinals showed immediately from the start of this contest that the selection committee was right to choose them as the best team in the 2013 NCAA tournament.
Despite senior point guard Peyton Siva's absence for much of the first half due to foul trouble, Louisville dominated the opening 20 minutes. Rick Pitino's team was up by as many as 16 points and ultimately took a 14-point lead into the locker room.
The lead ebbed and flowed throughout the second half, as Oregon refused to go down in a blowout. E.J. Singler led the Ducks in scoring with 15 points, while fellow senior Arsalan Kazemi chipped in 11 points and 12 rebounds.
The Ducks closed the deficit to as little as six points, but every time Oregon made a run, Louisville responded in a big way.
The Cardinals controlled this game from start to finish, with the exception of a few brief periods, and Pitino's team looks invincible heading into the Elite Eight.
Twitter Reaction
Pac-12 Digital's Bryan Fischer noticed right at the beginning of this game that Oregon did not look like it was up for the challenge of playing the best team in the country:
Oregon looking all kinds of flustered at both ends of the court.
There was a brief moment of hope in the first half for Oregon, and Yahoo! Sports' Pat Forde was quick to point it out. However, he later noted that it wasn't long before Louisville's dominance returned:
Nice regroup by Oregon. Settling down in halfcourt now and back within eight.
The Cardinals were the popular pick to win the national title this year, and Forde's colleague, Brad Evans, notes that they demonstrated exactly why in this game:
Folks, this is why every pundit and their momma was on Louisville. Oregon playing hard, but simply can't match blow-for-blow. Cards ballin'.
Just past the halfway mark in the second half, Louisville shifted into another gear and pushed the lead to 18 points. This caused CBS Sports' Doug Gottlieb to call this game early:
The Ducks nearly made Gottlieb's last tweet look foolish when they mounted a late comeback. He then opted to quote a classic Disney movie as Oregon inched towards a storybook finish:
Oregon Basketball: Keys to Victory vs. Louisville in Sweet 16 Matchup
Mar 23, 2013
The Oregon Ducks are making a big push in the NCAA tournament, but they will have to play just as well as they have been against the Louisville Cardinals.
Despite only being a No. 12 seed, the Ducks have already won two games as underdogs against No. 5 Oklahoma State and No. 4 Saint Louis.
Now, the Ducks will have their toughest task in the Sweet 16 by playing the No. 1 overall seed Louisville Cardinals. It will be a very challenging game, but by focusing on several parts of their game, they can pull off yet another upset.
Avoid Turnovers
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CoO-2sSDLsc
The Cardinals excel at forcing turnovers, and the Ducks must limit their mistakes at all costs.
As a team, the Ducks struggle at turning the ball over. They average 15 turnovers per game, one of the worst in the tournament. Meanwhile, the Cardinals force 18.9 turnovers per game, one of the best in the tournament.
As long as the Ducks limit their turnovers and keep the Cardinals from getting fast-break points, they can avoid the No. 1 seed pulling away, keeping the game close.
Get Gorgui Dieng in Foul Trouble
Gorgui Dieng is arguably the most dominating defensive player in the country, and the Ducks will need to get him out of the game in any way possible. The numbers for Dieng are frightening, as he averages 10.0 points, 9.8 rebounds, 2.5 blocks and 1.3 steals per game.
While it’s a daunting task, the Ducks must drive at Dieng while drawing fouls. He averages 2.4 fouls per game, so he isn’t one to foul out often. However, in the team’s four losses—when Dieng is in the lineup—he averaged 3.25 fouls and fouled out twice.
Drawing fouls on Dieng early would be a huge advantage for the Ducks. It would open up the paint dramatically and give them better chances to score inside.
Box Out
Second-chance points are a big momentum boost, and the Ducks must keep the Cardinals from gaining that kind of momentum.
The Cardinals do a great job of getting second-chance opportunities. They grab 13.6 offensive rebounds per game on average, and that can turn the tide of a close game. The Ducks aren’t the best team in the country at boxing out, allowing 9.6 offensive boards a game.
The Ducks must keep second-chance opportunities to a minimum in order to upset the Cardinals. The frontcourt is tremendous for the No. 1 overall seed, and keeping them off the glass will be ideal.
