30Duck Moderator No. 1 Share Posted January 22 Oregon Ducks Defeat Washington Huskies, Dominate Final Minutes in 82-71 Win WWW.SI.COM The Oregon Ducks hosted the rival Washington Huskies at Matthew Knight Arena on Tuesday night. It was a back and forth... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
30Duck Author Moderator No. 2 Share Posted January 22 21 points for Bamba, 8-14 shooting, 3-9 on 3's, but by far his best game in months, Amger was 7-10, 1-2 on 3's. The Ducks had 8 turnovers in the games first 6 minutes but finished with only 10. This is nice, Oregon finished with 10 offensive rebounds, Washington, 4. Shelstad got the first basket then faded into the background, 0 assists, o turnovers. He returned in the final moments, finishing with 11 points. Key, 4-6, 1-2 on 3's, 11 points. Bittle didn't have a big game offensively, but had 11 rebounds, 4 offensive, Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
30Duck Author Moderator No. 3 Share Posted January 22 This team has a record that is much better than Altman's regular teams, the teams that turn it up in February. This team was at its best at the end of November, when it beat, Texas A & M, San Diego State, Alabama, at a neutral site. It hasn't played as well since. The wins, on the road, at a neutral site continue. Undefeated away from MKA. The depth of the team is also being expressed differently than usual, often 3/5 of the team don't show up. When they do, this team still doesn't shoot well, are constantly being beat on the boards, usually resulting in 2nd chance points for the opponent. Yet. this flawed team is 16-3, and they really should have beaten UCLA. The Illinois loss was a basketball version of the Rose Bowl. Oregon isn't as bad as that game made them appear to be. 12 games left. USC. who Oregon beat, took down Illinois. Ohio State just beat Purdue. Michigan State is the one team that has avoided a misstep. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
spartan2785 No. 4 Share Posted January 22 It's a weird team for sure, they aren't really improving like an Altman team usually does, though I guess his teams do tend to turn it on in February. I'm just amazed that we haven't been able to get a good shooting team in what seems like forever. Last few years it's been a struggle from outside. We used to be such a perimeter oriented team, now we are much more effective pounding it inside than letting it fly from outside. It's surprising to see guys like Bamba and Angel regress in their shooting percentages from previous years, usually you'll see players continue to become more consistent, instead you have no idea what you are getting from either of them. Tracey as well has become very inconsistent in his effectiveness. Really the only one that I think has been consistent in his value is Bittle. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sandy Rocks No. 5 Share Posted January 23 This team has been playing well all season so they are not going to show the improvement that other teams have shown. I see small pieces falling into place. They were slacking off in the first half of games but are starting to play better in the first half. The game against Wash. they had like seven turnovers in the first half and only one in the second. Neither Shelstad or Bittle had a great game yesterday but the rest of the team picked up the slack. Bamba ended up scoring 21 with three threes. Cook made about 12 points including 9/10 free throws. Angel also had a great game and Key and Tracy were their normal great selves. It does seem like once the game gets down to the five minute make that they just turn the switch on and crank down on the defense. They have all the hallmarks of a good tournament team. They won't have many games at home which is strange because it doesn't seem like they have played many conference games at home. Maybe they don't play as many conference games. With a team this deep, they can afford to have some inconsistency if the others take up the slack. They are back on the road now to Minnesota and UCLA. Hopefully they can beat both. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
30Duck Author Moderator No. 6 Share Posted January 23 On 1/22/2025 at 4:49 PM, Sandy Rocks said: This team has been playing well all season so they are not going to show the improvement that other teams have shown. I would argue that as well as a team starts. it still wants to peak in Feb-March. That it's improving from a higher floor just means the ceiling should be higher. They have won the 16 games but could be 11-8. I don't know if shooting can just improve. But ball, player movement can, this would help getting improved shot opportunities and be in better position for offensive rebounds. On defense, lately, the opponent, via movement, has been scoring in the paint much too often. in these final games I hope they can get back to the product they were in November. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sandy Rocks No. 7 Share Posted January 23 I think as a team you definitely want to be at your peak in Feb/March. I think they will. This team is very mature. They came back to play this year because they want to win, to go to the tournament and do well. I have never seen a group of college players put aside their egos like this team. That alone says how much they want to do well. I would be greatly surprised if they don't really crank it up. If Angel and Bamba can play like they did against Wash., they will finish up conference play with a lot of wins. They don't even look tired when they play, keeping the minutes down has greatly helped with that. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
30Duck Author Moderator No. 8 Share Posted January 24 B1G basketball doesn't make sense. After blitzing the Ducks at MKA, the Illinini looked like they were headed for a top line in "March Madness". Last night, at home, Mayland led Illinois, 38-35, went on to win, 91-70. Illinois and Maryland are now tied, 5-4 in conference, Maryland is 15-5 overall, Illinois, 13-6. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sandy Rocks No. 9 Share Posted January 24 We will be fine. Conference play is tough and you can't play well every night. This conference is considerable better than the PAC. That conference had maybe two or three good teams, this conference like the football, is much deeper. The ducks haven't had an easy game since they played Weber State. Are they going to look good each game, are they going to win every game? No, in conference play in basketball if you win at home and get a few away games then you are doing well. Although it seems to be the opposite with this team. They have lost three games and it is near the end of January. They are sitting in a great spot and have a high NET score, someone said only one other team has more Quad 1 wins. I don't remember very many of Altman's teams that were ranked, certainly not like this team that has been ranked almost the entire time. They probably won't win this conference but I bet they do well in the conference tournament and I am certain, baring any major injuries, they are going to do well in the tournament. This team was built for the tournament. Altman has done a superb job melding this team together. There are no egos on this team. I have enjoyed this team more than any of Altman's team because of how they play together. They are going to get even better but it is just going to be little tweaks here and there like a well oiled machine to improve its performance. I wish that there was as many commenting on this team as they do the football. People don't even realize how good this team really is. If you just watch the tournament, you are missing a lot. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
30Duck Author Moderator No. 10 Share Posted January 24 On 1/24/2025 at 3:03 PM, Sandy Rocks said: They are sitting in a great spot and have a high NET score, They actually don't have a high NET score, and that's very confusing. They did have a high NET, then Illinois happened, and dropped them from 9 to in the 20's. Even with at least tied for the most Q1 wins, they stay in the 20's. Meanwhile Illinois and some other teams, without as good a record, and fewer Q1 wins are higher in NET. After the loss to Maryland, at home, Illinois, 1-3 in its last 4 games, dropped in NET from 8 to 9. Maryland, who Oregon beat is 2-4 in Q1, is now 20 in NET, Oregon is 22. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sandy Rocks No. 11 Share Posted January 24 Wow I didn't know that. I wonder how that is determined. If it is just based on numerical data then Oregon would have the higher score. There must be some part of that based on something else. The crazy thing is that all of Oregon's wins are on the road also. I also realize also that it's a given they should win at home. They still only have three loses which is really good at this point in the schedule. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
spartan2785 No. 12 Share Posted January 25 The net also factors in things like offensive and defensive efficiency, so the fact that we basically don't blow anyone out hurts us. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
