Ducks Beat Washington By Historic Margin

[Charles Fischer]

Oregon's 84-56 win over Washington on Sunday was the Ducks' largest margin of victory in the history of the rivalry.

 

 

EUGENE, Ore. — The struggles of late November and early December are growing smaller and smaller in the rearview mirror for Oregon men's basketball.

The latest evidence was an 84-56 win for the Ducks over Washington on Sunday evening in Matthew Knight Arena. The UO men posted their largest margin of victory ever over the Huskies, winning their sixth straight game and dominating a UW team that had won three straight.

Playing for the first time in more than a week due to COVID protocols, the Ducks led 24-6 midway through the first half, then scored 16 straight points to lead 40-8, on the way to a 48-13 lead at halftime. At that point Oregon's defense had more turnovers forced (14) than points allowed (13).

"We kind of had a sense of urgency, and coach put a lot of emphasis on defense before the game," junior forward Quincy Guerrier said. "That's why, first half, we played really well on defense. … When everyone is locked in, connected, y'all see the result."

Then Ducks led by as much as 38 in the second half before going deep into their bench. Oregon's largest margin of victory over UW previously had been 25, set a handful of times.

How It Happened: After UW scored the game's opening basket, the Huskies went nearly six minutes without another field goal. The Ducks put together a 13-2 run over that stretch, including two three-pointers by Will Richardson that made him the 37th player in program history to reach 1,000 career points.

After UW finally made another basket, the Ducks launched an 11-0 run that included two thunderous dunks by Franck Kepnang. Two free throws got UW within 24-8 before the Ducks went on another run, this time scoring 16 straight including three-pointers by Eric Williams Jr., Rivaldo Soares, Richardson and Guerrier.
 

 

Up 48-13 at halftime, the Ducks were shooting 19-of-29 including 8-of-12 from three-point range. UW had more turnovers than points, and Richardson had more field goals (five) than Washington's entire team (four).

"They were ready to play a game," said UO coach Dana Altman, whose team had a Thursday game against Washington State postponed by COVID protocols. "I thought in the first half, our defensive activity was real good. Second half it wasn't really as good, but the guys had a big lead and kind of exchanged baskets there. But the first half we forced a lot of turnovers, our activity was really good — I thought we did a lot of good things."

A layup by De'Vion Harmon set up by a Richardson steal early in the second half gave Oregon its biggest lead, 55-17, and the Ducks matched that 38-point margin a couple of times later in the half. As the half wore on Altman went to his bench, ultimately playing 13 different Ducks. Among the reserves who played was Lök Wur, making his first appearance since Nov. 29.

Who Stood Out: Richardson finished with 21 points on 8-of-11 shooting, reaching 20 for the third time in his last five games. Guerrier and Jacob Young scored 12 each, and Guerrier led the Ducks with four rebounds. Harmon had a team-high five assists with nine points, and Kepnang also scored nine.

 

Oregon's defense not only forced 23 turnovers, the Ducks held the Pac-12's leading scorer — UW's Terrell Brown Jr. — to 14 points on 3-of-16 shooting. He came into the game averaging 21.4 points per game, ranking seventh nationally.

What It Means: The big margin in the second half allowed Altman to evaluate his playing rotation. The Ducks are primarily using an eight-man rotation, with freshman Nate Bittle as the next man up. Bittle was able to get seven minutes of action Sunday, Isaac Johnson made his first appearance against a Pac-12 opponent and Wur was able to return after missing time due to injury.

Up Next: The Ducks host Colorado on Tuesday (7 p.m., Pac-12 Network).

 

[30Duck]

Washington had won 3 in a row before the game, the leading scorer in the conference, but they had no response to anything Oregon did. 15% shooting in the first half for the Huskies. A 35 point lead at halftime for the Ducks; I was thinking, "let's beat 'em by 70!".

 

Of course that didn't happen; UW actually outscored Oregon in the second half, but still lost by 28, as Oregon wisely got playing time for the bench. This was a good game to have after the LA sweep, and before Colorado on Tuesday. 

[30Duck]

 

[30Duck]

 

[Charles Fischer]

I agree with Matt Prehm, but we have to win a TON of games yet, with little to no slack.

[MaiTaiDuck]

A lot of Basketball left so anything can happen. From watching how this team now is playing Dana's style really really good nobody would want to play Oregon if the tourney started today. We know like clockwork Oregon always plays better at the end of the season and I never really wrote them off after the horrible start. As usual way to much talent to be this bad. A few transfers had to jell and they have now so look out. This team looks the part also and the game just looks smooth to them now. They just have to keep buying in to defense and the offense will come.

[Duck 1972]

Best 1st half of defense I've seen. Probably not able to maintain that level of intensitivity for full game but if they can could be a natty year. The difference I see this year is we have the size and depth to be very difficult. We tore their vaunted zone defense apart the whole game. Go Ducks Fly High