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Eugene, OR – After barely squeaking out a victory within the season opener with Hawaii, Oregon minimize down on turnovers whereas working previous woeful taking pictures in defeating the Rice Owls, 67-63. After going into halftime down 32-27, 7’0” senior Nate Bittle was a dominant power on each ends of the ground placing up 18 factors (4-6 FG, 1-2 3PT, 9-10 FT), 5 rebounds, and 5 blocked pictures within the second half alone. He completed the sport with 25 factors, 8 rebounds, and 6 blocks, greater than dwelling as much as his billing as a preseason All-Massive Ten choice. His skill to roll and get place near the basket have been keys to his offensive explosion after halftime, whereas he supplied verticality and had adept footwork defending the rim.
Whereas Bittle’s efficiency was absolutely the brilliant spot in a recreation that noticed Oregon shoot solely 17-52 (32.7% FG), it additionally noticed the return of fellow preseason All-Massive Ten choose Jackson Shelstad. Initially reported to be on observe later in November, Shelstad was thrown proper into the hearth and performed 35 minutes. Oregon minimize their turnovers from 21 in opposition to Hawaii, to 12 within the recreation with Rice, with Shelstad having the ability to break strain whereas offering a gentle hand at lead guard. The gravity and skill to create attractiveness for himself and others was a large acquire even with him having a tough taking pictures night time.
The key issue within the recreation was Oregon’s rim strain, which accounted for a lot of of Oregon’s area targets within the second half, and led Oregon to 38 free throw makes an attempt to Rice’s 11 for the sport. Oregon has began off the season ice chilly from the skin, as they solely shot 7-28 (25%) from three, and at present are 9-44 (20.5%) this season. Even with them attending to the road very often throughout these previous two video games, the Geese are solely taking pictures 65.6% FT cumulatively. Whereas their taking pictures will certainly come round, spacing and effectivity might be main components as they construct in direction of their subsequent two opponents and defending their title within the Gamers Period event going down in Las Vegas throughout Thanksgiving Weekend.
Backcourt play on this recreation was firmly within the favor of the Rice Owls, with Trae Broadnax, Nick Anderson, and Jalen Smith scoring 47 factors whereas going a mixed 9-19 on 3’s. Broadnax confirmed his array of footwork to get open on pull-ups, use of his physique on drives, and that led to playmaking alternatives. Anderson was a gentle taking pictures presence and off-ball menace, whereas Smith was 4-of-10 discovering openings and main the Owls with 5 assists. Their measurement, physicality, and off-ball motion led to excessive shot high quality alternatives and will result in the Geese probably wanting to use defensive strain additional up the ground.
Oregon’s backcourt, with the welcome addition of Shelstad, nonetheless solely managed to shoot a mixed 4-of-27 (14.8%) from the sector. Whereas Shelstad was a press breaker and playmaker they desperately wanted, and completed with 11 factors, 4 rebounds, and 4 assists to simply 2 turnovers, he was nonetheless getting his legs again beneath his jumper and went 2-12 from the sector. Takai Simpkins was a useful playmaker as properly, although after main Oregon in scoring in opposition to Hawaii, had simply 5 factors within the Rice recreation. Wei Lin was 3-of-4 from the road, however may be very a lot adapting to the pace of the school recreation and has but to attain a daily season area purpose.
After leaving the Hawaii recreation with 10:33 left within the second half, Kwame Evans, Jr. began and performed 26 minutes, ending with 11 factors, 5 rebounds, a steal and a block. His steadiness appeared to be considerably of a problem to start with, although he had a self 7-0 second-half run with a drive on a feed from Wei Lin, a putback dunk and a catch 3 that was a significant momentum swing for Oregon. His highschool teammate and present back-up, Ohio State switch Sean Stewart, gave a ton of power off the bench, ending with 9 factors and 5 rebounds, and drew quite a few fouls on rebound makes an attempt as properly.
Depth on the wing might be one thing to observe for Oregon, with Devon Pryor and Dezdrick Lindsay offering some defensive versatility and physicality, but struggling to search out offensive identification. Pryor is a superb vertical athlete with a nostril for the ball as a rebounder, however completed with no factors in 14 minutes, whereas having to go away the sport early within the second half attributable to harm. There have been no experiences on the timeline for the harm to Pryor presently, and very like Kwame Evans, Jr. in opposition to Hawaii, he was taken again to the locker room. Lindsay made his solely shot, a 3 pointer with 7:32 left within the second half, whereas going 0-3 from the road. With a lot strain already being utilized to the guards, with Rice choosing them up as quickly because the ball was inbounded, it’s a should that these gamers present considerably of a stretch or minimize possibility, whereas giving some confidence as scoring prospects.
Oregon outrebounded Rice 43-32, and the entrance court docket depth wore the Owls down. General defensive strain for the crew has been strong, as additionally they managed to carry Rice to 22-of-62 (35.5% FG), and brought on 14 turnovers. Different defensive highlights have been a few perimeter blocks from Simpkins and Stewart, to not point out the occasion creation from each Bittle and Evans, Jr. on the defensive finish.
The backcourt, wing have lots to show within the subsequent two video games in opposition to South Dakota State on November 12 and Oregon State on November 17 each in Eugene, earlier than every week break that sees them enjoying Auburn and San Diego State in Las Vegas for the Gamers Period Match.
This text was written by Michael Visenberg, a correspondent and scout for NetScouts Basketball. You may observe us on Instagram, or on twitter. Photographs by Chad Mart.
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