Eugene, OR (Sports Network) - The suddenly struggling Oregon Ducks will try to
stop the bleeding on Saturday when the Utah Utes come to Matthew Knight Arena
for a Pac-12 Conference conflict.
In the first venture on its trip to the Beaver State, the Utes were routed,
82-64, by Oregon State on Wednesday. The loss was the third in the last four
outings for Utah. The Utes are now 10-12 overall and just 2-8 in their second
season as members of the Pac-12. That conference record has the Utes tied with
Oregon State and Washington State for last place in the league standings. Utah
has just a pair of wins in eight road tests this season, but will return home
to face Arizona State next.
The normally high-scoring Ducks had their wings clipped on Thursday in a 48-47
loss to Colorado. The setback snapped a 20-game winning streak and was the
first this season for 19th-ranked Oregon at Matthew Knight Arena. The Ducks
have really fallen off of late with losses in their last three contests after
opening the season 18-2. Oregon is still in the Pac-12 title conversation at
7-3 in league action. Up next Oregon heads to the Evergreen State for dates
against Washington and Washington State.
Oregon swept the season series last year when these teams met as league foes
for the first time. It was the third win in the last four matchups overall for
the Ducks, who lead the all-time series, 9-8.
Despite a career-high 21 points from Brandon Taylor and 20 points from Jarred
DuBois, Utah was still thumped by Oregon State. The Utes got just 23 points
from the rest of the team, while shooting 35.7 percent as a unit. The Utes
were dominated inside, being outscored 32-14 in the paint, while being
outrebounded, 41-33.
The offensive struggles for the Utes have been well documented this season.
Utah is scoring just 65 points per game which is the second worst mark in the
league. The Utes do shoot just a shade under 45 percent from the field and
hold teams to 38.4 percent shooting. DuBois (12.1 ppg) is one of three members
of the team scoring in double figures. However, DuBois has scored in double
figures in only four of the team's 10 Pac-12 bouts. Jordan Loveridge (11.9
ppg, 7.1 rpg) returned from injury against Oregon State but didn't look in
sync as he scored just seven points on 3-of-11 shooting. Jason Washburn (10.6
ppg, 6.6 rpg) hasn't had as many opportunities to score, but finishes an
impressive 56.4 percent of his attempts from the field.
Andre Roberson's tip-in with 23 seconds remaining ended Oregon's dominance at
Matthew Knight Arena. Oregon had a chance to win in the final moments but E.J.
Singler's last-second attempt was blocked by Spencer Dinwiddie. The Ducks shot
just 36.2 percent from the floor in the contest and hit just 3-of-15 shots
from beyond the arc.
Normally Oregon has been an above average offensive team that enjoys a scoring
margin of more than 10 points per game. The Ducks are netting 72.9 points a
contest and shooting a solid 45.6 percent from the field. Oregon then holds
teams to just 62.7 points on 40.4 percent shooting. Dominic Artis' (10.2 ppg,
3.8 apg) absence over the last few games, as he deals with a foot injury,
can't be ignored. Damyean Dotson (11.1 ppg, 4.0 rpg) hasn't been the same
without his backcourt running mate as he has failed to score in double figures
in each of the four games since Artis' injury. Singler (10.9 ppg, 4.8 rpg, 3.1
apg) and Tony Woods (10.5 ppg) are also strong performers, while Arsalan
Kazemi (8.7 ppg, 9.4 rpg) is fourth in the conference in rebounding.
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