Ducks Try to End Two Game Slump against In-State Rival Oregon State
The Oregon Ducks’ last two games were devastating to say the least. The team started off its Bay Area road trip with an 83-63 blowout loss at California, which was then followed up by a 76-72 letdown at Stanford.
When speaking of the road trip, Oregon head coach Dana Altman said, “I'm really disappointed. Our field goal percentage in both games was really bad, our ball movement at times was not good. We just didn't play very well in either game. I don't want to take anything away from Cal or Stanford because they played well, hit their shots. We didn't have much pop.”
Altman and the Ducks cannot focus on the team’s two game losing streak. Up next, the Ducks must play in-state rival, Oregon State. In the teams’ last matchup on January 3rd, the Ducks lost 70-57 in Corvallis.
Oregon State forward Tres Tinkle was one of five Beaver players to put up double digit points in the first game against Oregon, as he had a team high 19 points. Guard Gary Payton II, who is leading the Beavers in scoring (16.1 ppg), rebounding (7.7 rpg), and assists (5.3 apg), had 12 points, 6 assists, and 6 boards in the game.
Oregon on the other hand, did not get much help from any players outside of Chris Boucher. Boucher scored 16 points, but Dwayne Benjamin, Elgin Cook, and Jordan Bell combined for a measly 10 points on four of 18 shooting. To get a win against Oregon State, Altman must find a more balanced offensive attack and a way for more players to score.
The Ducks will also try to win the battle on the boards. This season, the Ducks are 14-1 when winning the rebounding battle. The team was not able to outrebound the Beavers, as the Ducks lost the rebounding battle, 37-32.
The Ducks also cannot afford another loss in Pac-12 play. While the team lost on the road to California and Stanford, Arizona has surged to first place in the Pac-12. If the Ducks want to have a shot at the conference crown, the team cannot lose to the Beavers. A loss to Oregon State would almost assuredly prevent the Ducks from winning the Pac-12.
The odds will be in the Ducks’ favor, as the team has only been swept by the Beavers once in the past 22 years. The Ducks have home-court advantage to aid the team as well, as the Ducks have won the team's past 23 home games, which is the fourth longest active streak in the nation.
It will take a team effort to win against the rival Oregon State Beavers. The 346th edition of the Civil War game starts at 7 p.m. this Saturday.
