After defeating the UC Berkeley Golden Bears on the road, the UCLA Bruins return home tonight to face the Oregon Ducks. While the Ducks are 9-6 overall, they are just 2-4 away from Eugene so far this season.
That doesn’t mean tonight will be an easy game. After all, the Bruins will not have their usual home court advantage tonight as there will be no crowd in attendance for. In fact, as of right now, fans won’t be able to attend a home basketball game until the rescheduled Arizona game on January 25th. Thankfully, that affects only tonight’s game and Saturday’s game against Oregon State, even though I’m sure that Mick and the players would like to have more fans there cheering them on.
Let’s take a look at the starters for Oregon.
Starting Five
The Ducks will start five upperclassmen against the Bruins tonight. That alone should make this a tough game and Dana Altman will certainly have his team ready to play.
Oregon is led by senior guard Will Richardson. He is a big three-point threat for the Ducks. Richardson is one of just three Pac-12 players to shoot 40% or better from three in each of the last two seasons. He is averaging 13.4 ppg and he is the guy who takes the most shots for Oregon. In fact, Richardson can do it all. He also leads the team in assists with 52 while also being the team’s best defender, having forced 29 turnovers so far. The only thing he doesn’t do much of for the Ducks is rebound, but that’s why they have their big men.
Forward Jacoby Young is the other senior who will start for the Ducks. He’s second on the team in points with an average of 10.5 per game while shooting 43.6% from the field. He also leads the team in steals with 20.
De’Vion Harmon is the third Duck who is averaging in double figures with 10.1 ppg. Harmon transferred to Oregon this year from Oklahoma where he earned Big 12 honorable mention last year and notched four 20-point games. He is one of 20 players nationwide to be named to the Jerry West Shooting Guard of the Year watch list.
Rounding out the starting five are juniors N’Faly Dante and Quincy Guerrier. These are the big men for the Ducks. Dante leads the team with an average of 5.5 rebounds per game while Guerrier is good for 5.1 rpg. Dante saw action in six games last season and shot 65.5 percent from the field. He holds the Matthew Knight Arena record for FG%, hitting 10-of-10 field goal attempts versus Florida A&M. Hopefully, the rims at Pauley won’t be as kind to him tonight.
Guerrier comes to the Ducks after transferring from Syracuse where he helped the Orangemen to last year’s Sweet Sixteen and was named All-ACC third team. He is one of 20 players nationwide to be named to the Karl Malone Power Forward of the Year watch list.
Analysis
All things being equal, I’m nervous about tonight’s game. Sure, UCLA seems to have picked up where they left off before their COVID-forced break, but Dana Altman is a good coach who will have his guys ready to play tonight. I also have a feeling that the Ducks are better than their 9-6 record indicates.
If UCLA wasn’t playing Oregon State next, I might suggest that tonight could be a trap game. But the Bruins should be focused on the Ducks and not looking ahead to the Beavs. The big question will be: Does Mick Cronin have the Bruins playing with the necessary intensity they will need to have to win tonight? I think he will, but I think this one may come down to the wire.
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So the Spanish BSPN online feed has been running for 5 min while the regular 3 feed has yet to start. 🤦♂️ Nunca ocurre así con Duke. No puedo aguantar BSPN.
NCAA just revised their Covid regulations pertaining to definition of fully vaccinated and how long "fully vaccinated" players must sit out if they've been exposed. Bottom line is the Holiday Bowl would have occurred if they did this 3 weeks ago. Welcome to 2022, NCAA.
Here is one of the keys: "A person who has had a documented COVID-19 infection in the past 90 days is considered the equivalent of 'fully vaccinated.'" So any of our players who tested posted within 90 days are considered fully vaccinated, whether or not they are vaccinated.
Now, for what would have impacted our holiday bowl. "COVID-19 management considerations suggest five days of quarantine after a positive test with isolation ending after five days if there are no symptoms or symptoms are resolving."
Important to our ridiculous protocols, the NCAA also says "The updated guidance also extends to close contacts." Even unvaccinated players can play after 5 days of no symptoms following a so called close contact.
And now the kicker: "Close contacts who are considered fully vaccinated or who have had a recent infection do not need to quarantine but should wear a mask around others socially for 10 days when not actively training/competing. Athletic activities are permitted without a mask. " BOOM...the Holiday Bowl should have happened. Thanks, NCAA for being late to the party.
How To Watch, Game Preview and Game Thread: Oregon Ducks at #3 UCLA Bruins
U!
Go Bruins!
Looks like the game is going to start on ESPN news if I had to guess.
Looks like they’re pushing the start back for ESPN?
So the Spanish BSPN online feed has been running for 5 min while the regular 3 feed has yet to start. 🤦♂️ Nunca ocurre así con Duke. No puedo aguantar BSPN.
Sigh. An empty Pauley for the anthem.
NCAA just revised their Covid regulations pertaining to definition of fully vaccinated and how long "fully vaccinated" players must sit out if they've been exposed. Bottom line is the Holiday Bowl would have occurred if they did this 3 weeks ago. Welcome to 2022, NCAA.
Here is one of the keys: "A person who has had a documented COVID-19 infection in the past 90 days is considered the equivalent of 'fully vaccinated.'" So any of our players who tested posted within 90 days are considered fully vaccinated, whether or not they are vaccinated.
Now, for what would have impacted our holiday bowl. "COVID-19 management considerations suggest five days of quarantine after a positive test with isolation ending after five days if there are no symptoms or symptoms are resolving."
Important to our ridiculous protocols, the NCAA also says "The updated guidance also extends to close contacts." Even unvaccinated players can play after 5 days of no symptoms following a so called close contact.
And now the kicker: "Close contacts who are considered fully vaccinated or who have had a recent infection do not need to quarantine but should wear a mask around others socially for 10 days when not actively training/competing. Athletic activities are permitted without a mask. " BOOM...the Holiday Bowl should have happened. Thanks, NCAA for being late to the party.
Wow! Pauley is empty!
I can hear Big Red off the side of the Spanish call.
Riley with 2 fouls. Ugh!
Two fouls on Cody in the first 30 seconds!
SPTRs take out Riley
Finally!
Juze!
Jaime!
These Oregon jerseys are so ugly...
Wtf. Juzang crushed from behind. No call.
Lots of hustle!
Defense is outstanding so far. Watson playing well but still has to learn what constitutes a good shot.
Four turnovers. Yikes!
Sloppy!
Tyger!
Watson a huge offensive liability unfortunately still
Grrrr!
Nwuba should be out there if Myles and Riley aren’t… ucla not big enough down low
How do you call a reach in foul on Tyger when you are behind the play???
SPTR!
Wtf? Ref on the opposite side of the court with no view blowing his damn whistle there?
Phantom foul and botched the possession call, all in one. Awesome.
Jaquez 3 pt shot has looked off the last few games
Don't agree with a lot of these calls; SPTRs back to their old tricks :-(
Another BS foul???
These whistles have to stop… this is some bs
The call on jaquez absolutely atrocious
Dear BSPN, there is a basketball game going on. Put the damn food away.
Okay, that was embarrassing, Bruins....
Great block by David Singleton!
Watson looked good in one game… he looks so bad and should not be playing out there
Damn, it is soooo nice to see Riley's mid-jumper!!
Our defense above the rim is impressive so far-- 5 blocks!
Horrible officiating and bad shot selection
Watson with the 3! Who would have thought!
Watson, I need you.
Ha! As soon as I call out Watson… he makes several good plays in a row. Block, 3, steal
Riley, so nice!
Riley has a jump shot though! So smooth
Our defense getting us back in the game :-)
Oregon making some brain dead plays here too
Love Watson's hustle!
This reffing has been sooo bad