So, the Pac-12 decided that the Bruins need to travel to Oregon this week to make up the game originally scheduled for December 23rd, which was rescheduled for Monday, February 1 in Westwood before being postponed again. As a result, UCLA was required to travel to Eugene for tonight’s game. Tip-off for tonight’s game will be at 6 pm on ESPN2.
After last weekend, the Bruins are back in sole possession of first place in the Pac-12 with two games to go in the regular season. That means that UCLA controls its own destiny. If they win both games, they win the conference regular season title, but if they lose either game, either the Ducks or Southern Cal could win the title.
Beating the Ducks won’t be easy. They are an experienced team which has won three straight games. Let’s look at Oregon’s starting lineup.
Starting Five
Three of the Ducks’ starting five are seniors. Guard Chris Duarte leads the team with an average of 17 points per game as well as a 44.1% three-point shooting percentage. Meanwhile, Eugene Omoruyi isn’t far behind Duarte. He’s averaging 17.0 ppg and a 36.5% three-point shooting percentage. The third senior in the starting lineup is LJ Figueroa. Figueroa only averages 11.6 ppg, but he leads the team with 6.6 rebounds per game.
Redshirt junior Eric Williams, Jr. is the fourth Duck starter averaging in double figures with 10.7 ppg. He is second on the team with an average of 6.3 rebounds per game. This is Willams’ first season with the Ducks. He transferred to Oregon this year from St. John’s. Rounding out the starting five for the Ducks is Will Richardson. By all measures, he seems to be the Ducks’ weakest link. He’s only started ten game this season and his numbers for those games aren’t particularly spectacular. He would be the guy UCLA might leave open if Mick Cronin wants to double team Duarte or Omoruyi.
The Ducks’ most proficient scorer off the bench is N’Faly Dante. While Dante may not score enough to get to double figures, at 8.2 ppg, he’s the best Oregon guy off the bench.
Outlook
It’s going to be tough to beat Oregon on the road. The Ducks have only lost at home twice this season and they’ve won four in a row. This is the type of game a player should live for.
If the Bruins want to win the Pac-12 regular season title and wrap up the top seed in the conference tournament, they will need to play one of their best games of the season.
Listen to the Game Here on TMB!
The TuneIn player won’t embed here on Substack, but you can open another tab to listen. Today’s game is on ESPN2 with Dave Pasch and national treasure Bill Walton calling the game. If you would prefer to listen to Josh Lewin and Tracy Murray call today’s game instead you can listen to today’s game online.
Join your fellow Bruin fans discussing today’s game below.
This is your UCLA Bruins at Oregon Ducks game thread.
Radio/Audio: AM 570 in Los Angeles with Josh Lewin and Tracy Murray Satellite Radio: Sirius XM Ch. 389 (UCLA feed) And, of course, here in The Mighty Bruin Game Thread!
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Ugh....playing in Eugene. Lots of memories like Aaron Brooks and Dillon Brooks making game winning shots for the Ducks.
U!
C!
L!
A! clap clap!
Defense pretty good at the beginning of this game
Feeling like Jaquez realizing how important this week is and steps up these last two games. He's our glue guy and dependable.
Nice pass by Juzang to hit Jules for the 3
At the TV timeout, we're up 8 to 7 while Riley has yet to touch the ball inside.
Dammit Riley you gotta finish those, and SPTRs gotta blow the whistle when he's bumped on the layup
Great dribble-drive by Juzang!
Ducks 4/6 from 3 so far... we've no 3 pt defense
A couple were good shots. A couple were wide open. Agree we need to tighten that up.
Bernard came to play. 11 pts, made all 5 shots
6-6 with a free throw coming!
Jules!
Just got home and turned it on. SPTRs letting them play. Over the back? No problem!
Offense flowing. Defense could be better
Jules has never looked this good. Let's see if he can keep it up.
Wow, Jules was on fire!!
SSL Work call took me away from game for a bit, and catching up on end of half now
I made it... Jules!
That was all over tyger on that rebound, but letting them play
That was a foul on Riley going up for that layup
Jalen Clark continuing solid play
Jaylen Clark plays with no fear.
He looks a lot more comfortable and under control for sure
Nobody is paying attention to him. He gets a ton of loose balls , good offensive rebounder and defender.
Need to start feeding Riley more
Tyger not solid at feeding him the ball... perhaps because he can’t see over the defender? He seems most hesitant to pass to Riley underneath
Jules already made 9 points so that’s a guaranteed win for UCLA apparently
only if he makes at least 9 more
UCLA undefeated when Jules scores 9 or more apparently
Is that true? Haha
Mac in for his first minutes of the 2nd half
Jules for the spot up j
Great defense!
En fuego, baby!!!
2 turnovers in a row for oregon
Oh my Jules!!!!
Jules on fire
Jules is hot!
Relatively clean game so far; no one on either side in foul trouble
Refs not blowing the whistle is very refreshing
I'm not holding my breath that that continues
Jules also has 4 assists... is oregon just awful defense this year?
Oregon's defense ranks 62nd in KenPom, so not elite but pretty good.
This is just two ridiculously-hot offenses at work.
UCLA 15 assists, oregon 7
Need to keep pushing on offense
Not a foul on UCLA... refs going to try and make it close now... awful whistle blow
We have taken 1 FT all game
Bad call on Cody Riley
Another mythical foul there
How was that not a foul?
Another outstanding performance by the SPTRs.
Duarte elbows Bernard to the nose...no call
Seriously, wtf?
Why won’t they review that?
SPTRs killing us in the last few minutes.
This is some bs reffing all of a sudden
we must not panic
Some weak sauce defense last few minutes
And 1!!!!
Bruins need to dig deep, or SPTR's will rip it from them
The disparity in free throws is awful... refs definitely making an impact on Oregon’s run. It’s sad that is how it works
The Bruins playing like shit and turning the ball over is awful
At least two phantom fouls. Meanwhile, Riley gets clobbered on a layup and nothing
Even the announcers see the bs