Scouting report: No. 5 Arizona Wildcats vs. No. 13 Oregon Ducks
- Updated
Prepare for Arizona's game against Oregon on Saturday with Bruce Pascoe's in-depth scouting report.Β
- Bruce Pascoe Arizona Daily Star
- Updated
Matchup:Β No. 5 Arizona (21-2, 10-0 Pac-12) at No. 13 Oregon (20-3, 9-1)Β
Location:Β Matthew Knight Arena, Eugene, OregonΒ
Time:Β 2 p.m.Β
TV:Β ESPNΒ
Radio:Β 1290-AM, 107.5-FMΒ
- Bruce Pascoe Arizona Daily Star
- Updated
The series: Thanks to the Pac-12βs unbalanced schedule, the Ducks and Wildcats have only been scheduled to play once last season and this season despite being two of the conferenceβs marquee teams. Oregon snapped UAβs 49-game homecourt winning streak last season with 24 points from Dillon Brooks and a zone defense that stymied the Wildcats. The Ducks beat UA again in the semifinals of the Pac-12 Tournament semifinals, after a wild finish in regulation ended when Mark Tollefsen hit 1 of 2 free throws to send the game into overtime. However, Arizona beat Oregon 80-62 the last time the teams met in Eugene, when T.J. McConnell had 21 points on 9-for-14 shooting on Jan. 8, 2015.Β
- Bruce Pascoe Arizona Daily Star
- Updated
The Ducks barely held on to their 39-game homecourt win streak Thursday against ASU, needing a strong finish from Dillon Brooks, who scored 12 points in the final 3:15 to give Oregon a 71-70 win. But when the Ducks are at their best, their offense and defense are both formidable β theyβre long, athletic, versatile and experienced. Brooks is a difficult matchup at power forward, while Oregon also has skilled big man Chris Boucher and high-powered scoring perimeter players Tyler Dorsey, Dylan Ennis and Payton Pritchard. On defense, the Ducks make opponents pay for not handling the ball well. They lead the Pac-12 in blocked shots (6.2) and are second in steals (6.8) in conference games, while holding league opponents to just 41.2 percent shooting from the field. Ennis and Dorsey play alongside point guards Pritchard and Casey Benson, while athletic big men Jordan Bell and Chris Boucher are prolific shot-blockers.Β
- Bruce Pascoe Arizona Daily Star
- Updated
After injuries kept him out of four games this season, Brooks is back at top form in time for the conferenceβs marquee matchup of the regular season. Brooks is a dangerous scorer who can shoot from anywhere on the court and has a thirst for the clutch.Β
- Bruce Pascoe Arizona Daily Star
- Updated
Just when the Finnish freshman is coming off a rare struggle at Oregon State, his improving defense will be challenged as it hasnβt been all season: Heβll likely help guard Brooks and possibly play center if UA goes small to better match the Ducks.Β
- Bruce Pascoe Arizona Daily Star
- Updated
βDillon Brooks is incredible. Heβs the heart of their team, with an incredible motor and defense that makes them go. They really try to take advantage of playing him at the four and heβs a matchup nightmare there. They run plays for him to take advantage of bigger players or they can go big (with Brooks at small forward) and take advantage of their size. Ennis is a prolific scorer who leads the team in shots taken. He is lightning fast with the ball. With Dorsey, Ennis and Pritchard, theyβre prolific, the best 3-point shooting team in the conference. And (point guard Casey) Benson, he led the Pac-12 last season in assist-turnover ratio, and heβs coming off the bench now.β β UA associate head coach Joe Pasternack, who scouted the Ducks.Β
- Bruce Pascoe Arizona Daily Star
- Updated
Arizonaβs moves to extend Sean Millerβs contract two years through 2021-22 and give him half of the $2.4 million retention fund that Greg Byrne left behind if he stays that long were clearly moves made to keep the UA coach around longer.
But, in an era when UA will turn over both its AD and university president roles, Miller said it was βvery, very nice of the university to do that.β
When asked about the extra stock shares he gets if he stays until 2022 β Miller is already scheduled to get $4.2 million worth if he stays until 2020 β Miller said he didnβt know much of those details.
βIβm just glad they did it,β Miller said. βThere is the opposite, right? Iβm just happy they think enough of me to do it.βΒ
- Bruce Pascoe Arizona Daily Star
- Updated
Brooks has not only a knack for scoring in the clutch β he scored all of Oregonβs 12 final points on Thursday β but also in picking up fouls. He gets to the line an average of 4.6 times during conference games, and hits free throws at a 70.7 percent rate.
His energy is a magnet of sorts in more ways than one.
βHeβs got an incredible motor,β Miller said. βHeβs the motivational leader of his team and they feed off of him. The bigger the game, the bigger the moment. He rises to the challenge. Thatβs to his credit.
βSometimes, thereβs the game within the game. You have to be careful that youβre smart and you donβt get lured into getting a cheap foul, or get your mind off the task at hand.βΒ
- Bruce Pascoe Arizona Daily Star
- Updated
While Miller again worked Trier into starterβs minutes (28) off the bench Thursday at OSU, he indicated Thursday he might not want to re-insert him back into the starting lineup.
At least not yet.
βItβs hard for us to make a change right now because weβve won so many in a row and things are going well,β Miller said. βAnd itβs not like heβs not playing minutes he deserves. There may be a time we might look at that but weβre just taking it one day at a time right now.β
As it is, Trierβs presence allowed Miller to play his eight top players all between 20-28 minutes Thursday, a factor he said in the Wildcatsβ stronger finishes lately.Β
- Bruce Pascoe Arizona Daily Star
- Updated
6: Arizona wins against no losses in true road games so far this season.Β
- Bruce Pascoe Arizona Daily Star
- Updated
9:Β Conference wins with only one loss so far for Oregon, its best start since it went 11-1 in 1938-39.Β
- Bruce Pascoe Arizona Daily Star
- Updated
10:Β Conference wins without a loss so far for Arizona, its third-best conference start behind 16-0 start in 1997-98 and 14-0 in 1992-93.Β
The series: Thanks to the Pac-12βs unbalanced schedule, the Ducks and Wildcats have only been scheduled to play once last season and this season despite being two of the conferenceβs marquee teams. Oregon snapped UAβs 49-game homecourt winning streak last season with 24 points from Dillon Brooks and a zone defense that stymied the Wildcats. The Ducks beat UA again in the semifinals of the Pac-12 Tournament semifinals, after a wild finish in regulation ended when Mark Tollefsen hit 1 of 2 free throws to send the game into overtime. However, Arizona beat Oregon 80-62 the last time the teams met in Eugene, when T.J. McConnell had 21 points on 9-for-14 shooting on Jan. 8, 2015.Β
The Ducks barely held on to their 39-game homecourt win streak Thursday against ASU, needing a strong finish from Dillon Brooks, who scored 12 points in the final 3:15 to give Oregon a 71-70 win. But when the Ducks are at their best, their offense and defense are both formidable β theyβre long, athletic, versatile and experienced. Brooks is a difficult matchup at power forward, while Oregon also has skilled big man Chris Boucher and high-powered scoring perimeter players Tyler Dorsey, Dylan Ennis and Payton Pritchard. On defense, the Ducks make opponents pay for not handling the ball well. They lead the Pac-12 in blocked shots (6.2) and are second in steals (6.8) in conference games, while holding league opponents to just 41.2 percent shooting from the field. Ennis and Dorsey play alongside point guards Pritchard and Casey Benson, while athletic big men Jordan Bell and Chris Boucher are prolific shot-blockers.Β
After injuries kept him out of four games this season, Brooks is back at top form in time for the conferenceβs marquee matchup of the regular season. Brooks is a dangerous scorer who can shoot from anywhere on the court and has a thirst for the clutch.Β
Just when the Finnish freshman is coming off a rare struggle at Oregon State, his improving defense will be challenged as it hasnβt been all season: Heβll likely help guard Brooks and possibly play center if UA goes small to better match the Ducks.Β
βDillon Brooks is incredible. Heβs the heart of their team, with an incredible motor and defense that makes them go. They really try to take advantage of playing him at the four and heβs a matchup nightmare there. They run plays for him to take advantage of bigger players or they can go big (with Brooks at small forward) and take advantage of their size. Ennis is a prolific scorer who leads the team in shots taken. He is lightning fast with the ball. With Dorsey, Ennis and Pritchard, theyβre prolific, the best 3-point shooting team in the conference. And (point guard Casey) Benson, he led the Pac-12 last season in assist-turnover ratio, and heβs coming off the bench now.β β UA associate head coach Joe Pasternack, who scouted the Ducks.Β
Arizonaβs moves to extend Sean Millerβs contract two years through 2021-22 and give him half of the $2.4 million retention fund that Greg Byrne left behind if he stays that long were clearly moves made to keep the UA coach around longer.
But, in an era when UA will turn over both its AD and university president roles, Miller said it was βvery, very nice of the university to do that.β
When asked about the extra stock shares he gets if he stays until 2022 β Miller is already scheduled to get $4.2 million worth if he stays until 2020 β Miller said he didnβt know much of those details.
βIβm just glad they did it,β Miller said. βThere is the opposite, right? Iβm just happy they think enough of me to do it.βΒ
Brooks has not only a knack for scoring in the clutch β he scored all of Oregonβs 12 final points on Thursday β but also in picking up fouls. He gets to the line an average of 4.6 times during conference games, and hits free throws at a 70.7 percent rate.
His energy is a magnet of sorts in more ways than one.
βHeβs got an incredible motor,β Miller said. βHeβs the motivational leader of his team and they feed off of him. The bigger the game, the bigger the moment. He rises to the challenge. Thatβs to his credit.
βSometimes, thereβs the game within the game. You have to be careful that youβre smart and you donβt get lured into getting a cheap foul, or get your mind off the task at hand.βΒ
While Miller again worked Trier into starterβs minutes (28) off the bench Thursday at OSU, he indicated Thursday he might not want to re-insert him back into the starting lineup.
At least not yet.
βItβs hard for us to make a change right now because weβve won so many in a row and things are going well,β Miller said. βAnd itβs not like heβs not playing minutes he deserves. There may be a time we might look at that but weβre just taking it one day at a time right now.β
As it is, Trierβs presence allowed Miller to play his eight top players all between 20-28 minutes Thursday, a factor he said in the Wildcatsβ stronger finishes lately.Β
6: Arizona wins against no losses in true road games so far this season.Β
9:Β Conference wins with only one loss so far for Oregon, its best start since it went 11-1 in 1938-39.Β
10:Β Conference wins without a loss so far for Arizona, its third-best conference start behind 16-0 start in 1997-98 and 14-0 in 1992-93.Β
15:Β Straight wins overall for Arizona.
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