Oregon Ducks Seek Season Defining Win Over UCLA
The Oregon Ducks can make a Statement on Wednesday night that could shape the Pac-12 season.
As it stands there are two teams that are undefeated atop the Pac-12 as Conference play begins. UCLA and USC are both 13-0 on the year. Arizona and Oregon sit at 11-2 through the Non-Conference slate and Colorado is the only other team with at least 10 wins on the year.
Now it is time to put up or shut up. The Oregon Ducks have been struggling in several areas that are still not cleaned up. Inconsistencies on Offense that the opposition in Non-Conference play did not take advantage of will sink Oregon in Pac-12 play. In a perfect world. the Ducks would be firing on all cylinders entering Conference play and be ranked as high as UCLA on Wednesday, but with Dillon Brooks returning from injury and Chris Boucher out with an injury the team’s on-court chemistry is not quite where it needs to be.
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An Oregon Ducks win on Wednesday night would reset the balance entering the new year. Oregon has a 33 game winning streak at Matthew Knight Arena, they have also held eight opponents under 8- points per game and are riding a 9 game winning streak entering Pac-12 play.
The UCLA Bruins come in leading the Pac-12 in point per game scoring 95 with close to a handful of scorers averaging double figures including Freshman TJ Leaf. Ball control is something that UCLA does extremely well pushing 23 assists per game. The Oregon Defense will need to step up in order to keep things close and likely need to land their free throws against the Bruins.
The crowd on Wednesday will make some noise. It has been announced as a Sellout. It is the biggest Pac-12 opener at Matthew Knight Arena since it opened. UCLA is also the highest-ranked team to play at MKA. Foul trouble for Oregon is not an option and points inside the paint will come at a premium for the home team.
The introduction was entertaining. Now, it’s time for the body of the script. Pac-12 play begins. #GoDucks pic.twitter.com/46Pp1n5WNG
— GoDucks (@GoDucks) December 28, 2016
Oregon will need to fire on all cylinders for the first time in 2016 and a win Wednesday night will bode well, but another ranked, undefeated team waits in the wings Friday. USC also visits Eugene at 13-0 and ranked just behind the Oregon Ducks in the polls.
The Oregon Ducks and UCLA Bruins tipoff from Matthew Knight Arena on Wednesday at 6pm Pacific Time. ESPN2 will broadcast the game.
