Oregon’s “Chameleon” Defense

Bob Rickert Editorials

Oregon’s defense is what got them into the NCAA Tournament, and it’s their defense that can carry them to the Sweet 16. We’ve touched on the brilliance of Coach Dana Altman’s defensive schemes all season. Today we present a deeper look. “The Chameleon” looks like one defense, morphs into another, then shows itself as even another — sometimes in the …

Dana Altman and the Island of Misfit Ducks

AJ Costilla Editorials

At first, no one wanted Rudolph. I mean, c’mon, a red-nosed reindeer? So he and his buddy, an elf with aspirations to be a damn dentist, escaped to the “Island of Misfit Toys,” where they team up with a “Charlie-In-The-Box,” a non-returning boomerang and others to find their “misfit mojo.” Combining their complementary skill sets, they defeat the evil Toy …

Oregon Basketball With and Without Bol Bol

Bob Rickert Editorials

Oregon’s offense never felt more vulnerable than the moment we learned Bol Bol hurt his foot against San Diego. And it never looked more vulnerable than in the first half against Boise State. Bol’s foot is in a walking boot and will be evaluated later this week. Say a prayer. Cross your fingers. Burn some incense. Do whatever you need …

Appreciating the Art of Louis King’s Game

Bob Rickert Editorials

Louis King’s game is unique. His physical presence changes the opponent’s offense, and his ability to score in multiple ways creates big match-up problems for coaches. The more you watch him play, the more you see his game has an abstract feeling to it. It’s more Jackson Pollack than Renoir, more Mondrian than Georgia O’Keeffe. That’s the best way I …

Oregon Basketball Flops, the Offense, and Recruiting

Bob Rickert Editorials

I’ll start with Texas Southern as that’s what is on everyone’s mind. Oregon laid a second half egg. Bol Bol didn’t post up aggressively and got pushed toward the baseline, Oregon still doesn’t know who their second scorer is, and Paul White keeps making mental mistakes. He’s a fifth-year senior, so there are no excuses, really. And you have to put …

High Expectations for Duck Basketball: Paul White May Be the KEY

Bob Rickert Editorials

Oregon’s rebuilt roster has some fans so excited you’d think the Ducks were favored to win the NBA title. Let’s just see if they can win the Pac-12 first, okay? Five returning players – Paul White, Payton Pritchard, Kenny Wooten, Abu Kigab, and VJ Bailey – will mesh together with that vaunted third-ranked recruiting class. So, why is White a key to this …

Oregon Men’s Basketball: Are you Getting a WEIRD VIBE, too?

Charles Fischer, Mr. FishDuck Editorials

I’ve been getting a weird vibe from Oregon Men’s Basketball and am wondering if any of you feel it as well. This has nothing to do with the tremendous job Dana Altman has done during his time at Oregon, but is more of an acknowledgment of how the changes in college basketball have finally caught up to Oregon. It feels …

Oregon Hoops: Three Off-Season Questions

Darren Perkins Editorials

The 2018 Oregon Ducks basketball season ended with a big thud last weekend. And while it would have been nice to see the Ducks make a run in the NIT, I get the feeling that Duck fans didn’t lose sleep over losing in the second round. With five straight NCAA Tournament appearances, Oregon fans have become accustomed to getting more out of …

Oregon Men’s Basketball: The Non-Conference Grades

Mark Weinrott Analysis

How good is this current Duck basketball team? Here is one fan’s assessment of the Oregon’s 2017-18 team roster through the non-conference games. Full disclosure: I have no basketball coaching background, nor did I have much of a competitive playing career. However, I have been an avid fan long enough to have attended NBA doubleheaders and to have observed Dick …