Ice-Cold Ducks Buried in the Rockies

Luke Roth FishWrap, FishWrap Archive

BOULDER, Colo. – It’s not the time of year to lay an egg, but that’s just what the No. 19 Oregon Ducks did at Coors Events Center in Boulder on Thursday night.  In a game that would have given Oregon a share of the Pac-12 title and the number-one-seed in the upcoming conference tournament, Colorado crushed the Ducks, 76-53. In …

Ducks MVP? A matter of numbers

Sam Arney FishWrap, FishWrap Archive

I was thinking this week that I would come up with my own player efficiency rating for our basketball team.  I have not done any research in regards to anyone else’s equations, so if mine is similar to something you have seen before, know that I have not copied anyone.  This is the equation I have decided on that best …

Seniors Rally Ducks Past Beavers, Reclaim Pac-12 Lead

Luke Roth FishWrap, FishWrap Archive

After freshman Dominic Artis bounced in a three-pointer to break a 52-52 tie with 11:31 left in Thursday’s Civil War at Matthew Knight Arena, Oregon’s four seniors scored 29 of the final 30 points of the game as the Ducks roared past Oregon State, 85-75, and reclaimed sole possession of first place in the Pac-12 race with two games remaining. …

Johnathan Loyd Stirs the Drink as Ducks Drub Stanford

Luke Roth FishWrap, FishWrap Archive

Johnathan Loyd had heard it all. The whispers. The comments. The tweets. How he couldn’t shoot, how other teams don’t guard him, how the Ducks have gone straight downhill without Dominic Artis, and on and on. Going scoreless in a heartbreaking loss to California two nights earlier, didn’t help. But Saturday against Stanford, in a game the Ducks had to …

Last-Second California Dagger Stuns Ducks

Luke Roth FishWrap, FishWrap Archive

After 10 consecutive losses to the Bears stretching back to 2008, it looked like No. 23 Oregon had found a way to end the streak. Despite struggling to score for nearly all 40 minutes of Thursday’s Pac-12 game at Matthew Knight Arena, the Ducks controlled the game defensively and led for nearly the entire contest. Oregon defended and rebounded with …

Sneaky-good Ducks fly under the radar

Daniel Hendricks FishWrap, FishWrap Archive

The Oregon Ducks sit in plain view atop the Pac-12 men’s basketball standings, but it’s as if they are wearing camouflage jackets and the hunters are sleeping in.  Hoops pundits who speculate about the contenders in the West want to skip over Oregon and set their sights on Arizona and UCLA as the Conference contenders.  Bill Walton made a comment …

Cougars Give Singler Big Gift and the Ducks Escape Palouse with 79-77 OT Win

Luke Roth FishWrap, FishWrap Archive

Behind by three points and the clock winding down in overtime, WSU’s Royce Woolridge wanted the ball. As he dribbled toward the 3-point line from half court, the sophomore guard fired up his 36th point of the night on a long three with under 10 seconds remaining that tied No. 23 Oregon, 77-77. The Ducks didn’t hesitate and moved quickly …

Alone in First After Sweeping UW: Sweetness in Seattle

Luke Roth FishWrap, FishWrap Archive

SEATTLE – When Oregon’s E.J. Singler hit a fade-away, falling out of bounds three-pointer to complete a quick 7-0 run to open the game Wednesday night at Hec Edmundson Pavilion, the Ducks sent a strong message to the Washington players and the Seattle crowd. Oregon was back — back to playing the kind of basketball that has pretty much been …

Oregon Basketball Analysis: How Arsalan Kazemi’s Dirty Work on Defense Pays Big Dividends

Luke Roth Coach's Opinion

Arsalan Kazemi, Oregon’s most popular Iranian, has been a vital cog in the improved defense of this year’s No. 23 Oregon team.  When the Ducks rallied to beat Utah last week, ending a three-game slide and regaining a share of the Pac-12 lead, much was reported about the normally-reserved Kazemi and his emotional statements to the team at halftime — …

Kazemi’s Halftime Outburst Fuels Duck Comeback

Luke Roth FishWrap, FishWrap Archive

Mired in a three-game losing skid that included relinquishing late leads in their last two losses, No. 19 Oregon gave up a 13-4 run to Utah to end the first half in Saturday’s conference tilt, and trailed the last-place Utes 30-22 after the first 20 minutes. To most of the frustrated 9,014 in attendance, it felt like witnessing a total …

Colorado Leads Only Once but it’s Enough to Stun Ducks

Luke Roth FishWrap, FishWrap Archive

© 2013 Craig Strobeck Photography When Carlos Emory dribbled hard from the right wing and slammed down one of his athletic dunks to give No. 19 Oregon a 47-40 advantage over Colorado with 4:26 remaining in the game, it looked once again like the Ducks were in full control and would win their 21st consecutive game at Matthew Knight Arena. …

Turnover Epidemic Spreads in the Bay Area; Cal Upsets No. 10 Ducks

Luke Roth FishWrap, FishWrap Archive

BERKELEY, Calif. — When Tony Woods made a tough bucket inside to put No. 10 Oregon up 54-48 over California with 4:20 remaining Saturday, it looked like the Ducks were going to do just enough to gain a split in their series in the Bay Area and hold off the Bears. But Oregon didn’t score again, as Cal jacked up …