Photo by: Samuel Marshall/Eric Evans Photography
Ducks Host Rider In NIT Tuesday
03/12/18 | Men's Basketball, @GoDucksMoseley
The Oregon men's basketball team will open play in the NIT on Tuesday against Rider in Matthew Knight Arena.
History suggests the Oregon men's basketball team can lay significant ground work this week for the 2018-19 season.
After coming up short of an NCAA Tournament berth, the Ducks received a National Invitation Tournament bid and will host Rider in Matthew Knight Arena on Tuesday (7 p.m., ESPN3). The UO men are playing in the NIT for the first time since 2011-12, when they reached the quarterfinal round.
And the next year?
"The next year, we went to the Sweet Sixteen," UO head coach Dana Altman said. "I know (the NIT experience) was a factor there. It helped us."
With only point guard Payton Pritchard back this season after the Ducks' Final Four run, Oregon (22-12) fielded a new-look roster for 2017-18. Freshman Troy Brown Jr. is a starter on the wing, Kenny Wooten is a defensive force who blocked shots to clinch both UO wins in last week's conference tournament, and guards Abu Kigab and Victor Bailey Jr. are in the regular rotation.
For the freshmen and others, the NIT can be a first taste of postseason experience, setting the stage for bigger things to come. If they approach the NIT with the right mindset.
"We know this is our last couple games this year," Pritchard said, hinting at the team's desire to make this more than a one-game appearance. "We might as well give everything we've got, play hard and try to make something happen — win the NIT. …
"I guess it tests whether you really love basketball or not. Personally I just want to play games. Even though we're not playing in the tournament we want to be in, we're playing basketball."
Rider (22-9) went 15-3 in Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference play to earn a share of the regular-season title. But they lost to ninth-seeded St. Peter's in the opening round of the conference tournament, falling short of the NCAA Tournament.
The Broncs average 81.7 points per game. Guard Dimencio Vaughn leads five scorers averaging double-figure scoring with 15.8 points per game, and also leads the team with 6.7 rebounds per game.
The NIT will be played with experimental rules that are under consideration by the NCAA Men's Basketball Rules Committee. Fans in attendance will notice new markings on the court, moving the three-point line out to the international distance of 22 feet, 1 3/4 inches, and widening the lane from 12 feet to the NBA width of 16 feet.
The game will also be played with four 10-minute quarters, as opposed to two 20-minute halves. And the shot clock will reset to 20 seconds after an offensive rebound, rather than the full 30 seconds.
After coming up short of an NCAA Tournament berth, the Ducks received a National Invitation Tournament bid and will host Rider in Matthew Knight Arena on Tuesday (7 p.m., ESPN3). The UO men are playing in the NIT for the first time since 2011-12, when they reached the quarterfinal round.
And the next year?
"The next year, we went to the Sweet Sixteen," UO head coach Dana Altman said. "I know (the NIT experience) was a factor there. It helped us."
With only point guard Payton Pritchard back this season after the Ducks' Final Four run, Oregon (22-12) fielded a new-look roster for 2017-18. Freshman Troy Brown Jr. is a starter on the wing, Kenny Wooten is a defensive force who blocked shots to clinch both UO wins in last week's conference tournament, and guards Abu Kigab and Victor Bailey Jr. are in the regular rotation.
For the freshmen and others, the NIT can be a first taste of postseason experience, setting the stage for bigger things to come. If they approach the NIT with the right mindset.
"We know this is our last couple games this year," Pritchard said, hinting at the team's desire to make this more than a one-game appearance. "We might as well give everything we've got, play hard and try to make something happen — win the NIT. …
"I guess it tests whether you really love basketball or not. Personally I just want to play games. Even though we're not playing in the tournament we want to be in, we're playing basketball."
Rider (22-9) went 15-3 in Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference play to earn a share of the regular-season title. But they lost to ninth-seeded St. Peter's in the opening round of the conference tournament, falling short of the NCAA Tournament.
The Broncs average 81.7 points per game. Guard Dimencio Vaughn leads five scorers averaging double-figure scoring with 15.8 points per game, and also leads the team with 6.7 rebounds per game.
The NIT will be played with experimental rules that are under consideration by the NCAA Men's Basketball Rules Committee. Fans in attendance will notice new markings on the court, moving the three-point line out to the international distance of 22 feet, 1 3/4 inches, and widening the lane from 12 feet to the NBA width of 16 feet.
The game will also be played with four 10-minute quarters, as opposed to two 20-minute halves. And the shot clock will reset to 20 seconds after an offensive rebound, rather than the full 30 seconds.
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