Tuesday, November 3
Eugene, OR
7:00 PM
University of Oregon
92
vs
44
Northwest Christian
Photo by: GoDucks.com
Ducks Cruise In Exhibition Opener Despite Absent Vets
11/04/15 | Men's Basketball, @GoDucksMoseley
by Rob Moseley
Editor, GoDucks.com
EUGENE, Ore. — Facing a local small college team coached by UO legend Luke Jackson, the Ducks kicked off the exhibition portion of their 2015-16 season with a 92-44 victory over Northwest Christian on Tuesday evening before 5,499 in Matthew Knight Arena.
How It Happened: Playing without their expected playmaker, senior transfer Dylan Ennis, and defensive backstop, Jordan Bell, the Ducks weren't lacking for production at either end of the floor Tuesday. Oregon shot .449 — despite missing its first 15 three-pointers and finishing 1-of-17 — and held the Beacons to .232 shooting on the night.
In Oregon's first game without its standout from the past two years, Joseph Young, it was sophomore Dillon Brooks who took the lead early offensively. He converted a three-point play for a 15-5 lead minutes into the game, and finished a pretty up-and-under move to make the lead 10 again at 17-7. Oregon led 53-29 at halftime, with Brooks contributing 20 points on 7-of-9 shooting.
The other opening night revelation was JC big man Chris Boucher. His length contributed to three blocked shots in the first half, and seven for the game. Boucher ran the floor to finish a layin for a 36-16 lead, then slammed home an alley-oop from Casey Benson to make it 46-25 late in the first half. The runaway continued in the second half as Oregon won comfortably.
Who Stood Out: Brooks finished with 26 points on 10-of-12 shooting, and led the Ducks with 11 rebounds. He led five players in double figures, as Tyler Dorsey added 15, Dwayne Benjamin and Elgin Cook scored 13 apiece and Boucher finished with 11. Boucher's seven blocked shots were one off the UO regular-season record for a single game.
What It Means: With Ennis out, Benson started at point guard, and the Ducks also used freshmen Dorsey and Kendall Small at the position. There will be nights Oregon misses Ennis' playmaking and perimeter defense, but Tuesday wasn't one of them. In the post, Boucher's presence meant the absence of Bell was hardly felt; again, that likely won't be the case against tougher competition down the road.
Notable: Altman announced Tuesday that Ennis, expected to start at the point this season, will miss “an extended period of time” due to a foot injury but is expected to return at some point this season. Altman said Ennis will be out through November “for sure,” and possibly throughout December as well. … Along with Ennis and Bell (foot), junior walk-on Phil Richmond also was not suited up for the game. … With Jackson on the NCU bench and Fred Jones now on the UO staff as a graduate assistant, they represented 3,614 points, 1,317 rebounds and 791 assists from their storied playing careers with the Ducks.
Quotable:
Dana Altman, UO coach
On playing without Ennis
“(Benson) has got to take a leadership role; Dylan did all our talking, so we're going to need him to do a better job there. And he will. He'll step up. Tyler will step up. Kendall will step up. … I feel really bad for (Ennis). He has worked so hard, and he's such a great young man. I hate that, senior year; it's one thing when you're younger. But senior year, that's really tough.”
On Boucher's presence
“Chris is a unique player, very gifted. Skinny, but really long. Didn't rebound as well tonight as he's doing in practice, but I think he's going to be a lot of fun to work with. … He hasn't changed as many shots in practice, so as the level goes up I'm not sure (about his shot-blocking potential while Bell is out). I knew what Jordan can do. But Chris is long. And he's not afraid to go after them. He'll change a few.”
Up Next: The Ducks wrap up the exhibition Sunday in Matthew Knight Arena against Southern Oregon (6 p.m., Pac-12.com).
Editor, GoDucks.com
EUGENE, Ore. — Facing a local small college team coached by UO legend Luke Jackson, the Ducks kicked off the exhibition portion of their 2015-16 season with a 92-44 victory over Northwest Christian on Tuesday evening before 5,499 in Matthew Knight Arena.
How It Happened: Playing without their expected playmaker, senior transfer Dylan Ennis, and defensive backstop, Jordan Bell, the Ducks weren't lacking for production at either end of the floor Tuesday. Oregon shot .449 — despite missing its first 15 three-pointers and finishing 1-of-17 — and held the Beacons to .232 shooting on the night.
In Oregon's first game without its standout from the past two years, Joseph Young, it was sophomore Dillon Brooks who took the lead early offensively. He converted a three-point play for a 15-5 lead minutes into the game, and finished a pretty up-and-under move to make the lead 10 again at 17-7. Oregon led 53-29 at halftime, with Brooks contributing 20 points on 7-of-9 shooting.
The other opening night revelation was JC big man Chris Boucher. His length contributed to three blocked shots in the first half, and seven for the game. Boucher ran the floor to finish a layin for a 36-16 lead, then slammed home an alley-oop from Casey Benson to make it 46-25 late in the first half. The runaway continued in the second half as Oregon won comfortably.
Who Stood Out: Brooks finished with 26 points on 10-of-12 shooting, and led the Ducks with 11 rebounds. He led five players in double figures, as Tyler Dorsey added 15, Dwayne Benjamin and Elgin Cook scored 13 apiece and Boucher finished with 11. Boucher's seven blocked shots were one off the UO regular-season record for a single game.
What It Means: With Ennis out, Benson started at point guard, and the Ducks also used freshmen Dorsey and Kendall Small at the position. There will be nights Oregon misses Ennis' playmaking and perimeter defense, but Tuesday wasn't one of them. In the post, Boucher's presence meant the absence of Bell was hardly felt; again, that likely won't be the case against tougher competition down the road.
Notable: Altman announced Tuesday that Ennis, expected to start at the point this season, will miss “an extended period of time” due to a foot injury but is expected to return at some point this season. Altman said Ennis will be out through November “for sure,” and possibly throughout December as well. … Along with Ennis and Bell (foot), junior walk-on Phil Richmond also was not suited up for the game. … With Jackson on the NCU bench and Fred Jones now on the UO staff as a graduate assistant, they represented 3,614 points, 1,317 rebounds and 791 assists from their storied playing careers with the Ducks.
Quotable:
Dana Altman, UO coach
On playing without Ennis
“(Benson) has got to take a leadership role; Dylan did all our talking, so we're going to need him to do a better job there. And he will. He'll step up. Tyler will step up. Kendall will step up. … I feel really bad for (Ennis). He has worked so hard, and he's such a great young man. I hate that, senior year; it's one thing when you're younger. But senior year, that's really tough.”
On Boucher's presence
“Chris is a unique player, very gifted. Skinny, but really long. Didn't rebound as well tonight as he's doing in practice, but I think he's going to be a lot of fun to work with. … He hasn't changed as many shots in practice, so as the level goes up I'm not sure (about his shot-blocking potential while Bell is out). I knew what Jordan can do. But Chris is long. And he's not afraid to go after them. He'll change a few.”
Up Next: The Ducks wrap up the exhibition Sunday in Matthew Knight Arena against Southern Oregon (6 p.m., Pac-12.com).
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