Ducks Host Colorado with First Place on the Line

EUGENE, Ore. — Two things were true about the Oregon men's basketball team as this week dawned, simultaneously and incongruously.

Truth No. 1: The Ducks entered this week as an 18-win team that is one game out of first place in the Pac-12, and ranked No. 17 in the nation.

"We know when we play hard and we play together," sophomore guard Will Richardson said, "that we're one of the best teams in the country."

Truth No. 2: The Ducks entered this week reeling from a two-game losing streak, games at Stanford and at Oregon State that saw the UO men go ice cold offensively and lose their vigor defensively as they squandered second-half leads.

"We've got to get better," UO coach Dana Altman said, "and our guys have got to play better."

Those competing narratives will vie for supremacy Thursday night, when Oregon returns to action five days after losing in Corvallis. The Ducks host No. 16 Colorado in Matthew Knight Arena (6 p.m., ESPN), looking to avenge a loss earlier this season and reclaim a tie for first in the Pac-12 with the Buffaloes.

Whether Oregon is able to regain momentum and compete for the conference title will become much clearer Thursday night.

"Oh yeah, to win the Pac-12 it's a must-win," Richardson said. "Every game from here on out is a must-win."

If you're looking for an indication of how motivated the Ducks are to reverse their fortunes, pay attention to the officials Thursday. It was pointed out to the team by coaches this week how most of its fouls have been hand-checks and the like; Oregon has drawn very few whistles this season resulting from a battle for position under the boards.

The recent rebounding trend for the Ducks hasn't been positive. For the season, Oregon is plus-two on the boards, on average (36.0-34.0). In Pac-12 play, the Ducks are even (34.6-34.6). And in the past five games, the UO men are minus-one (32.2-33.2).

"We pick up all our fouls reaching with our hands," Altman said. "Yeah, we're getting a lot of steals. But you know, we're not getting any physicality fouls. We're not blocking out. That's disappointing."

Altman said the Ducks have brought a physical presence in practice. It hasn't translated as well to games, possibly because players are wary of jeopardizing themselves by accumulating fouls.

"You never know how the refs feel about the physicality you're bringing," senior post Shakur Juiston said. "It does put you in a 50-50 situation in your brain. But as long as you start from the beginning going physical, the refs will adapt to it."

So it might actually be good news to see a couple of early whistles against the Ducks on Thursday, if they're for battling on the boards. And it definitely will be good news to see the return of sophomore post Francis Okoro, particularly given the fact that his fellow big man N'Faly Dante remains sidelined by a knee injury.

Okoro was away from the team last week while in his native Nigeria attending a celebration of life for his father, who passed away in December. He returned to practice this week, giving the Ducks an infusion of size in the post.

"He brings a lot: He's an energy guy who's always positive," Richardson said of Okoro. "He can help with rebounding, which is an area we've been struggling. And then the physicality is something we need. So he's gonna bring a lot."