Game Day Essentials: Game #22 at #16 Oregon

Oregon Info

Oregon Ducks Logo
Head Coach: Dana Altman (15th season)

Location: Eugene, Oregon
Conference: B1G
Nickname: Ducks

Mascot: The Oregon Duck

Line: Oregon by 5

Typical Rotation Depth: 9+

KenPom rank: 37

Nota bene:

Oregon leads the all-time series 7-6. Their last meeting was a 60-38 win in Oregon back in 2012 during Tim Miles' first season
Dana Altman is 13-15 all-time vs Nebraska.
Dana Altman got his start playing at Fairbury College which was part of the SECC system, something he has in common with current Husker Justin Bolis
This is an experienced team, ranking 34th in KenPom's D-1 experience stat
Supreme Cook and Mookie Cook are not related
As former players for Pac-12 schools, both Braxton Meah and Berke Buyuktuncel have logged minutes in Eugene against the Ducks

Player to watch: Jackson Shelstad

Named to the Pre-Season B1G All-Conference First team, Shelstad is 2nd on the team in scoring and first in assists. Shooting a blistering 51.1% from 3 in conference

Player to watch: Nate Bittle

Leads the Ducks in scoring, rebounding, and blocked shots. He can shoot from 3 but it's a lot like Juwan Gary can shoot from 3. Look for Nebraska to attack the rim at all times when he's out of the game

Oregon 's Roster

Player	#	Class	Pos	Height	Weight	Summary
Nathan Bittle	32	SR	C	7-0	215	12.9 Pts 7.4 Reb 1.8 Ast
Jackson Shelstad	3	SO	G	6-0	170	12.1 Pts 3.1 Reb 2.7 Ast
TJ Bamba	5	SR	G	6-5	208	10.4 Pts 3.3 Reb 2.6 Ast
Keeshawn Barthelemy	9	SR	G	6-2	163	9.7 Pts 2.4 Reb 2.7 Ast
Brandon Angel	21	SR	F	6-8	210	9.6 Pts 3.8 Reb 1.1 Ast
Jadrian Tracey	2	SR	F	6-5	190	7.9 Pts 3.1 Reb 2.2 Ast
Kwame Evans	10	SO	F	6-9	200	6.0 Pts 3.8 Reb 0.7 Ast
Supreme Cook	7	SR	F	6-9	200	6.1 Pts 2.7 Reb 0.3 Ast
Ra'Heim Moss	0	SR	G	6-4	205	1.5 Pts 1.8 Reb 0.8 Ast
Jamari Phillips	24	FR	G	6-3	185	1.6 Pts 0.6 Reb 0.3 Ast
Mookie Cook	11	SO	F	6-7	200	1.1 Pts 0.6 Reb 0.0 Ast

Other Players

Villanova transfer TJ Bamba is elite at scoring in isolation but has struggled from 3 this season. Combo guard Keeshawn Barthelemy is shooting 42.9% from 3. Oregon's other ball handler is Jadrian Tracey who is an effective secondary scorer. Forward Brandon Angel shoots at a high percentage at all 3 though is turnover prone. Forward Kwame Evans is a defensive force but can be foul prone. Backup center Supreme Cook is a bucket inside and a rebounding force but is a so-so defender and foul prone.

UNL Game Notes

Roster/infirmary report

Possible starters for Nebraska

3 Guard Brice Williams 6-7 214 lbs Senior

1 Guard Sam Hoiberg 6-0 185 lbs Junior

4 Forward Juwan Gary 6-6 226 lbs Senior

23 Forward Andrew Morgan 6-10 242 lbs Senior

24 Guard Rollie Worster 6-5 210 lbs Senior

Bench

34 Center Braxton Meah 7-1 264 lbs Senior

0 Guard Connor Essegian 6-4 190 lbs Junior

2 Guard Ahron Ulis 6-3 190 lbs Senior

9 Forward Berke Büyüktuncel 6-10 244 lbs

31 Guard Cale Jacobsen 6-4 195 lbs Sophomore

12 Guard Gavin Griffiths 6-7 193 lbs Sophomore

5   Forward   Braden Frager    6-7   220 lbs   Freshman
8   Guard   Jeffrey Grace III    6-3   200 lbs   Junior
20   Forward   Justin Bolis    6-8   225 lbs   Sophomore
25   Guard   Nick Janowski    6-4   208 lbs   Freshman

35 Forward Henry Burt 6-7 222 lbs Sophomore

Out for year
51 Forward Rienk Mast 6-10 260 lbs Senior

The Skinny:

Oregon played an impressive non-con schedule, going 11-0 with wins over Texas A&M, Alabama, and San Diego St. In conference play has been a different story where the Ducks are 5-0. This is a NCAA tournament team but it's struggling relative to the start season.

Here are some quotes from Altman after being pummeled at UCLA

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"We got out to a slow start. It was embarrassing to shoot four for twenty-three from the three. Lots of those were not good shots. We kind of made a run in the second half. We just have to play a lot better.”

on their three-point defense
“We didn’t have any deflections. Their ball movement was good and they basically got what they wanted.”

on their three-point shooting
“We just took some quick threes. Nobody was in position to rebound. We made some bad decisions. Right now, we are a poorly coached team. We started two for thirteen to start the game and we didn’t execute.”

on their plan moving forward
“We just have to play better, even on the defensive end. We just didn’t get it done tonight. The only area we won tonight was points in the paint. As a coaching staff, we have to demand not to take quick threes.”

on their upcoming game against Nebraska
“It’s going to be a tough game. We are not playing well right now. We just don’t have a lot of confidence.”

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Defensively, Altman is notorious for rolling out multiple defenses so expect that to continue tonight. In conference. While they do try to run you towards Bittle in the middle, teams are torching the Ducks from the outside, especially in conference. The Huskers will need to make shots tonight as Oregon does guard well without fouling.

Offensively, how patient will the Ducks be hunting for 3s when the Huskers crash down on their posts? That might be the difference in this game for an Oregon offense that doesn't rebound well nor take care of the ball. With the size of Oregon's post players, it seems likely we will answer the question of why Braxton Meah has not played the last two games.

The Ducks seem vulnerable but other than hanging on at home in their last game it's not like Nebraska has been lighting the world on fire, especially on the road. Who has the juice in this game?

Prediction: Oregon 70 - Nebraska 66