On paper, the Oregon men’s basketball team had little to no advantages heading into their semifinals matchup at the Progressive Legends Classic against No. 19 Michigan.
For the first time this season, the Ducks were on the road and it was under the big lights as they faced off at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York.
Many of the Oregon players haven’t been in this type of a high-pressure situation, but that doesn’t mean they didn’t come prepared to play.
En route to their eventual 70-63 loss to the Wolverines (4-0), the Ducks (3-1), who dropped their first game of the season, proved they could hold their own against the nation’s best.
It may be early, but the new look Ducks added yet another notable outing to their case for being a competitive team.
Getting acclimated
The first half set the script for the rest of the game. While the Wolverines were looking to utilize their individual talent – Caris LeVert was named to Wooden Award Watch List – the Ducks executed their game plan to outhustle and outrebound their opponent.
And while the Wolverines headed into the locker room with a 33-27 lead, the Ducks held advantages in multiple categories, one of them being on the boards: Oregon held a 19-17 edge.
The Ducks, who were led by Joseph Young (7 points) and Dillon Brooks (7 points) in the first half, may have struggled offensively, shooting 36 percent, but they kept it close with their second chance points and defense.
For a team that is still missing their biggest player in Michael Chandler (6-foot-10), the Ducks did everything right in regards to controlling the paint and containing a seasoned Wolverines offense.
On the run
At the break, the Ducks held a 6-0 advantage in fast break points. The Ducks, who were struggling to get quality looks throughout the game, managed to find their rhythm in transition, an attribute they will need to maintain moving forward.
Said ESPN’s Kara Lawson: “Love watching this team (Oregon) in transition.”
Despite the end result, the Ducks continued to showcase their athleticism. In addition to having a plethora of quickness all across the board, the Ducks also pose multiple high flyers in Dwayne Benjamin, Jordan Bell and Elgin Cook who all had their fair share of notable plays against an athletic Michigan team.
Having said that, freshman big man Ricky Doyle, who hadn’t seen much playing time up until this game, caused many problems down low, finishing with 10 points and three rebounds. Down the stretch, it was Doyle making the key plays in the paint to pick up the win.
Notables
Michigan: For the Wolverines, it was a two-man show headlined by LeVert and Zak Irvin. LeVert finished with 18 points and five rebounds, while Irvin led the team with a game-high 19 points and five rebounds.
Amid a game where the Ducks continually fought back from deficits, LeVert and Irvin were the one’s that eventually sealed the deal.
Oregon: It may not have been a memorable performance for Young, but he did enough to keep the Ducks alive with timely outside shots. Young finished with a team-high 20 points on 5-of-16 shooting, 2-for-9 from beyond the arc. He however, turned the ball over our times, something the Ducks struggled with all game.
Also providing a spark were Dillon Brooks and Benjamin, both of whom have earned consistent minutes on this new Oregon team. Brooks, who later fouled out of the game, boasted 14 points and seven rebounds, while Benjamin added eight points and a game-high 11 rebounds.
Benjamin would later be assisted to the locker room though following a late game left ankle injury. The diagnosis has yet to be determined.
Are the Ducks for real?
It’s too early to deem the Ducks a legit competitor in the Pac-12, but that doesn’t mean they haven’t opened some eyes early on.
ESPN’s Joe Lunardi was, for good reason, questioned for projecting the Ducks as a future 12th seed in this year’s NCAA Tournament, but it’s beginning to look like a lot less worse than it did before the season began.
For the Ducks, the storyline has been all about team rebounding and defense. It helps that their starters are all athletic, and so far, it’s kept them in games against bigger opponents.
Performing well against a AP Top 25 team this early in the season, especially at a place in the Barclays Center, isn’t easy. For what it’s worth, Oregon was projected to finish eighth in the Pac-12 by the media heading into the season.
We’ll see if this holds up.
Follow Hayden Kim on Twitter @HayDayKim