Oregon Weekly MBB Release - Week 10 - University of Oregon Athletics

For the complete release with full notes, statistics, etc., please view the PDF version

EUGENE, Ore. -- The University of Oregon men's basketball team (7-9, 0-4) will play the first-ever basketball games at Matthew Knight Arena this week against USC and UCLA. The Ducks and the Trojans (10-6, 2-1) face off at 8 p.m. (PT) on Thursday, before UO hosts the Bruins (9-6, 1-2) Saturday at 2 p.m.

The gates will open at 5:30 p.m. for the opener against USC, so fans will have extra time to get acquainted with the building. USC available ticket prices: Backcourt Terrace-$24, Midcourt Terrace-$36, Backcourt Loge-$43, Midcourt Loge-$50 and Premier-$50.

UCLA available ticket prices: General Admission-$18, Backcourt Terrace-$18, Midcourt Terrace-$30, Backcourt Loge-$36, Midcourt Loge-$43 and Premier-$43. Complete men's basketball ticket pricing information available through matthewknightarena.com.

Thursday's game against USC will feature a Grand Opening of the arena, with the national anthem to be performed by local musical group On the Rocks. There will be a dedication video, Phil and Penny Knight will speak to go with a video and light show.

The Trojans lead the all-time series over UO, 60-42. The Ducks won both meetings last season. UCLA is 79-29 all-time against Oregon. UO won both meetings a year ago.

USC LIVE COVERAGE
• TV: Fox Sports Net; Steve Physioc, play-by-play; Marques Johnson, analyst; Rebecca Haarlow, sideline
• Radio: Oregon Sports Network affiliates; Jerry Allen, play-by-play
• Satellite radio: Sirius 122, XM 143
• GoDucks.com: Live audio, stats

UCLA LIVE COVERAGE
• TV: OSN on Comcast SportsNet NW; Joe Giansante, play-by-play; Rob Closs, analyst; Jill Savage, sideline
Fox Sports Prime Ticket; Bill Macdonald, play-by-play; Don MacLean, analyst; Courtney Jones; sideline
• Radio: Oregon Sports Network affiliates; Jerry Allen, play-by-play
• Satellite radio: Sirius 127 (UCLA broadcast)
• GoDucks.com: Live audio, HD video, stats

Follow Oregon men's basketball on twitter @duckbasketball for in-game updates.

UO SWEPT BOTH USC AND UCLA LAST SEASON
Oregon took all four match-ups from the LA schools last season, marking the first time since 2001-02 that the Ducks had accomplished that feat.

Prior to last season, UO hadn't swept USC since the 2004-05 season (as part of back-to-back sweeps and a six-game winning streak against the Trojans which dated back to the 2002-03 season). UO's Malcolm Armstead and Jeremy Jacob combined for 37 points in the home win over USC.

In last year's road win over UCLA, junior forward Jeremy Jacob recorded his third double-double of the season by matching a career high with 19 points and adding 10 rebounds in the win over UCLA. Oregon's last sweep of UCLA was back in the 2002-03 season, which came as part of back-to-back sweeps (2001-02 season as well) and a five-game winning streak against the Bruins (from Jan. 31, 2002 through March 14, 2003).

OREGON'S PAC-10 STATISTICAL RANKINGS
UO compares favorably with their Pac-10 foes in several statistical categories, ranking second in free throw shooting (.728, 228-of-313), steals (8.5 spg, 136), turnover margin (+3.8, 204-265) and offensive rebounds (12.4, 199), while ranking fourth in blocks (3.4, 55).

Senior forward Joevan Catron ranks sixth in scoring (15.9 ppg, 254) and offensive rebounds (3.1 orpg, 47). Sophomore forward E.J. Singler is first in free throw shooting percentage (.860, 43-of-50) and seventh in blocks (1.1 bpg, 18). Junior guard Teondre Williams is third in 3-point field goal percentage (.484, 15-of-31). Junior guard Malcolm Armstead is second in steals (2.1 spg, 32) and eighth in assists (3.7 apg, 55).

CATRON AVERAGING CAREER BESTS
Senior forward Joevan Catron has now played in 112 career games averaging career-bests for points (15.9 ppg) and field goal shooting percentage (.515, 84-163). He leads the team in scoring, rebounding (6.4 rpg) shooting percentage, field goals attempted and field goals made, while ranking third in minutes played (25.8 mpg).

Catron has scored in double-figures in 13 of the 16 games in 2010-11. Five of his six career 20-point games have occurred this season. He's led UO in scoring 13 times in his career, 10 of those have come in 2010-11.

Catron has scored 62.2 percent of his points after halftime, with 158 of his 254 total points coming during the final 20 minutes (and OT). In UO's game at Washington, Catron scored 17 of his team-high 20 points in the second half (including 11 straight points to open the stanza). In an overtime win over North Dakota State, he tallied 16 of his career-best 27 points in the second half. He also scored 18 of his 25 points in the second half of a home loss to San Jose State.

LAST WEEK'S GAMES
Oregon lost a pair of Pac-10 Conference road games last week, falling at Washington (L, 69-87) and Washington State (L, 63-77).

Senior forward Joevan Catron registered 20 points and 10 rebounds for his second double-double of the season in Thursday's loss to the Huskies. Junior guard Garrett Sim added 13 points on 5-of-7 shooting. Oregon took a 47-46 lead with 16:45 in the second half, but UW out-scored UO 41-22 the rest of the way.

In Saturday's loss at WSU, Sim scored a team-high 13 points, while freshman guard Johnathan Loyd added 11 points and junior guard Teondre Williams had 10. Oregon shot below 40 percent from the field for the sixth straight game. UO was 24-of-71 on field goals (33.8 percent), 10-of-32 on 3-pointers (31.3 percent).

SINGLER STEPS INTO KEY ROLE
Sophomore forward E.J. Singler leads the team blocks (1.2 bpg, 18), while ranking second on the team in scoring (11.4 ppg, 183), rebounding (6.3 rpg, 100), field goal percentage (.480, 61-of-127) and 3-point field goal percentage (.375, 18-of-48).

Singler has reached double figures in scoring 11 times in 16 games. The Medford, Ore., product opened the season by scoring in double figures in each of the first seven games.

In the near upset of No. 9 Missouri, Singler tallied a career-best 19 points to go with nine rebounds. On Dec. 11, Singler posted an 18-point, 17-rebound (career high) effort in the win over Willamette. That single-game rebound total ties Singler for the top performance amongst Pac-10 players this season (with Arizona State's Kyle Cain, 17 vs. Houston Baptist, 11-25-10).

MAC COURT TO MATT ARENA MOVE
The Oregon men's basketball team will make the move from McArthur Court to Matthew Knight Arena this season. The new building can be listed by either its full name, or abbreviated to Matt Arena (like Mac Court is to McArthur Court). Key dates listed below.

• Dec. 21, 2010 (MBB vs. Idaho); Last MBB non-conf. game at Mac Court
• Jan. 1, 2011 (MBB vs. Arizona State); Last MBB Pac-10 game at Mac Court
• Jan. 13, 2011 (MBB vs USC); First MBB game at Matt Arena
• Jan. 23, 2011 (WBB vs Oregon State); First WBB game at Matt Arena
• Feb. 19, 2011 (MBB vs Oregon State); First Civil War MBB game at Matt Arena

For more information on UO's newest facility, please visit MatthewKnightArena.com.

UO ADDS FOUR PLAYERS IN EARLY SIGNING PERIOD
Dana Altman announced the signing of four players to National Letters of Intent. Joining the Ducks' 2011-12 squad are guards Bruce Barron (Carbondale, Ill./Brehm Preparatory School), Jabari Brown (Oakland, Calif./Oakland HS) and Brett Kingma (Mill Creek, Wash./Jackson HS) along with center Austin Kuemper (Portland, Ore./Westview HS).

Bruce Barron: Plays prep basketball at Brehm Preparatory School in Carbondale, Ill. … led AAU basketball team (Illinois Titans) to a national title in 2009, averaging 18 points per game in the senior national tournament … chose Oregon over Oklahoma State, Marquette and Indiana … also played AAU basketball for Mac Irvin Fire.

Jabari Brown: Started junior season at Findlay Prep (Nev.) where he averaged 16 points per game before transferring mid-year to Oakland High School … averaged 23.5 points, 3.4 rebounds and 1.2 assists per game at Oakland High the rest of his junior campaign ... led Oakland High to second round of the state playoffs … chose Oregon over Arizona State, Connecticut, Georgia Tech and Washington … played AAU ball for Drew Gooden Soldiers.

Brett Kingma: Averaged 25 points, four steals and four assists per game as a junior … Led Jackson High School to the 2010 Washington Class 4A title game … chose Oregon over Arizona State, Brigham Young and Washington … played AAU ball for Friends of Hoop.

Austin Kuemper: Averaged 12.9 points and 8.1 rebounds per game as a junior for Westview High School … Lead WHS to the 2010 OSAA 6A Boys state title game … also led WHS to a second-round appearance at the 2009 OSAA 6A Boys State Tournament … chose Oregon over Iowa State, San Diego State, USC and Washington State … played AAU ball for ICP.