Ducks Looking To Clean Things Up For Pac-12 Play

Sunday, December 11

Eugene, Ore.

3:00 PM

University of Oregon

Alabama

Tickets

12/09/16 | Men's Basketball, @GoDucksMoseley

Game Notes: Oregon vs. Alabama

No. 24 Oregon hosts Alabama in Matthew Knight Arena on Sunday (3 p.m., ESPNU), the first of four games left before conference play begins.

By: Rob Moseley

EUGENE, Ore. — Oregon will mark the end of final exam week at the university by entering an important midterm stretch of the Ducks' season.

The UO men's basketball team hosts Alabama in Matthew Knight Arena on Sunday (3 p.m., ESPNU). The matinee is the first of three games in seven days for the Ducks, and the first of four remaining nonconference games on Oregon's schedule.

"It's a big week for us," UO coach Dana Altman said Friday. "We've got four games left before conference starts, and we've just got to get better."

The Ducks won their fifth straight game last Saturday, in a historically prolific offensive outburst against Savannah State. Altman held practices Monday and Tuesday before giving his players a break Wednesday and Thursday to focus on final exams.

No. 24 Oregon (7-2) returned to the practice court Friday afternoon, to begin focusing on the Crimson Tide. Alabama (4-3) returned just one starter from the team that went 18-15 and played in the NIT last season, a campaign that included a 72-68 loss to the Ducks in which the Crimson Tide squandered a 12-point halftime lead.

Alabama and Oregon have one common opponent this season, Valparaiso. The Ducks beat the Crusaders in MKA on Nov. 17, 76-54, before Valparaiso topped the Crimson Tide four days later, 68-60 in Las Vegas.

According to the advanced analytics at kenpom.com, Alabama is one of the country's more tenacious defensive teams. The Crimson Tide rank 58th in adjusted defensive efficiency, and are in the top 20 for both turnovers and blocked shots. Opponents are averaging just 62.4 points per game against Alabama, 17 below Oregon's scoring average of 79.4 points per game.

"They're very athletic," UO sophomore Tyler Dorsey said. "They have a lot of athletic wings, and we're gonna have a physical game on us. We've got to box out and rebound and be the more physical team."

A major point of emphasis for Oregon this week has been turnovers — committing fewer, and forcing more. After leading the Pac-12 in turnover margin last season at plus-2.68 per game — 14.0 forced and 11.3 committed — the Ducks actually have one more turnover committed (131) than forced (130) so far this season.

"We need to generate some more steals," Altman said. "Be more aggressive, get in the passing lanes, use our athleticism and length a little more."

Through nine games this season, Oregon is averaging 14.6 turnovers, more than three more per game than last season. Players chalk that up primarily to chemistry — they're still adjusting to the playing styles of their newcomers, and the recent return to health of junior Dillon Brooks.

"It's just going to take time," Dorsey said. "The more games we play, the more we know each other's game. We know if somebody's gonna take that shot or get to the rim, or whatever their best asset is on the court. Just more time, more games — that's the best way we're going to jell."

With just four games left until Pac-12 play begins, the Ducks know they process needs to be speeded up.

"We need to get out all the kinks," Dorsey said. "We need to come together as a team and come into conference knowing what each other's going to do, jelling the new guys and the vets together and being on point. Because the first (Pac-12) game's against UCLA, and they might be undefeated when we play them. So we have to be ready by then."