Wednesday, March 15
Eugene, OR
8:00 PM
University of Oregon
20-14,12-8Pac-12
84
vs
58
UC Irvine
23-12,15-5Big West
1
2
F
UC Irvine
22
36
58
Oregon
35
49
84
Photo by: Eric Evans/GoDucks.com
Adversity, Anteaters No Match For Ducks
03/15/23 | Men's Basketball
Playing without three starters, Oregon blasted UC Irvine in the first round of the NIT on Wednesday, 84-58.
EUGENE, Ore. — Oregon won without three injured starters, avenged an early season defeat, earned the 20th win of the year and advanced in the NIT on Wednesday with an 84-58 win over UC Irvine at Matthew Knight Arena.
The Ducks will host Central Florida in the second round Sunday after beating the Anteaters without starters Will Richardson, N'Faly Dante and Jermaine Couisnard. UC Irvine handed the UO men their first loss of the season, back on Nov. 11, but the Ducks bounced back from falling short in a late-season bid to make the NCAA Tournament by winning their NIT opener.
"We're not where we want to be; it's been a roller coaster of a season with injuries, and just never getting guys, roles, the way we want them," UO coach Dana Altman said. "But to see the guys battle tonight and compete, that was encouraging."
The Ducks overcame the absence of three starters by getting 21 points from Rivaldo Soares, 17 from Nate Bittle and 12 from Tyrone Williams — all season highs. Soares and Williams each finished with a double-double, as Soares grabbed 10 rebounds and Williams had 11. Bittle and Kel'el Ware both blocked three shots, and helped the Ducks win the battle of the boards 56-44 while holding UC Irvine to 30 percent shooting.
"We know how to play through injuries," Bittle said. "Coach was saying we have to have certain guys step up, and I think we did that tonight. I think it was just an overall great team win."
How It Happened: After the Ducks made just three three-pointers in their Pac-12 Tournament semifinal loss to UCLA, they got one from Soares and two from Keeshawn Barthelemy in the opening minutes Wednesday to take an early 12-7 lead. It was 16-9 when UC Irvine scored five straight to close within two. But the Ducks then reeled off a 12-0 run, including threes from both Soares and Quincy Guerrier, to lead 28-14.
The Anteaters made 12 three-pointers in their November win at Matthew Knight Arena, while the Ducks were 4-of-21. The tables were turned Wednesday, as UC Irvine missed its first 10 three-point attempts and was 1-of-12 in the first half. Oregon, meanwhile, had six in the first half, the last by walk-on guard Gabe Reichle with 31 seconds left to make it 35-22 at halftime.
UC Irvine scored on seven of its first 11 possessions of the second half, including a couple more three-pointers. That allowed the Anteaters to stay within single digits, despite two early baskets by Soares and a three from Williams for the Ducks. But a three-pointer by Ware made it 53-39, and Oregon led by at least 12 the rest of the way. Bittle flushed a lob from Barthelemy and hit a trio of three-pointers down the stretch, and another walk-on — James Cooper — hit the Ducks' 12th three of the night for the final points of the game.
Not only did the Ducks turn the tables in three-point shooting compared to November's meeting with UC Irvine — making 12 and allowing four Wednesday, after making four and allowing 12 in November — but Oregon's coaches credited the team with 41 deflections on defense Wednesday, after they had just 13 in the November meeting.
"I'd have been really disappointed if we didn't play hard; I just didn't know if we'd play that well," Altman said. "But we did play well. We made plays for each other, we did some good things."
Notable: Richardson will remain sidelined through the rest of the postseason, Altman said, but Dante and Couisnard could potentially return if their rehab progresses to the point they're cleared by team medical staff. … Oregon has won 66 games in the month of March since 2011, trailing only Kansas (68). The Ducks entered Wednesday tied with Kentucky, which plays Friday. … Altman has led the Ducks to at least 20 wins in all 13 seasons as head coach at Oregon.
Quotable:
Senior wing Rivaldo Soares on the team's motivation Wednesday night
"It goes back to what coach said in the locker room — it's a privilege to put this jersey on. If we came out to play and didn't want to play, it would let down a lot of fans."
Sophomore forward Nate Bittle on the attitude Oregon played with Wednesday
"Everybody on our team wants to still play. You can see it in everybody's eyes. People want to be here. I think going into next season, this is a great step for our team."
Up Next: The Ducks will host Central Florida in the second round Sunday (4:30 p.m., ESPNU).
The Ducks will host Central Florida in the second round Sunday after beating the Anteaters without starters Will Richardson, N'Faly Dante and Jermaine Couisnard. UC Irvine handed the UO men their first loss of the season, back on Nov. 11, but the Ducks bounced back from falling short in a late-season bid to make the NCAA Tournament by winning their NIT opener.
"We're not where we want to be; it's been a roller coaster of a season with injuries, and just never getting guys, roles, the way we want them," UO coach Dana Altman said. "But to see the guys battle tonight and compete, that was encouraging."
The Ducks overcame the absence of three starters by getting 21 points from Rivaldo Soares, 17 from Nate Bittle and 12 from Tyrone Williams — all season highs. Soares and Williams each finished with a double-double, as Soares grabbed 10 rebounds and Williams had 11. Bittle and Kel'el Ware both blocked three shots, and helped the Ducks win the battle of the boards 56-44 while holding UC Irvine to 30 percent shooting.
"We know how to play through injuries," Bittle said. "Coach was saying we have to have certain guys step up, and I think we did that tonight. I think it was just an overall great team win."
How It Happened: After the Ducks made just three three-pointers in their Pac-12 Tournament semifinal loss to UCLA, they got one from Soares and two from Keeshawn Barthelemy in the opening minutes Wednesday to take an early 12-7 lead. It was 16-9 when UC Irvine scored five straight to close within two. But the Ducks then reeled off a 12-0 run, including threes from both Soares and Quincy Guerrier, to lead 28-14.
The Anteaters made 12 three-pointers in their November win at Matthew Knight Arena, while the Ducks were 4-of-21. The tables were turned Wednesday, as UC Irvine missed its first 10 three-point attempts and was 1-of-12 in the first half. Oregon, meanwhile, had six in the first half, the last by walk-on guard Gabe Reichle with 31 seconds left to make it 35-22 at halftime.
UC Irvine scored on seven of its first 11 possessions of the second half, including a couple more three-pointers. That allowed the Anteaters to stay within single digits, despite two early baskets by Soares and a three from Williams for the Ducks. But a three-pointer by Ware made it 53-39, and Oregon led by at least 12 the rest of the way. Bittle flushed a lob from Barthelemy and hit a trio of three-pointers down the stretch, and another walk-on — James Cooper — hit the Ducks' 12th three of the night for the final points of the game.
Not only did the Ducks turn the tables in three-point shooting compared to November's meeting with UC Irvine — making 12 and allowing four Wednesday, after making four and allowing 12 in November — but Oregon's coaches credited the team with 41 deflections on defense Wednesday, after they had just 13 in the November meeting.
"I'd have been really disappointed if we didn't play hard; I just didn't know if we'd play that well," Altman said. "But we did play well. We made plays for each other, we did some good things."
Notable: Richardson will remain sidelined through the rest of the postseason, Altman said, but Dante and Couisnard could potentially return if their rehab progresses to the point they're cleared by team medical staff. … Oregon has won 66 games in the month of March since 2011, trailing only Kansas (68). The Ducks entered Wednesday tied with Kentucky, which plays Friday. … Altman has led the Ducks to at least 20 wins in all 13 seasons as head coach at Oregon.
Quotable:
Senior wing Rivaldo Soares on the team's motivation Wednesday night
"It goes back to what coach said in the locker room — it's a privilege to put this jersey on. If we came out to play and didn't want to play, it would let down a lot of fans."
Sophomore forward Nate Bittle on the attitude Oregon played with Wednesday
"Everybody on our team wants to still play. You can see it in everybody's eyes. People want to be here. I think going into next season, this is a great step for our team."
Up Next: The Ducks will host Central Florida in the second round Sunday (4:30 p.m., ESPNU).
Team Stats
Irvine
Oregon
FG%
.300
.403
3FG%
.174
.429
FT%
.750
.600
RB
44
56
TO
11
12
STL
9
3
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
21
FGM
7
3FGM
2
FTM
5
Pts
17
FGM
5
3FGM
3
FTM
4
Pts
12
FGM
3
3FGM
1
FTM
5
Pts
7
FGM
3
3FGM
1
FTM
0
Players Mentioned
G
/ Men's BasketballC
/ Men's Basketball
F
/ Men's Basketball
G
/ Men's Basketball
C
/ Men's Basketball
F
/ Men's Basketball
G
/ Men's Basketball
G
/ Men's BasketballG
/ Men's BasketballC
/ Men's BasketballG
/ Men's BasketballOregon Men's Basketball | Who Woulda Thought - Episode 2
Monday, September 08
Oregon Men's Basketball | Who Woulda Thought - Episode 1
Friday, August 22
Dana Altman | Selection Sunday
Sunday, March 16
Keeshawn Barthelemy & Jadrian Tracey | Selection Sunday
Sunday, March 16
