UConn vs. Oregon: College basketball game preview, TV schedule
The Oregon Ducks and UConn Huskies had completely opposite seasons last year. With the slate clean, who will win the first round game in the Victory Bracket of the PK80 Invitational?
TV schedule: Thursday, Nov. 23, 9:00 p.m. ET. ESPNU
Arena: Moda Center in Portland, Oregon
Arizona and UCLA were both considered title favorites in the PAC-12 last year, but ultimately it was Dana Altman and Oregon (4-0) who made their first Final Four since the inaugural NCAA Tournament in 1939 where the Ducks won it all.
They had to retool the roster completely after star players Jordan Bell, Dillon Brooks and Chris Boucher all left for the NBA. After searching through the free agent market (grad transfers), the Ducks found a couple mid-major stars in Mikyle McIntosh (Illinois State) and Elijah Brown (New Mexico) to fill in the gaps for a year.
The two of them have combined for 20.5 ppg, and McIntosh himself averages 5.2 rpg while playing solid defense. Highly-touted freshmen Troy Brown and Victor Bayley are two of the leading scorers on the team, combining themselves for 25.2 ppg and 9.2 rpg. However, it’s been the one remaining rotation player from the Final Four team who’s been the catalyst for the Ducks.
Payton Pritchard is second on the team with 12.5 ppg and 4.5 rpg and is the lead distributor at 5.8 apg. It’s still early, but the former four-star point guard has been meeting expectations that were given to him when he first arrived in Eugene. Of course, most of these stats have to be taken with a grain of salt, with three of the four opponents coming from the MEAC and SWAC, the two worst conferences in Division I basketball.
They take on a UConn (3-0) team that is coming off a disappointing/injury-filled season where they missed all postseason events. The good news is that everyone is healthy coming into the year, and UConn has not lost any early games (hello to Northeastern and Wagner) yet.
The one bright spot on the team from last year, Jalen Adams, is off to a good start with 15.5 ppg and 5.5 rpg. He’ll have some help with the return of Terry Larrier, the former VCU transfer who played well before suffering a season-ending injury. The 6’8 guard/forward is leading the team with 16.7 ppg, and, depending on how the team plays, he could be a dark-horse candidate for the American Athletic Conference Player of the Year.
Besides the main two, other role players to watch include Christian Vital, who had just nine points in the first two games before dropping 30 off the bench versus Boston. Freshman forward Tyler Polley has been the best player down low, with 6.3 ppg and 2.3 rpg.
Next: Preview of the PK80 Victory Bracket
Each side has advantages in this game. Oregon is the superior athletic team and has the bodies to out-rebound the Huskies. UConn has the best chemistry and Larrier and Adams might be the two best overall players on the court. The Achilles heel for Kevin Ollie’s team is the same as last year — shooting. Currently they’re shooting just 32% from deep, and, with a lack of scoring in the post, teams will focus on the perimeter players. That might be what decides this one.
Prediction: Oregon 70 – UConn 61