Oregon Basketball: 3 keys to success against UC Irvine

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LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – MARCH 16: Kenny Wooten #14 of the Oregon Ducks celebrates on the court after a Washington Huskies turnover during the championship game of the Pac-12 basketball tournament at T-Mobile Arena on March 16, 2019 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Ducks defeated the Huskies 68-48. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) /

1. Clean up on the glass.

UC Irvine is one of the nation’s best teams at extending possessions. It ranks 32nd nationally in offensive rebounding percentage. The top Anteater in this category is Jonathan Galloway. At 6-foot-10, he is UCI’s career record holder in rebounds. He’s one of the three Anteaters who rank in the top-200 in offensive rebounding percentage.

Rebounding is a big deal because, as good as Oregon’s defense is, it can only defend well for so long. The Ducks tended to concede a lot of second-chance points in the games that they lost and gave up more points than usual in. Against UCLA for instance, the Ducks allowed 25 second-chance points and lost 90-83. In their 66-49 loss to USC, they allowed 14 second-chance points. The list continues.

Oregon attempts to counter its relative weakness in defensive rebounding by attacking the glass with more players. Even point guard Payton Pritchard has nine defensive rebounds in his past two games combined.

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