Originally posted on CampusAttic.com on January 3rd, 2014
To
borrow a classic phrase from Oregon lore, it was the most improbable finish to
the basketball game.
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| Oregon celebrates on the Utah floor after an incredible comeback win. (courtesy: Salt Lake Tribune | Francisco Kjolseth) |
Nobody
said it would be easy. The out-of-conference preseason was over, Men’s Oregon
basketball passing that test with flying colors going a perfect 12-0, but now
is when the real season begins. The first step was a doozy, going to the
elevation of Salt Lake City to face the mighty Utah Utes, 11-1 on the year, a
scrappy squad with a quality inside presence and posting the highest field goal
percentage in the nation.
It
couldn’t have been a worse possible start for Oregon’s first Pac-12 conference
road test, a measuring stick for the season to come in the very difficult
2013-14 Pac-12. A 1-11 shooting start by Oregon gave the Utah Utes an early
lead, the Ducks coming in as the fourth best shooting team in the country and
#1 in points per game, but couldn’t find the rim. Well, they could, when they
blocked themselves like Richard Amardi did, doinking the ball off the rim on a
wide open dunk opportunity.
The
early misses inside were indicative of a talented but young Oregon team that
has not yet experienced life on the road, having only played two road games in
the 11-0 start to the season–a neutral site game vs. Georgetown in South Korea
and an overtime win at Ole Miss. Another neutral site game played in Portland
vs. Illinois could hardly be called a road game.
Perhaps
it was adjusting to the elevation of Salt Lake City, perhaps sluggish from new
years festivities (aren’t we all?), or just the uncertainty of the first Pac-12
road trip; whatever the cause it was a very un-Duck-like performance to start.
The one thing that kept Oregon from being blown out early was Utah’s slightly
less but still atrocious start, taking an early 10-2 lead but matching Oregon
blow for blow in ineptitude.
It
took nearly eight minutes into the first half for Oregon to show signs of life,
with Dominic Artis scoring back-to-back buckets, first off a steal, then
followed next series with a three-pointer. If Utah had difficulty in scoring,
the one area they showed dominance was protecting the rim, forcing Oregon
outside for much of the game. When the Ducks did go inside, Utah posed a large
presence, blocking five shots in the first 10 minutes of play, and doubling up
on points in the paint vs. Oregon (Utah-20, Oregon-10).
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| Dana Altman just about lost it at one point because of Oregon’s poor play vs. Utah in the first half. |
Fortunately
for Oregon, one thing the Ducks can do right is shoot from outside…usually. As
halftime neared both times finally started finding their mark, but Oregon
looked sloppy in transition, allowing easy points to the point where Coach Dana
Altman was so frustrated he ripped his tie off and threw it.
For
the animated in games but subdued in persona Altman, the frustrated tie throw
was a new level of rage seen from him, at least since joining Oregon four years
ago.
The
half closed with the perfect summary of the game to that point, Amardi again
being blocked at the rim, by Utah’s point guard no less, allowing for an easy
transition as time expired, Utah holding a 32-28 lead.
In
the first half Oregon’s season-long scoring source, Joseph Young, had managed
only seven points, and the Ducks as a team were shooting only 37% from the
field, plus eight turnovers–definitely not the kind of performance Oregon can
put out on the road and expect to remain the 10th ranked team in the country.
The
sloppy play continued for both teams to start the second half, but there was
something different from Oregon, there was at least a sign of energy and
effort. Whether a caffeine jolt at the half or Altman peeling the paint off the
walls with his yelling, led by Jonathan Loyd as the spark-plug, Oregon started
running. Not necessarily scoring, but at least running, and the result was that
Oregon was able to get good looks in the paint.
Utah
expanded their lead to 10 with 13 minutes remaining, 45-35, but quick
transition play by Dominic Artis kept Oregon in the fight, whether finishing on
his own or leading the breakaway before distributing to a teammate. A breakaway
two and the foul led by Artis and finished off by Damyeon Dotson brought Oregon
to within three points, 47-44. Oregon was finally coming alive.
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| Dominic Artis didn’t put up a lot of points, but brought a lot of energy in Oregon’s comeback. (courtesy: CBSsports.com) |
The
sign of true character isn’t shown when times are good, but it is in moments of
diversity when a person’s true colors appear. Oregon’s resiliency showed
through in its second half effort, rotating between Loyd and Artis to keep the
Ducks running, and scoring. It took 31 minutes of play, but Oregon speed
finally gave Oregon the lead, 49-47. From that point, the game turned wild,
fast-paced transition ball, keeping the pressure on by sprinting down the floor
after each rebound.
Utah
had the homecourt advantage, but Oregon had the hustle advantage, the ducks
closing the door on points in the paint in the final minutes through sheer
effort, hanging onto a slim lead. It was a very Oregon-like finish down the
stretch, making up for early mistakes, and showing that perhaps the Ducks are
worthy of their rank after all, if able to overcome what was by far their worst
start to a game all season.
Normally
this would be a game playing right into the Ducks hands, the new foul rules
leading to cheap fouls and plenty of free throws down the stretch, Oregon
taking full advantage thanks to their athleticism and ability to stretch the
floor. The opposite held true though against Utah, Utah clawing back with
freebies to take a 62-60 lead with 42 seconds remaining.
Utah
held for the final shot with the game tied 62-62, calling a timeout with 7.4
remaining for a chance at the W to knock off Oregon from the undefeated
pedestal, but the three point attempt fell wide, sending a
sloppy-turned-fantastic game to overtime.
In
overtime, neither team could find its shot, highlighted by a bizarre dunk by
Elgin Cook that mysteriously reversed direction because of the net, popping
back out of the cylinder.
With
under a minute, Utah held a 68-66 lead, when Damyeon Dotson found a window and
drove the lane to tie it.
Utah’s
set play out of the timeout with 7.4 seconds on the clock resulted in one of
the most amazing finishes to an Oregon basketball game in recent memory, as
Damyeon Dotson intercepted a pass in the paint, resulting in a breakaway dunk
with .6 left on the clock, Oregon potentially stealing another game they
probably didn’t deserve, 70-68.
Utah
had an open 3-point attempt as the horn sounded from the leading scorer on the
night Jordan Loveridge (21 points on 8-23 shooting), but the shot went off the
rim. Outside shots proved to be Utah’s undoing in a game where they otherwise
outplayed Oregon, the Utes shooting a dismal 3-19 (15.8%) from behind the 3-point
line.
It
was oddly fitting that after the way Oregon had been denied so many times at
the rim all night, and had one dunk deciding not to go down long after falling
below the rim, it would be a dunk that then won the game for the Ducks.
Kenny Wheaton would have been proud,
Damyeon Dotson’s miraculous play resulting in the most improbable finish to an
Oregon basketball game. Perhaps not since Greg Trapp’s miracle shot vs. UCLA in 1983
has an Oregon basketball game been decided in such an unbelievable way, and
that shot in ‘83 only sent the game to overtime, it didn’t win it outright.
If
beginning Pac-12 play was hopefully a chance to answer questions about the team
though, the biggest remains up in the air, will the real Oregon center please
stand up? Waverly Austin has been getting the starts all year, and been
unimpressive, overwhelmed in the paint and providing mixed results in points.
Against Utah it was Richard Amardi getting the start for the first time all
season, and he too had a rough night.
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| It was a rough night for Richard Amardi in his first start, but he still led Oregon with 14 points. (courtesy: 247sports.com) |
When
Amardi’s shots weren’t getting blocked (he tallied an unenviable six of his
shots blocked on the night), he was blocking himself, or otherwise looking
lost. Oregon is eeking out the wins through effort and great outside shooting,
but to be a realistic title contender, someone needs to step up and show an
ability to play in the paint competently.
Yet
despite the doubt, Amardi rallied down the stretch, adding an invaluable 14
points to lead Oregon in scoring (5-13 shooting). Somehow, someway, Oregon and
its players just find a way to produce. It isn’t always pretty, but they find a
way.
If
this is what is to be expected of Oregon games for the remainder of the year,
it means a lot of high-energy, exciting basketball yet to come. The Ducks have
become must-watch, even if Matt Court seems cavernous every game, but it is not
for the faint of heart. How long Oregon can continue to play with fire through
slow starts and surging in the second half and not get burned seems only a
matter of time, it is no formula for success expecting to survive against the
cream of the Pac-12 crop. For now though, the Ducks will take the ‘W’ any way
they can get it, as ugly or fast or timely as they can.
Next
up for the Ducks is a game at Colorado on Saturday (2 pm on Fox Sports 1),
tired legs and high-elevation making more late great heroics another tough
test, but so far Oregon has answered the call at every turn. Perhaps this Utah
win shows that, while Oregon is a good but inherently flawed team, they indeed
have the heart to overcome any shortcomings amidst adversity and somehow,
someway persevere no matter what.
Stock
up on some oxygen tanks now, get in more cardio work if you can, because the
2013-14 Oregon Ducks are going to be a tense thrill ride all year long, and
Altman’s boys are just getting started.
A
visibly bored and yawning Phil Knight was shown at one point during the game,
but by the end no doubt Uncle Phil was once more dishing out mad Respek
Knuckles watching these Ducks find a way to win once more.
