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About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (Feb. 16, 1995)
SPORTS EXTRA BASKETBALL Meet the Green Jeff Potter Senior Jeff Pot ter Is finishing a stellar career at Oregon, one which has seen the 6-foot-9 for ward from Red mond, Wash., establish him self as one of the most physi cal players In the Pac-10. UAH* 0NA3&*n«wlM Chris Metz 0*QfVi Owiy C/rwmi0 There was a time when (us distinct red hair wasn't the only reason (eff Potter looked a little more fired tip than anybody else "l used to lie kind of a hothead," the senior forward said with a grin Admittedly, it used to bother him to lie heckled and ridiculed by rowdy fans on the road ‘m the Pai ifi( lit ( Otlftnni especially during the lean years at Oregon Bui with age t om«> maturity maybe a little too much maturity “I hale to my it--- Ptn only 22." Potter said, "blit I feel like Pm about 40 " Aches and pains aside, though, not too much bothers Potter these days The senior from Redmond, Wash . has pieced together an impressive season and has finally had the chance to nibble on success at Oregon - the flavor of which was nothing more than a dream w hen he came here in lout We were terrible three years ago," he said. It feels good to see the improving that this program has done " And it by no means has been an easy road to respectability for the l>ui ks or for Potter, for that matter Last season, he relinquished his starting role some two and a half years after injuries to three starters allowed the fi foot-9 Potter to claim it as a true freshman. But the 1904 115 season has been one to remember for the quiet big man Along with sophomore guard Kenya Wilkins, Potter is the only member of the Dm ks to start every game this season His 10.7 points per game is third best on the team, and he has been a solid contributor on the boards as well, hauling in just under five rebounds a game Potter was ret ently named co-captain of the Dm ks, along with senior Orlando Williams Both have (seen instrumental in the transformation of the Ducks into a winning program, even though they are leftovers from the Don Munson years "! feel like we've helped bring this pre turn to POTTER. Pago 10 Green takes nothing for granted against Huskies Henry Madden’s five rebounds a game Is second best on the Ducks Kris Henry O»orx> Daily f nwaM At a glance, tonight's home game against Washington would seem to play out as an easy victory for the 19th-ranked Ducks But according to Oregon head coach Jerry Grwon, that might not necessarily be the case "I nvilly think (Washington! is dangerous." the third-year coach said. "They can beat us if we don't play good They're a good team and have put it together well.” Pretty strong sentiments about a youthful program that is overall, tied for last in the Pacific-10 Conference with a 2-9 record and has recently been depleted by the loss of junior starting point guard Michael McClain due to disciplinary actions "They’re kind of like we were toward the end of last season." Green said, referring to Oregon's improvement in the league last year “I think they will play better the second time around (in the Pac-lO season| than they did the first round. "When you lose one of your players like they lost McClain, 1 think everybody pulls a little hit closer together.” Instead of focusing on what Washington IIKIN MSKiTBAU Oregon vs. Wash. 7:05 p.m. Mac Court ■ Nut Oregon vs. Washington State 7;0S p.m. Saturday, Feb 18. ■ Notable: Oregon has won the last four meet ings with Washington, the longest such streak over the Huskies since a five game streak in 1941 doesn't have, a better sense of the pro gram might be gained by looking at what Wash ington does have. The Huskies boast one of the confer ence's top fresh m a n players in forward Mark San ford, who has stepped up his play in recent contests and luis averaged nearly lfi points and six rebounds in his last seven games, "He has to be one of the top candidates for freshman of the year in the Pac-10,” Green Turn to HUSKIES, Page 12 J BASKETBALL WEEKEND SLATE B#n'» Bath»tb«l! Wod fgt) ^5 U & iX AfLTCRft USC ^ f «o 18. .. PAC-10 HOOPS AtiitU tow UCiA >.-gy<,s;w Wilkin*, OWt U ,. WASH USC Hi •< -0< WASH Q AST AVQ ''I I 7 1<g ?? 23 i&? _ * Q I? 106 64 <9 na 6? ?Q 122 61 19 113 S.9 >6 n JM_w I? 7* it ii i 4 FULL HOUSE Pao-10 home game attendance and the percentage of the seating that ts titled on average 4REHA [Mitoutsj AVO PER A;.-to (HI 14257 tOO Anions S» 9.139 64 3' Ha< -w Qfn 6 578 |Q0 jt Oak. 3?xJ Coi it 00/ 732 Oregon (3) 7,*48 Ti Qregon&i 6.757 66 9an!«d 4.766 635 ;XXA 10538 822 U$C 2986 193 'AMhngwi 4 818 612 AasfmgJon Si 5825 483 MATT GAHlOAtrnwok! QUOTE OF THE DAY // He's like (Michael) Jordan he stans so far out lhai you think there's no way he can dunk, but he does he's real ly a special athlete — Lute CM son Anzooa batkeifcaS coach on USCi Lotenro Or