Oregon daily emerald., February 29, 1996, Page 7, Image 7

Emerald THURSDAY
February 29. 1986
Oregon returns to Mac Court for tough homestand
■ MEN S BASKETBALL Tonight is
a must-win game for any chance
at post-season ptay
By Andrea Da Young
Assam* Spwn earn
The season is winding down for the
Oregon men's basketball team, a* the
Ducks ptay host to USC tonight in the
second-to-last home game of the year
Oregon (14 12 overall. 7 8 PacifktO
Conference) it coming off a successful
whipping of Arizona State and is look
ing to secure a spot in a post season
tournament* But before the Ducks can
even think about post season play, they
must first get past the Troyans
Although Oregon beat USC on 78
down south Feb 3. the Trajan* have
beaten the Duck* in raven of their last
10 match-ups But USC is currently on
s six-game losing streak, its last win was
against the Beavers Feb t.
Head coach Jerry Green is not about
to let his team take tonight's game light
ly
"We're not going to look past South
ern tail because I feel that to even give
ourselves a chance in the NCAA post
season. we have to have all three of
these gamesr he said "It's not a matter
of coming dose. We need to win these
three games."
When the Ducks and Trojans met ear
lier this season. Jamar Curry led all
scorers with 23 points. It was a strung
offensive effort fur the Oregon starter*:
all five scored in double figures
The Trojans will look for offensive
power from their three guard line up
Stais Baseman, who averages 15,6
points per game, and Brandon Marlin,
who average* 15.1 point* per game, will
lead a Trojan team that may arrive in
Eugene at less than capacity USC had
several player* go down with injuries
last week and may bring only six schol
arship player* lo McArthur Court
But the Trojans will not lie without
the power of |aha Wilson, who has 11
double doubles this season and aver
ages 113 points and 8.2 rebound* per
game, Avondre Jones averages 1.1
blocked shots per game and already has
66 this season, a new USC record
Oregon needs to have a consistent
game from its perimeter shooters Jamal
Lawrence has been averaging mure than
12 points in the last seven game*, five of
which the Duck* have won In that time
spaa. Curry has been averaging 13 6
point* per game, including two career
Turn to MEN'S B-BALL Page 12
m mmnf nrtwmri'f
Onagon wW look to tumor guard Ksnys WNUna. who acorad 30 points In th* Duck. last horn* gams,
to provtda an ohanaiv* pop againsl USC tonight.
Ducks take
advantage of
home court
By Trevor Kearney
Ak*M MM*
Home court advantage
A simple anil logical concept
that sways the mlds in favor of
the home team. based on the
premise that famdiar surround
ing* and ihe enthusiasm of the
crowd give a leant a natural lift
"Beery college team will play
a lillle tsetter al home than il will
on ibe mad simply because it is
a confidence factor, and every
thing you are around, you are
accustomed to being around,"
Oregon head coach lerry Creon
said. “You practice there every
day. and I think familiar tor
rounding* make you waul to
play a Utile hit harder, make you
want to play a little bit smarter
"And I think you hate to din
appoint your friends even
more ”
Hut for the Oregon Duck*,
playing big time game* at home
in M« Arthur Court is more than
that Playing at Mat Court is not
just playing <m a familiar court
in hunt of a crowd that know*
Ihe players’ name* Playing at
Mat: Court |a playing in an
aimn*ph*re that at times, can
lift the Duck* up to another
playing level
We have always had a tough
time there." Stanford coach
Mike Montgomery said "It has
always been a plain where they
have gotten tremendous « uo>
tionai lift front their crowd "
In the past three years, the
thick* have proved that, pulling
off a few memorable win*
again*! leant* they simply
couldn't tout h on the road
The h» ?*i win over I C l.A
that closed out the ISM season
come* to mind So doe* last
year * R2 72 win over the Hru
ins. who eventually won the
NtlAA title Those two win*
came in years that the thick* got
stomped on the road by UCf.A
MAC COURT Page 9
Sophomore guard Kirsten McKnight wtH help provide the Ducks wtth
some much-needed outside shooting to breek USC's sons defense
The Ducks have never beetsn USC on the roed.
Ducks need win against hungry USC
■ WOMEN'S I_tTBALL: A trip to the
NCAA Tournament is on the line tor the
Oregon squad in tonight s game
By Nt« SdMwldw
II ihe Dragon women * basketball teem t» to have
any realistic shot at going to the NCAA Champi
onship Tournament this season, one thing is clear
The Ducks must sweep the final three games of the
season.
Oregon (16 ‘J overall. 8 7 Pacific• to Conference)
is currently tn fifth place in the league standing*,
one game behind Arinina and Washington A* the
Ducks head down to Southern California this
weekend, they know that beating both liSC and
UCLA at home will not he easy.
“This is always a tough road trip." Oregon head
coach Jody ftunge said "The PaclO race it going
to coma right down to the wire I feel that we’ve
got to go down to l-o# Angeles and win two to be
in a position to come home and have confidence to
heal Oregon Stale at home neat week *
History is not in the Ducks' favor as they make
the trip southward The Ducks are wintess in the
11 games they have played at USC The numbers
are me much better in ihe all tune UCLA series, as
Oregon posts a 3*12 at Pauley Pavilion.
"We know that our back* are against the wall,"
said Junior forward Arianne Boyer, who became
the 12th player in Oregon history to score l.ooo
career points during the Ducks' <4-51 win over
Arixona State last Saturday We know what we
have to do this week, and that * to go down lo LA
and win them both To make sure we go (to the
NCAA tournament!, we not only have to win. hut
win big '
The first slop on this crucial roar! trip is at USC
tonight Oregon will allemjtt to avenge its 75 fiO
overtime loss to the Trojan* at home Feb 3, USC
ha* owned ihe Duck* over the last couple of sea
son*. winning 11 of the lad 12 games
In the Ducks’ loss earlier thts month. USC* Tina
Tom to WOMEN'S B-BAU. Mage 10