Oregon vs. Colorado Preview

The Oregon Ducks will host the Colorado Buffaloes this afternoon at 2:00 PM PT in women’s basketball action, and both teams are currently 4-6 in the conference. However, the Buffs are 15-6 overall, while the Ducks are 12-10. Colorado is looking to bounce back after an atrocious 65-45 loss on the road against Oregon State; the Ducks lost by seven against the Beavers in their last meeting. The Buffaloes shot just 28.8% from the floor in the 20-point blowout loss, and Julie Seabrook was the only player with double-digit points on the team (exactly 10). This game is pivotal for both teams, but it isn’t quite as important as the men’s tilt later today. Even so, this is a game for Ducks fans to keep a close eye on.

Amanda Johnson is back, and the team, most namely the offense, is much better for it. The Lowe’s Senior CLASS Award nominee is averaging nearly 20 points per game with about 10 boards per game, and she has been an unstoppable double-double force. Colorado’s interior defense isn’t ready to match up against Johnson and fellow frontcourt star Jasmin Holliday, so expect those two to be the stars of the night.

The Buffaloes are led by star guard Chucky Jeffery who has a 46.4 FG% and averages a little over 15 points per contest. She is a terrific defensive player who averages 7.3 rebounds, 2.4 steals, and 1.0 blocks per game. Jeffery averages four assists per game, but she also gives away five gifts per game. However, this mainly due to the fact that Jeffery uses a little over 20 possessions per game.

Brittany Wilson and Lexy Kresl are the other two guard in Colorado’s three-headed attack, and they both average 9.3 points per game apiece. They are also solid defensive players, but Wilson isn’t an efficient player overall (+6.1 EFF per game).

The Buffaloes have a multitude of quality rebounders, but Julie Seabrook is by far the team’s most efficient player (in addition to averaging over five rebounds per game). She is a 56.2% shooter who makes 43.5% of her attempts from downtown, which mean’s that Seabrooks’ eFG% is 59.5%. Seabrook has a +10 EFF per game average, and she was the only player who put forth an encouraging performance against the Beavers. Expect her to have a big say in the outcome of this game.

The Oregon Ducks should win this game with Amanda Johnson, because her presence increases the effectiveness of the players around her. Nia Jackson tied a season-high last game with 19 points, and she and Holliday are both more effective with Johnson on the court. Colorado’s non-conference record is misleading, and Johnson will lead the charge in a 70-60 victory over the Buffaloes.

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