Why Did Oregon Struggle in the Second Half?
A remarkable statistic we have seen through the Oregon Ducks’ first two games is that they have yet to score a single point in the third quarter. They have scored 43 points in the first quarter, 42 in the second, 0 in the third and 14 in the fourth. They have been outscored 20-0 in the third quarter by Arkansas State and Fresno State.
Scott Olmos-US PRESSWIRE
There could be a few reasons for this. The biggest is probably the fact that they have led both games at half time by huge margins. The Ducks were up forty points on Arkansas State and twenty-nine points against Fresno State. With leads that large, it’s hard to imagine Oregon losing them.
Are they slow starters coming out of the half? One can make the argument that they are too relaxed coming out in the third quarter. This past weekend, Fresno State was able to cut the Ducks deficit to 35-19 early in the fourth quarter. This tells us that they can’t just turn it on whenever they want. They come out roaring but then hit a lull before they can pick up the pace again.
Another staggering stat is that the defense has given up 895 yards in its first two games to lesser competition. Arkansas State and Fresno State have scored 59 points on the Ducks for an average of 29.5 points a game. The 29.5 points a game allowed actually ranks the Ducks 88th in the country. That total is too high for a talented defense like Oregon. Tennessee Tech which is their next opponent is averaging 41.5 points a game in their first two games, both victories.
Oregon’s game against Tennessee Tech will be this Saturday, September 15th at 12:00 pm PT. The game will be at Autzen Stadium. We will learn more about the team during their game after Tennessee Tech. The Ducks will welcome in the 24th ranked Arizona Wildcats to Autzen on Saturday, September 22nd.
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