”We have to bounce back quickly. We still have half a championship to play for.”

Dana Altman on the loss

March 7, 2013; Boulder, CO, USA; . Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports

Field goal percentage once again killed the Ducks and for most of the game they shot under 30 percent, and finished the game 37 percent.

Arsalan Kazemi and Johnathan Loyd scored 10 points each for the Ducks. Senior E.J. Singler was held to 2 points for the game, a season low that he tied from UNLV earlier this season.The Ducks were also 9 for 22 from three point range.

Oregon heads to Utah(4-13, 12-17 Pac 12) on Saturday who smacked around Oregon State(3-14, 13-17 Pac 12) pretty good on Thursday night, 72-61. Utah may be the among bottom dwellers of the conference, but the Utes are feisty at home and already have a few wins that should have been losses. They are a team that is getting better, albeit slowly, but Oregon can’t afford to get bit to close out the season.

Oh, and if Oregon and Colorado matchup again in the Pac 12 Tournament next weekend, I’m sure that the Buffs would love to have back the Pac 12′s leading rebounder Andre Roberson, which would be another playmaker to contend with. Colorado has taken the season series against Oregon. But…enough of that for right now. A win Saturday  at Utah(11:30am, Pac 12 Network) would give the Ducks something they haven’t had since 2002, the Pac 12 Title – and the  #1 Seed in the Pac 12 Tournament.

Oregon Ducks This Week: 

Feb 2, 2013; Berkeley, CA, USA; California Golden Bears forward Richard Solomon (35) tries to bat away the ball against Oregon Ducks guard Johnathan Loyd (10) during the second half at Haas Pavilion. The California Golden Bears defeated the Oregon Ducks 58-54. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports

During his weekly Press Conference, Oregon Head Coach Dana Altman said that  Freshman Dominic Artis was close to returning to action for the Ducks. It is unclear if it will be this week during the home stand against Colorado(Thursday) or Utah(Saturday). 

“Artis’ absence takes the edge off our team just a bit”

Oregon Head Coach Dana Altman

The injury bug seems to be biting the Ducks. Junior Johnathan Lloyd went down with a thumb injury just before halftime vs Cal last Saturday. He is practicing with his teammates. Without Artis and Lloyd in games for the Ducks, their depth will be tested. Altman was not sure when either would return to action. In other news Freshman and Dual sport athlete 6 foot 8 Freshman Arik Armstead making some news.

Armstead will likely be redshirted (for basketball) this season after joining the team in early January following the football teams victory over Kansas State in the Fiesta Bowl. Oregon’s depth this season has made it hard for Altman to use him. By redshirting he will have an additional ‘season’ for basketball when it may be needed down the road. It will also give Armstead a chance to take in what Coach Altman wants from him in the future.

#19 Oregon will face Colorado Thursday night at 7pm(ESPNU) at Matthew Knight Arena and Utah on Saturday afternoon at 5pm(Pac 12 Network). The Ducks 20 game home winning streak is on the line.

Justin Phillips is Sports Reporter for Newsradio 1120 KPNW in Eugene, Oregon

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