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Oregon Basketball: Ducks Open 2017-18 Season Hosting Coppin State

By Justin Phillips

EUGENE, OR - NOVEMBER 17: Head coach Dana Altman of the Oregon Ducks and assistant coach Tony Stubblefield look on from the sidelines in the second half of the game against the Valparaiso Crusaders at Matthew Knight Arena on November 17, 2016 in Eugene, Oregon. Oregon won the game 76-54. (Photo by Steve Dykes/Getty Images)
EUGENE, OR - NOVEMBER 17: Head coach Dana Altman of the Oregon Ducks and assistant coach Tony Stubblefield look on from the sidelines in the second half of the game against the Valparaiso Crusaders at Matthew Knight Arena on November 17, 2016 in Eugene, Oregon. Oregon won the game 76-54. (Photo by Steve Dykes/Getty Images) /
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The 2017-18 College Basketball season officially begins on Friday with the Oregon Ducks Men’s Basketball team hosting Coppin State.

Coppin State Eagles Head Coach Juan Dixon brings with him a mix of experiences from former coaches and players in his first season at the helm of the Coppin State Eagles. The team brings some experienced players to Eugene and plenty of height. Without anything on tape in the way of a scouting report, we do know that Dixon will bring a pro-style of play that will look to get a lot of fast breaks and three-pointers.

Transfer MiKyle McIntosh is ready to get the season started and he is aware of the challenges ahead, “(It will be) a long season for sure. A nice learning season for us, a couple good games to get under our belts to make the late push we want to make as a team. Everybody is anxious, nervous all the feelings you usually get the day before Christmas.”

The Oregon Ducks enter the 2017-18 season with plenty of unknowns. We have seen several exhibition games but they did not tell us that much about this team. Entering the year the Ducks have lost nearly all of their scoring from last season’s Final Four run and there are plenty of new faces including Troy Brown who will certainly make an impact this year. As far as position players Altman will allow some leeway with who plays where.

Multiple players can play more than one spot on the floor so expect a solid mashup at least through the start of Pac-12 play. Key players will get their minutes and there are really just four games as a tuneup before the Ducks hit Portland for one of the biggest early tests of the season in the Phil Knight Invitational. Oregon will take it one game at a time.

"It helps us, the guys realize how far we have to go defensively. Oklahoma’s athleticism at times gave us problems. Our guys need to realize we’re going to play some  athletic teams as the season progresses.Head Coach Dana Altman on what Oregon learned from the Closed Scrimmage with Oklahoma earlier this week."

Coppin State is at a slight disadvantage with a Midnight start time on the West Coast. Oregon also has an arena that seats close to triple the fans of the Eagles home court, the Physical Education Complex on their campus near Baltimore, Maryland.

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The Ducks and Eagles tipoff just after 9 pm Pacific Time Friday on Pac-12 Network.

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