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Oregon Basketball: Ducks Look For Fast Start vs UCLA Bruins

By Justin Phillips

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - JANUARY 05: Jaylen Hands #4 of the UCLA Bruins and head coach Murry Bartow of the UCLA Bruins watch from near the bench during the second half against the California Golden Bears at Pauley Pavilion on January 05, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Katharine Lotze/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - JANUARY 05: Jaylen Hands #4 of the UCLA Bruins and head coach Murry Bartow of the UCLA Bruins watch from near the bench during the second half against the California Golden Bears at Pauley Pavilion on January 05, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Katharine Lotze/Getty Images) /
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While it may not feel like a statement, a win vs UCLA on Thursday night could go a long way in determining how the season will play out in Eugene.

For Head Coach Dana Altman, the word gameplan has a whole new meaning entering Pac-12 play. After a five-point loss vs Oregon State last week, Oregon looks to get back on track against a UCLA Bruins team that is beginning to find some identity under new Head Coach Murry Bartow. A rough start cost Steve Lavin his job with the Bruins. UCLA is 9-6 on the season, the Ducks are 9-5 entering Thursday’s matchup.

Altman has a young team stacked with talent. Freshman Louis King is a player that can create his own shot and led the team against Oregon State in several categories. Payton Pritchard has been a key player for the Ducks. While Oregon is still working on putting things together, the UCLA Bruins are doing the same.

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Jaylen Hands is the player to watch for UCLA. He leads the Pac-12 in assists with 103 and is setting the pace in the Pac-12 with 6.9 assists per game so far this season. The Bruins are 2-0 in Pac-12 play after beating Stanford and California last week. Kris Wilkes has put up double digits in all 15 games this season for UCLA and is also worth keeping an eye on.

The team came back from a bad loss against a Belmont team they should have beaten back on December 15th. UCLA has not won in Eugene since the 2014 season and look to snap the losing streak Thursday night.

The Oregon losses this season are already well documented, but if there is a Head Coach who can get the job done this season it is Dana Altman. The pace of play will have to change for the Oregon Ducks to find success in Pac-12 play. Oregon played to pace against Oregon State and nearly completed a comeback twice from a disastrous run in the first half vs the Beavers in their loss last weekend.

Oregon will need to get out to a fast start against UCLA. Oregon’s big men cannot get into foul trouble early against the Bruins. The Ducks and Bruins tipoff at 6 pm Pacific Time on ESPN.

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