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3 quick thoughts from Oregon basketball's big win over San Diego State

By Connor Muldowney

Nov 27, 2024; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; San Diego State Aztecs guard Nick Boyd (2) dribbles against Oregon Ducks guard TJ Bamba (5) during the second half at MGM Grand Garden Arena. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images
Nov 27, 2024; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; San Diego State Aztecs guard Nick Boyd (2) dribbles against Oregon Ducks guard TJ Bamba (5) during the second half at MGM Grand Garden Arena. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images / Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images
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And just like that, Oregon basketball is headed to the first-place game of the Players Era Festival in Las Vegas. The Ducks beat San Diego State 78-68 on Wednesday to improve to 7-0 and earn a date with No. 9 Alabama on Saturday night.

What did we learn from yet another impressive win by the Ducks?

1. Ra'Heim Moss' role has been surprisingly minimal

After transferring in from Toledo this offseason following a breakout year in which he averaged over 15 points per game, everyone expected Ra'Heim Moss to have a big-time role with the Ducks.

Through the first few games, he was playing over 20 minutes per game, but that playing time has diminished in a hurry and he has even missed a game and his status was up in the air before the Oregon State game. He has played just 20 total minutes over the past three games and has scored just two points. His role for a guy who was supposed to be a star on this team has been disappointingly minimal.

Hopefully that gets figured out soon.

2. Oregon's 3-point shooting is finally improving

Through the first four games of the season, one of Oregon's biggest weaknesses was its 3-point shooting. The Ducks were shooting just under 30 percent from deep and had just one game of over 35 percent from long range. It was looking like this team wasn't maximizing its potential because of missed opportunities on open shots from deep.

Something has clicked in the past three games.

In this three-game stretch, the Ducks have made over 40 percent of their threes in two games and the best game was on Wednesday against a solid San Diego State team, making 10-of-22.

If the 3-point shot can fall at that rate, there won't be many teams that can slow Oregon down.

3. This team is better than we thought

I'll admit, I was a little hesitant to buy into Oregon basketball heading into the season because there were so many new faces and it's truly hard to gel in that regard.

I was even more hesitant to buy in after the Portland near-disaster which went to overtime.

But the past three games have looked more like the team that can compete for a Big Ten title than the one I though the Ducks were after the Portland game. If they continue to improve at the rate they have, there won't be many teams that will be able to handle the Ducks.

Beating Oregon State on the road, No. 20 Texas A&M, and San Diego State in the span of a week is wildly impressive. Add in a win over Alabama on Saturday and Oregon might be cooking with grease.

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