Saturday, December 17
Portland, Ore.
8:00 PM
University of Oregon
vs
UNLV
Photo by: Eric Evans/GoDucks.com
Pritchard Anticipates Happy Homecoming
12/16/16 | Men's Basketball, @GoDucksMoseley
Freshman guard Payton Pritchard and the Ducks will face UNLV in Portland's Moda Center on Saturday (8 p.m., ESPN2).
The last time Payton Pritchard played in Portland's Moda Center, in April, he made four three-pointers for Team USA in the elite Nike Hoop Summit. Prior to that, Pritchard helped West Linn High win state titles there in 2013 and 2014, the first two of four he helped bring home in an historic career for the Lions.
On Saturday night, he'll be back on the home floor of the NBA's Portland Trail Blazers. This time, it will be as a starting guard for the Oregon men's basketball team.
"I like that floor," Pritchard said. "I've had good memories there. So hopefully I continue that."
Pritchard and the No. 22 Ducks will host UNLV on Saturday (8 p.m., ESPN2), three hours after the UO women take on Portland State in the first half of a doubleheader. Pritchard, a former top-100 recruit nationally and two-time state player of the year, is in line to make his eighth straight start for the Ducks as a true freshman.
"He's off to a good start," UO coach Dana Altman said. "Every freshman's expectations are to come in and tear it up, but it usually takes longer for most guys."
Pritchard played off the bench the first four games of the season, but averaged nearly 30 minutes per game. After scoring a career-high 18 points against Georgetown, he entered the starting lineup. The Ducks (9-2) haven't lost since.
His numbers haven't been eye-popping, other than a 13-assist night in Oregon's record-setting offensive explosion against Savannah State. But Pritchard's contributions include a clutch jumper that helped the Ducks pull out a win over Boise State, and generally heady play that has coincided with more efficient UO offense.
"He's a great facilitator," UO sophomore Tyler Dorsey said, as he began to tick off Pritchard's best attributes. "And also, he can hit the jumper. His (ball handling is) very tight, so he creates opportunities when he gets in the paint for shooters like me, Dillon (Brooks), whoever's spotting up. (And) he's feisty. He's little, but he's very feisty on the court. He battles with any player in front of him."
The Ducks will take on the Runnin' Rebels (6-4) looking to avenge a loss last season in which Dorsey suffered a scary fall. This is the first of just two remaining tune-ups for Oregon prior to the start of Pac-12 play; the Ducks host Fresno State on Tuesday before taking a holiday break and then opening conference play against UCLA on Dec. 28.
This will be the third time in Dana Altman's seven seasons that Oregon will play in Portland. The Ducks beat Illinois in the Moda Center in 2014, after losing there to Duke in 2010, Altman's first year.
Altman said it's important for the program to acknowledge the support of its Portland fans when possible, given the challenge of making multiple 200-mile round trips to Eugene once conference play begins.
"It's hard to make two trips from Portland in a week," Altman said. "It's important for us to get up there and play. It's a big part of the Oregon fan base."
Given Pritchard's emergence over the last few weeks, no doubt that fan base has expanded a bit in the Portland area.
On Saturday night, he'll be back on the home floor of the NBA's Portland Trail Blazers. This time, it will be as a starting guard for the Oregon men's basketball team.
"I like that floor," Pritchard said. "I've had good memories there. So hopefully I continue that."
Pritchard and the No. 22 Ducks will host UNLV on Saturday (8 p.m., ESPN2), three hours after the UO women take on Portland State in the first half of a doubleheader. Pritchard, a former top-100 recruit nationally and two-time state player of the year, is in line to make his eighth straight start for the Ducks as a true freshman.
"He's off to a good start," UO coach Dana Altman said. "Every freshman's expectations are to come in and tear it up, but it usually takes longer for most guys."
Pritchard played off the bench the first four games of the season, but averaged nearly 30 minutes per game. After scoring a career-high 18 points against Georgetown, he entered the starting lineup. The Ducks (9-2) haven't lost since.
His numbers haven't been eye-popping, other than a 13-assist night in Oregon's record-setting offensive explosion against Savannah State. But Pritchard's contributions include a clutch jumper that helped the Ducks pull out a win over Boise State, and generally heady play that has coincided with more efficient UO offense.
"He's a great facilitator," UO sophomore Tyler Dorsey said, as he began to tick off Pritchard's best attributes. "And also, he can hit the jumper. His (ball handling is) very tight, so he creates opportunities when he gets in the paint for shooters like me, Dillon (Brooks), whoever's spotting up. (And) he's feisty. He's little, but he's very feisty on the court. He battles with any player in front of him."
The Ducks will take on the Runnin' Rebels (6-4) looking to avenge a loss last season in which Dorsey suffered a scary fall. This is the first of just two remaining tune-ups for Oregon prior to the start of Pac-12 play; the Ducks host Fresno State on Tuesday before taking a holiday break and then opening conference play against UCLA on Dec. 28.
This will be the third time in Dana Altman's seven seasons that Oregon will play in Portland. The Ducks beat Illinois in the Moda Center in 2014, after losing there to Duke in 2010, Altman's first year.
Altman said it's important for the program to acknowledge the support of its Portland fans when possible, given the challenge of making multiple 200-mile round trips to Eugene once conference play begins.
"It's hard to make two trips from Portland in a week," Altman said. "It's important for us to get up there and play. It's a big part of the Oregon fan base."
Given Pritchard's emergence over the last few weeks, no doubt that fan base has expanded a bit in the Portland area.
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