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San Diego State Tops Oregon with Hot Shooting 

by Carl Berman
written by Carl Berman

Las Vegas, NV. – Oregon faced San Diego State in the nightcap of Day two of the Players Era Championship at Mandalay Bay. Both teams were coming off losses last night, Oregon by 11 points to Auburn while Michigan rolled the Aztecs by 40 points. The Ducks ran into a buzzsaw as San Diego State couldn’t miss the entire game and rolled to a 97-80 win. Reese Dixon-Waters scored 22 points, connecting on 4-of-7 3’s, to lead the winners. Jackson Shelstad came back from a poor shooting game on Monday to lead the Ducks with 21 points, hitting 5-of-9 from deep.

Oregon couldn’t stop San Diego State at all. The Aztecs only missed 20 total shots the entire game. They shot 67% from the field (39-of-58) including 48% on 3’s (11-of-23). Oregon had one of their more efficient offensive games, shooting 40% overall and 43% (12-of-28) from deep bur couldn’t match the efficiency of the Aztecs. Waters’ backcourt mate BJ Davis added 21 points and hit 3-of-4 of his 3’s. NBA prospect Magoon Gwath recovered from a subpar performance against Michigan to score 13 points, grab six rebounds, block four shots and bring the house down with an impressive dunk.

Oregon had issues finding scoring help for Shelstad. Center Nate Bittle seemed to be bothered by a lower body issue and had some problems getting up and down the court quickly. Bittle finished with 13 points but grabbed only one rebound and sat for much of the later part of the game. KJ Evans Jr. continued his improved play, scoring 16 points, connecting on two late 3’s and adding five rebounds and five assists.

A 9-0 run early in the second half expanded San Diego State’s lead to 14 points and basically sealed the game. The lead expanded to 24 points (94-70) late in the game on a Davis dunk. The Aztecs had a 36-22 edge in points in the paint and 47-18 in scoring off the bench.

The beginning of the game showed some promise for the Ducks. After shooting 1-of-11 on 3’s on Monday, Shelstad came out hot, connecting on his first three 3’s. However, he was met by a hot shooting Aztec squad. After the teams were tied at 15, San Diego State reeled off 12 straight points, highlighted by two three-pointers from Davis to take a 27-15 lead. The margin stayed around 10 points and the Aztecs took a 51-41 lead into the break. Davis led San Diego State with 13 points while Shelstad had 16 for the Ducks. Oregon’s center  Bittle added 11 points. The Aztecs shot 69% overall, including 6-of-12 from deep. On two-point shots they were 14-of-17. Oregon also shot over 50% overall but were outrebounded 16-8 at the half. The Aztecs missed only nine total shots.

Oregon will have the day off on Wednesday and will face Creighton in a consolation game at 11am (TruTv) on Thanksgiving.

This article was written by Carl Berman, Managing Partner of NetScouts Basketball. You can follow us on Instagram, or on twitter.

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Oregon Falls to Auburn at Players Era Festival 

by Carl Berman
written by Carl Berman

Las Vegas, NV. – The Oregon Ducks and Auburn Tigers opened the evening session of the  Players Era Festival at Mandalay Bay. Auburn pulled away late in the game to top Oregon 84-73. Tahaad Pettiford led the winners with 24 points on 9-of-18 shooting and added four assists and four rebounds. Takai Simpkins led the Ducks with 22 points, connecting on 5-of-8 3’s and making all seven of his free throws.

Auburn scored eight straight points late in the game, expanding a 60-59 lead to 68-59 and coasted to the win from there. Oregon couldn’t overcome off nights from their two top players, Jackson Shelstad and Nate Bittle. The two combined to shoot 6-of-28 from the field, including 2-of-15 from deep. Oregon was very loose with the ball (18 turnovers) and their spacing was poor on offense as in multiple sets there were four players on one end of the court. Simpkins made five poor passes and finished with seven turnovers. The team is still searching for a reliable secondary initiator on offense.

Bittle’s ineffectiveness inside helped Auburn gain a 38-24 advantage in points in the paint. The Tigers also held a 26-8 edge on layup points as the Ducks only had one blocked shot in the game. Pettiford has his way on offense, using his tight handle to continually create space from Oregon’s defenders and get off his shots. Neither team shot particularly well. Auburn was 5-of-23 on 3’s (21.7%) while Oregon connected on only 9-of-33 (27.3%). The difference was in Auburn’s effectiveness inside and on two-point shots where they converted 25-of-42 (59.5%) compared to Oregon’s 14-of-28. Because of their turnovers and general poor shooting the Ducks’ +12 edge in rebounding did not amount to much.

The teams battled to a 37-37 tie at the close of the first half. The Ducks had problems containing Auburn’s  Pettiford, The 6’1 Pettiford used his handle to get past Oregon’s defenders repeatedly. He finished the half as the leading scorer with 13 points on 6-of-12 shooting. Oregon’s 7’0 center, Nate Bittle led his team with 10 points and seven rebounds, banking in a three-pointer to even the game before the halftime break. Takai Simpkins added nine points on 3-of-4 from deep but was sloppy on his passing with five turnovers, The Ducks committed ten turnovers in the half compared to only three by Auburn with the Tigers having an 8-3 edge in points off turnovers.

Oregon will play San Diego State in the final game tomorrow night while Auburn goes on to face Michigan.

This article was written by Carl Berman, Managing Partner of NetScouts Basketball. You can follow us on Instagram, or on twitter.

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Michigan State Overwhelms Kentucky at Champions Classic

by Carl Berman
written by Carl Berman

Michigan State Overwhelms Kentucky at Champions Classic

New York, NY – In front of a packed crowd at Madison Square Garden Kentucky and Michigan State opened the Champions Classic. The first five minutes were the only time the game looked competitive — both teams put down threes and it was close for a while. Yet once Michigan State stabilized, the night changed decisively as they rolled to an 83-66 win.

The Spartans’ defensive pressure was on display from the get-go. Possession by possession, Michigan State tightened all corners, pressuring Kentucky into drive after drive, contested jumpers and off-balance attempts. The Wildcats soon lost their offensive rhythm. Meanwhile, Michigan State kept balance and poise and spacing across the floor — converting stops into clean looks and always grabbing the loose balls. As the Wildcats became more and more ineffective, the Spartans became more and more confident.

And the defining blow of the first half arrived in the final seconds. As the shot clock began to come to an end, Kur Teng came into rhythm and shot a deep jumper that put the Spartans ahead 44–27. It capped a career-best performance for Teng, who led with 15 points, ball-pointing with the assurance of a featured scorer instead of a role player. That shot, at that time, put the Spartans in control — control Kentucky just couldn’t wrestle back.

The Wildcats emerged from halftime more energetic, attempting to create momentum through transition and physical drives. But every push had stalled due to the same problems: bad shooting and the inability to get stops. With 9:37 left, Kentucky was shooting 35% from the field and 23% from three, and Michigan State was about 50% overall and more than 50% from deep. The gap reflected what played out on the floor.

Central to Michigan State’s calm, though, was point guard Jeremy Fears Jr., who played his most complete collegiate game. His pace, vision and method steered the Spartans all night. Fears ended with a career-high 13 assists, 8 points, 6 rebounds and 3 steals as he controlled Michigan State’s offense. Every move — pick-and-rolls, secondary reads, early offense — flowed from his ability to keep things steady and to set the tempo.

Inside, Jaxon Kohler penalized Kentucky’s interior. He scored 20 points on 8-of-12 shooting, through contact, sealing, and providing a consistent release valve when the Wildcats stepped in too big. Kohler’s mix of patience and strength established himself as a dependable anchor in the interior for which Kentucky never replied within their defense.

The Spartans also got some solid minutes from Cam Ward (8 points, 4 rebounds) whose athleticism, effort and energy paid off right away. Ward fought defensively, attacked the rim with confidence that jolted off the floor — one of the small but weighty traits that enabled Michigan State to keep its edge throughout the game.

Kentucky relied heavily on Otega Oweh, a 6’4″, 220-pound Newark native with a commanding frame and unblemished shooting technique. Oweh led the Wildcats with 12 points, attacking forcefully even as his perimeter touch shifted constantly and moved all over the place. Leaning behind him were Denzel Aberdeen, Collin Chandler, and New York product Mouhamed Dioubate — all three scored 10 points, but none could make the game turn around. Kentucky simply didn’t have enough of effective offense to keep up.

Still, the Wildcats were never able to exert actual pressure despite closing the gap to 10 late in the second half. Michigan State’s defensive rotations remained sharp, there was collective rebounding, and their execution never wavered. Each Kentucky push was met with a timely bucket, a clean read or a disciplined stop.

Michigan State’s shooting edge was substantial. Kentucky went 20-for-57 (35%) and 23% from three, while the Spartans closed at 50% from the field and 50% from deep in their 17-point victory with total control.  Michigan State looked very much like a team primed for success in this moment — efficient, disciplined, poised, and running with a clear line of vision. On the other hand, Kentucky showcased individual talent but not cohesion and defensive regularity. The contrast was clear leaving the Garden: Michigan State knows what it is. That’s still an answer Kentucky is looking for.

This article was written by Courtney Chappelle, a correspondent and scout for NetScouts Basketball. You can follow us on Instagram, or on twitter.

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Ohio State Survives at Home Against Notre Dame 

by Carl Berman
written by Carl Berman

Columbus, OH – The Ohio State Buckeyes hosted a Sunday afternoon game against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish at The Schottenstein Center. The Buckeyes came in undefeated at 3-0 after defeating Appalachian State 75-53 on Tuesday. Ohio State faced its first real test of the season against Notre Dame, who also came in at 3-0 this season. It was a tight physical battle through both halves as the Buckeyes were able to score a go-ahead basket by 7’0 senior center Christoph Tilly with 13 seconds left and get a final stop defensively to secure the 64-63 win at home in dramatic fashion.

The Buckeyes were led by their 6’2 senior guard Bruce Thornton, who orchestrated the offense playing the full 40 minutes. Notre Dame showed strong pressure against the senior guard as he had to battle for each of his hard-earned baskets in both halves. Thornton continued to showcase his scoring ability and his status as one of the best pure scoring point guards in the country. He demonstrated the ability to create for himself off the dribble on basket drives and knows when he has enough space to take a step-back jumper. Due to his strong muscular frame, there really isn’t a shot that Thornton can’t convert. Despite the pressure that Thornton faced defensively all game, he hardly wavered, showing he truly has the make and model of a true professional point guard. Thornton was a constant presence for the Scarlet and Gray, finishing with a team-high 24 points, shooting 8-of-15 from the field and 4-of-7 from deep.​

While others struggled to shoot versus Notre Dame’s pesky defensive pressure, Ohio State got a huge lift from their center Christoph Tilly, who finished with 18 points. Tilly’s most impressive attributes are his ability to attack downhill off the dribble and his use of his size to convert against physical contact. He was very aggressive all game, earning many trips to the free-throw line and converting a robust 10-of-13 from the charity stripe. Tilly has a strong shot mechanic and form on his free throws. He did attempt a couple of three-pointers, which he didn’t convert, but showed a promising shooting stroke on the catch-and-shoot, where he could add this shot in the future. Tilly showed down the stretch multiple times that he wanted the ball in his hands as he attacked, putting pressure on the Notre Dame defense. His most notable play came at the end of the game when he attacked down the middle of the lane and showed his strength and balance on his challenging layup with 13 seconds left in the game to give Ohio State the lead.​

Outside of Thornton, Ohio State’s guards didn’t shoot the ball well as they struggled to create space  versus Notre Dame’s strong defense. 6’1 sophomore shooting guard John Mobley Jr. really struggled to convert his shots offensively, only shooting 2-of-10 from the field. Mobley Jr. made two three-pointers, showcasing his quick-trigger shooting mechanics that earned him heavy recruiting interest. He showed he can convert off the dribble, forcing the defense to collapse and drawing fouls, finishing with nine points.

​Ohio State also have intriguing prospects in 6’6 junior forward Devin Royal and 6’8 freshman forward Amare Bynum. Royal struggled from the floor in this game, and it showed in his motor and attitude. He did secure five rebounds and showcased his speed and ball-handling in transition. Bynum is a confident, physical freshman forward who uses his strength well to finish through contact at the basket. He has a relentless motor and aggressive attitude to his game that is contagious on the floor. Bynum may have only had four points, but every play he was involved in was an explosive finish.

​For Notre Dame, they were led by 6’0 junior point guard Markus Burton with 14 points. Offensively, Notre Dame spread the wealth as three players got into double-digit scoring. Burton may be undersized, but that doesn’t stop him from driving into the paint and converting at the rim. He is an aggressive point guard with a quick burst and fluid ball-handling. Burton didn’t shoot well from the field, but demonstrated many positive attributes as the lead point guard.

6’7 freshman guard Jalen Haralson finished with 13 points, shooting 5-of-10 from the field. Haralson displayed his bothersome defense throughout the game, demonstrating he is a pressure defender He led the team with three steals. 6’4 junior guard Braeden Shrewsberry also contributed for the Irish with 11 points, showing a strong shooting stroke, hitting two three-pointers, and securing four defensive rebounds. The biggest standout player for Notre Dame was 6’8 graduate forward Carson Towt, who secured a game-high 12 boards while adding eight points. Towt is a smart forward who understands how to find the holes in the defense, cutting to open space for easy inside finishes. Another fascinating prospect for Notre Dame is 6’6 sophomore guard Sir Mohammed, who played with impressive speed and balance, converting through contact in the post and being crafty and creative with his finishes. Notre Dame certainly has a handful of interesting and skilled prospects to keep an eye on throughout this 2025-26 season.

​Despite Notre Dame’s strong defensive efforts and fluid offensive attack, the Buckeyes were able to pull out the gritty win at home Sunday afternoon, 64-63, to remain undefeated at 4-0. 

This article was written by Nate Koesel, a correspondent and scout for NetScouts Basketball. You can follow us on Instagram, or on twitter.

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Oregon Improves in Win Over South Dakota State

by Carl Berman
written by Carl Berman

Eugene, OR – The Oregon Ducks pulled away in the last five minutes to beat South Dakota State 83-69 in front of 5,019 home fans. The 14-point margin was the largest of the game. Jackson Shelstad led the Ducks with 22 points. Takai Simpkins added 20 points and center Nate Bittle registered his 13th career double-double with 14 points and 10 rebounds.

The return of Shelstad to the lineup has added continuity to the offense. Shelstad still doesn’t quite have his legs. He shot only 8-of-19 in 37 minutes of play. However, he added eight assists with no turnovers to go along with three rebounds and three steals. That’s a welcome contribution to a team plagued with turnovers in their first two contests. Although the Ducks had a few avoidable turnovers, they ended the night with only 10, which is a big improvement.

While Oregon’s offense showed improvement they still settled for too many quick shots. They were only 4-of-18 on possessions where the ball stayed on one side of the court. They hoisted 40 three-point shots, way too many for them, although they made 15, a good 37.5 percentage. The Jackrabbits outscored Oregon in the paint 26-18, which shouldn’t happen to a team with a solid inside presence. Bittle only had seven field goal attempts inside the three-point line. Oregon needs to play inside-out more and give Bittle more opportunities inside.

Simpkins had added a lot to the Ducks’ guard play. He’s shown to be a reliable shooter, he was 5-of-10 on 3’s tonight and shot 36.7% from deep at Elon last year. He also has been a good secondary initiator on offense. Wei Lin, who was the leading domestic scorer in the Chinese Basketball Association last season, has had problems transitioning to the college game. He’s been taking quick shots, has been somewhat turnover prone and has missed some defensive rotations. Tonight, he scored his first field goal but missed his four three-point attempts. He’s now 0-of-10 from deep this season. In the second half Coach Altman replaced him in the rotation with walk-on point guard Drew Carter. Carter hit a three-pointer and didn’t turn the ball over in nine minutes of play. Wei is talented and should show his skill fairly soon, but it will be interesting to see what his playing time will be over the next several games.

The Ducks received some solid minutes from Dez Lindsay who started in place of the injured Devon Pryor on the wing. Lindsey connected on 2-of-3 threes and scored eight points. It would help if Oregon can get some offense from that position and Lindsay appears capable of doing that. Sasha Kobzystyi also received some minutes. The 6’8 Ukrainian made a three-pointer and added a block, a rebound and an assist over 12 minutes.

Oregon will stay at home to face Oregon State on Monday night. It’s their final game before heading to Las Vegas to play in the Players Era Tournament. They’ll first face San Diego State and Auburn there as well as play in a third game before heading home.

This article was written by Carl Berman, Managing Partner of NetScouts Basketball. You can follow us on Instagram, or on twitter.

We are looking for those interested in our basketball scout apprenticeship program. For information contact us and forward your resume.

Michigan State Tops Arkansas in Instant Classic

by Carl Berman
written by Carl Berman

East Lansing, MI – The No. 22 Michigan State Spartans hosted the No.14 Arkansas Razorbacks Saturday night in a marquee top 25 showdown at the Breslin Center. The Spartans come in after earning their first home win of the 2025-26 season on Monday against Colgate, 80-69. Michigan State is coming off a 2024-25 season in which they went 30-7 overall and 17-3 in Big Ten conference play, losing in the Elite Eight to the top-ranked Auburn Tigers in last year’s NCAA Tournament. The Spartans lost four key players this year, two of whom are now in the NBA and NBA G League. They added 6’4 senior guard Trey Fort from Sanford to help at the two-guard position. They return a roster that contains a healthy balance of experience and youth, making for an intriguing 2025-26 team. 

There were stars on both sides as Michigan State’s 6’6 junior forward Coen Carr started the game scoring with a two-handed dunk off a drive in transition. Carr displayed his NBA-ready athleticism and vertical length all night, soaring for rebounds and challenging shots at the rim with his reach. Carr also showed his high level of motor and athleticism, flying in for a putback layup early in the game. Carr used his ball-handling and muscular frame to drive against defense pressure and finish strong around the rim. He impressed late in the contest, displaying his high motor, gathering an offensive rebound, and getting fouled on a dunk attempt. The junior was all over the floor all night for the Spartans.

6’2 Redshirt Sophomore Jeremy Fears Jr. did a stellar job handling the starting point guard duty for the Spartans as he used his quick burst to draw fouls on drives and convert at the free throw line. Fears Jr. controlled the ball against the Razorbacks’ full-court pressure and was a maestro, orchestrating for his teammates, leading the game with nine assists. He led the fastbreak well, finding Kohler for a transition layup in the second half to take a 45-42 lead. Defensively, he showed he is a strong pressure defender who forced a number of pickups above the three-point line, resulting in one steal on the evening.​

The Spartans’ 6’10 senior forward Jaxon Kohler also chipped in with a solid effort on both ends, contributing 10 points and seven rebounds. Kohler showcased his passing ability out of the low post, finding both Carr and Ward on basket cuts. He also used his big frame and footwork to carve out a low-post position, creating post-up opportunities. Kohler showed activity on the final possession of the first half as he tipped in a missed layup, trimming the Arkansas lead to 39-36 at halftime. Defensively, he moved his feet well, displaying activity in gap coverage, and showed he’s capable of contesting shots at the rim. The Spartans’ 6’11 senior center Carson Cooper is another large and physical big man who found himself in foul trouble in the first half. He played solid on both ends in the second, passing out of the high post and scoring in pick-and-roll situations. He demonstrated his athleticism, finishing two pick-and-roll lob passes from Fears Jr. with strong two-handed dunks. Both bigs move their feet well and cover enough space to play on the floor together on both ends of the floor.

​Michigan State’s best performance of the game came from 6’9 freshman forward Cam Ward, who came off the bench and had a huge impact, finishing with his first college career double-double of 18 points and 10 rebounds, going an efficient 8-of-13 from the field. Ward was the spark plug that Tom Izzo and the Spartans needed off the bench in this close battle. Ward is a strong rebound-and-run forward who covers space on the floor well with his natural size and length. Ward scored a number of times off middle cuts in the half-court and off baseline out of bounds, finishing strong with two-hand dunks. Ward played with a relentless motor, always looking to get involved in the play. He scored in the low post off a baseline drop step and dunk in the second half. Ward’s impact was felt on both ends of the floor all game.​

For Arkansas, they were led by future lottery pick 6’3 freshman guard Darius Acuff Jr. and 6’5 freshman forward Meleek Thomas, who each finished with 16 points. They both displayed their natural speed inside to get to the free-throw line and shooting mechanics in the catch-and-shoot, both knocking down a pair of three-pointers in the game. In the second half, Acuff Jr. got a quick rebound and pushed in transition, finishing with speed and strength on a layup. He is very athletic and explosive in the open court.

Along with Acuff Jr. and Thomas were 6’10 senior forward Trevon Brazile and 6’4 junior guard D.J. Wagner. Brazile and Wagner both displayed quick, strong shot releases, making them threats from the perimeter in the catch-and-shoot. Wagner impressed early, coming up with a steal and converting a strong one-handed dunk in transition. The Razorbacks also have 6’10 graduate forward Nick Pringle, who brings veteran leadership and sneaky athleticism. Defensively, Pringle rotated over on a middle drive and used his outstanding length and strength to reject a layup in the paint. 

In a close battle, both teams shot poorly from the perimeter, and most points were scored in transition. Michigan State dominated with points in the paint 45-28 as Cam Ward and both bigs shined in the instant classic. Late in the game, Acuff Jr. found Pringle around the basket for an athletic dunk as Arkansas made it a one-point game at 66-65 with less than three minutes left in the game. Pringle later found himself at the free-throw line as he made a free throw to tie the game at 66 with 1:41 left in the game. Both teams exchanged fouls and free-throw opportunities late. On the final Michigan State possession, Fears Jr. would absorb a hard foul with 43.2 seconds left and make two of the three free throws to put the Spartans up 69-66. Arkansas would miss multiple three-point opportunities as the Spartans held on for the 69-66 win.

This article was written by Nate Koesel, a correspondent and scout for NetScouts Basketball. You can follow us on Instagram, or on twitter.

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Bittle’s Huge Second Half Propels Oregon to Narrow Win Over Rice

by Carl Berman
written by Carl Berman

Eugene, OR – After barely squeaking out a victory in the season opener with Hawaii, Oregon cut down on turnovers while working past woeful shooting in defeating the Rice Owls, 67-63. After going into halftime down 32-27, 7’0” senior Nate Bittle was a dominant force on both ends of the floor putting up 18 points (4-6 FG, 1-2 3PT, 9-10 FT), 5 rebounds, and 5 blocked shots in the second half alone. He finished the game with 25 points, 8 rebounds, and 6 blocks, more than living up to his billing as a preseason All-Big Ten selection. His ability to roll and get position close to the basket were keys to his offensive explosion after halftime, while he provided verticality and had adept footwork protecting the rim.

While Bittle’s performance was the absolute bright spot in a game that saw Oregon shoot only 17-52 (32.7% FG), it also saw the return of fellow preseason All-Big Ten pick Jackson Shelstad. Initially reported to be on track later in November, Shelstad was thrown right into the fire and played 35 minutes. Oregon cut their turnovers from 21 against Hawaii, to 12 in the game with Rice, with Shelstad being able to break pressure while providing a steady hand at lead guard. The gravity and ability to create good looks for himself and others was a massive gain even with him having a rough shooting night.

The major factor in the game was Oregon’s rim pressure, which accounted for many of Oregon’s field goals in the second half, and led Oregon to 38 free throw attempts to Rice’s 11 for the game. Oregon has started off the season ice cold from the outside, as they only shot 7-28 (25%) from three, and currently are 9-44 (20.5%) this season. Even with them getting to the line quite often during these past two games, the Ducks are only shooting 65.6% FT cumulatively. While their shooting will surely come around, spacing and efficiency will be major factors as they build towards their next two opponents and defending their title in the Players Era tournament taking place in Las Vegas during Thanksgiving Weekend.

Backcourt play in this game was firmly in the favor of the Rice Owls, with Trae Broadnax, Nick Anderson, and Jalen Smith scoring 47 points while going a combined 9-19 on 3’s. Broadnax showed his array of footwork to get open on pull-ups, use of his body on drives, and that led to playmaking opportunities. Anderson was a steady shooting presence and off-ball threat, while Smith was 4-of-10 finding openings and leading the Owls with 5 assists. Their size, physicality, and off-ball movement led to high shot quality opportunities and could lead to the Ducks possibly wanting to apply defensive pressure further up the floor.

Oregon’s backcourt, with the welcome addition of Shelstad, still only managed to shoot a combined 4-of-27 (14.8%) from the field. While Shelstad was a press breaker and playmaker they desperately needed, and finished with 11 points, 4 rebounds, and 4 assists to just 2 turnovers, he was still getting his legs back under his jumper and went 2-12 from the field. Takai Simpkins was a valuable playmaker as well, though after leading Oregon in scoring against Hawaii, had just 5 points in the Rice game. Wei Lin was 3-of-4 from the line, but is very much adapting to the speed of the college game and has yet to score a regular season field goal.

After leaving the Hawaii game with 10:33 left in the second half, Kwame Evans, Jr. started and played 26 minutes, finishing with 11 points, 5 rebounds, a steal and a block. His balance seemed to be somewhat of an issue in the beginning, though he had a self 7-0 second-half run with a drive on a feed from Wei Lin, a putback dunk and a catch 3 that was a major momentum swing for Oregon. His high school teammate and current back-up, Ohio State transfer Sean Stewart, gave a ton of energy off the bench, finishing with 9 points and 5 rebounds, and drew numerous fouls on rebound attempts as well.

Depth at the wing will be something to watch for Oregon, with Devon Pryor and Dezdrick Lindsay providing some defensive versatility and physicality, yet struggling to find offensive identity. Pryor is a great vertical athlete with a nose for the ball as a rebounder, but finished with no points in 14 minutes, while having to leave the game early in the second half due to injury. There were no reports on the timeline for the injury to Pryor at this time, and much like Kwame Evans, Jr. against Hawaii, he was taken back to the locker room. Lindsay made his only shot, a three pointer with 7:32 left in the second half, while going 0-3 from the line. With so much pressure already being applied to the guards, with Rice picking them up as soon as the ball was inbounded, it is a must that these players provide somewhat of a stretch or cut option, while giving some confidence as scoring possibilities. 

Oregon outrebounded Rice 43-32, and the front court depth wore the Owls down. Overall defensive pressure for the team has been solid, as they also managed to hold Rice to 22-of-62 (35.5% FG), and caused 14 turnovers. Other defensive highlights were a couple of perimeter blocks from  Simpkins and Stewart, not to mention the event creation from both Bittle and  Evans, Jr. on the defensive end.

The backcourt, wing have plenty to prove in the next two games against South Dakota State on November 12 and Oregon State on November 17 both in Eugene, before a week break that sees them playing Auburn and San Diego State in Las Vegas for the Players Era Tournament.

This article was written by Michael Visenberg, a correspondent and scout for NetScouts Basketball. You can follow us on Instagram, or on twitter. Photos by Chad Mart.

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Oregon Squeaks Past Hawaii in Poorly Played Game

by Carl Berman
written by Carl Berman

Eugene, OR – The Oregon Ducks needed a basket from Takai Simpkins with 2.5 seconds remaining to get past Hawaii 60-59 in front of 5,627 fans in Eugene in the Ducks’ home opener. Simpkins led Oregon with 18 points while center Nate Bittle added 12 points, 14 rebounds and four blocks. Hawaii was led by former Oregon player, Isaac Johnson, with 13 points.

This was not a well-played game. The teams combined for 39 turnovers, 21 of them by Oregon, 13 of them in the first half. The teams also combined for 7-of-43 shooting on three-pointers. Oregon shot 2-for-16 (12.5%).  The Ducks had trouble getting the ball into Bittle in the post. By late in the game, he had only three field goal attempts. He ended the night shooting 3-of-8 in 31 minutes of play. Bittle appeared a bit lethargic and in the final minutes he had a shot blocked at the rim by Johnson, on a play that he didn’t get much lift.

The end of the game sequence highlighted the type of game Oregon was playing. First Wei Lin missed a layup, then got his own rebound. Bittle them missed a three-pointer and got his own rebound. Lin then missed a three-pointer but the team retained possession. Drew Carter then substituted in for Lin and missed a three-pointer but Simpkins got the offensive rebound and subsequently made the game-winning shot.

Simpkins generally played well for Oregon ending the night shooting 7-of-12 overall but shot only 1-of-6 from deep. He added three rebounds and two steals, and showed a willingness to take the important shot. With Jackson Shelstad out with a hand injury, Chinese import Wei Lin started at point and had a poor game. In 17 minutes of pay he scored only two points, both from the free throw line, shot 0-of-7 overall, missing his four three-point attempts and added four turnovers. Through most of the second half Coach Altman went with the walk-on Carter at the point as he lost confidence in Lin. Lin was the leading domestic scorer in the Chinese Basketball Association last season, so the talent is there and will likely come out after an adjustment period.

Kwame Evans Jr. had some nice moments early in the game, finishing with seven points on 3-of-6 shooting and added three rebounds, three assists and two blocks. Evans suffered a lower leg injury early in the second half and did not return. The initial reports were that the injury is likely not serious, but he will probably miss some time.

Hawaii’s Isaac Johnson put up the best performance in the game. Despite fouling out after playing only 12 minutes, Johnson scored 13 points and added eight rebounds, three steals and a block. If he weren’t in such serious foul trouble throughout the game Hawaii would have likely won.

Oregon returns to action at home on Friday night against Rice. Hopefully they will show some improvement.

This article was written by Carl Berman, Managing Partner of NetScouts Basketball. You can follow us on Instagram on twitter.

We are looking for those interested in our basketball scout apprenticeship program. For information contact us and forward your resume.

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