By Levi Profitt
The Story
The number three ranked University of Houston Cougars (4-0) come into Matthew Knight Arena Sunday night in a game for men’s basketball that will feature the highest-ranked team the unranked Oregon Ducks (2-1) have hosted since last year’s 78-70 loss to the Baylor Bears on December 18th, 2021. This is the Cougars’ second time playing Oregon in the regular season in as many years, as they put up a dominant 78-49 win against the Ducks last year at the Maui Jim Maui Invitational on Nov. 24th of 2021. The Cougars have been March Madness staples the previous few seasons, reaching the Elite Eight in 2022 before eventually falling to Villanova. Oregon currently sits at number eight in the Pac-12 before conference play has started.
Oregon is coming off a 30-point win against Montana State University as they were able to take care of business against the Bobcats 81-51. The Houston Cougars are off to an undefeated start after four games, handily winning in their last matchup against Texas Southern University on Wednesday, Nov. 16, by an 83-48 margin.
Players to Watch
Houston is led by four scorers putting up double digits per game, featuring senior guard Marcus Sasser, averaging 16.8 points on 42.3% shooting from the field. Sasser also leads this Houston team in steals with 2.3 per game, keying in on an important part of the game for the Cougars. Houston head coach Kelvin Sampson has his team playing elite defense, a recent staple of this Cougars team, allowing the 2nd least average points in the nation with just 46 per game. 6’8 sophomore forward Ja’Vier Francis is another player to keep an eye on, as he’s tied for the 26th spot in the nation in blocks per game, with 2.5 after four games played. A third player to watch in this one is freshman forward Jarace Walker, who is second on the Cougars with 13 points per game, and was one point behind Sasser last game to lead the team in points with 19.
Senior center N’Faly Dante has been the center point for the Ducks offensively, leading all Oregon scorers with 14.3 per game. Dante is shooting nearly 55% from the field at his center position and also leads both the Ducks and Cougars in rebounds per game with 8.3. Colorado transfer guard Keeshawn Barthelemy has also been a bright spot for Oregon, with the junior from Montreal averaging 10.7 points per game, knocking down at least two three-pointers in each of the Duck's first three games. One more player to look out for on this Duck's roster is senior guard Will Richardson, who has struggled with just a 23.5 3-point percentage this season, but is still a nine-point scorer per game, and also leads Oregon in assists per game with 4.7 from the main point guard position.
Overall analysis/prediction
Oregon will look to avenge its 29-point loss to the Cougars last year Sunday night in Matthew Knight Arena, but it will be no small task against the third-ranked team in the nation seeking the first true road win on the year. Houston is a team that knows what its position in college basketball has been the past few years, and will not shy away from a hostile Oregon crowd Sunday night. The Cougars will look to get off to a hot start as they’ve outscored opponents by 89 in the first half this year, thanks much in part to their nationally recognized defensive efforts. Oregon is a team that has not had its offensive struggles unrecognized as of late and is looking for more opportunities to prove its pedigree to a team that is in the national spotlight. That opportunity is once again here, but it’s up to Altman and this offense to try and see if they can get it done.
Prediction: Oregon makes it closer than last year, but can’t overcome this stifling Houston defense. Final score: Cougars 71, Ducks 58