Missouri vs. Oregon Preview
EUGENE, OR (AP) – Last season, Missouri coach Mike Anderson’s team defeated Oregon by 37 points. Four months later, Anderson dealt the Ducks another defeat by turning down their offer to lead the program.
Looking to bounce back from their first defeat, Anderson and the ninth-ranked Tigers take on Oregon again Thursday night in the Big 12/Pac-10 Hardwood Series in Eugene.
Missouri (5-1) rolled to a 106-69 victory over Oregon on Dec. 5 as Marcus Denmon led six Tigers in double figures with 17 points. Picked to end up near the bottom of the Big 12, Missouri went on to post a 23-11 mark and earn their second straight NCAA tournament appearance.
Oddsmakers from online sportsbook SBGGlobal.com have made Missouri –6 point spread favorites for Thursday’s game against Oregon. Current College Basketball Public Betting Information shows that 68X% of more than 255 bets for this game have been placed on Missouri –6.
The Ducks, meanwhile, finished 16-16 and fired their all-time wins leader, Ernie Kent. The school then pursued Anderson, who had signed a seven-year, $10.85 million extension after taking the Tigers to an NCAA regional final in 2009.
Anderson traveled to Eugene to talk to school officials before announcing he was staying at Missouri on April 18. Oregon hired former Creighton coach Dana Altman eight days later.
Trends say Oregon is 22-42 ATS in all line games over the past three seasons.
Missouri carried over its success of last season with its best start since 2006-07, but suffered a 111-102 overtime loss to No. 16 Georgetown in Kansas City on Tuesday. After trailing by 18 at halftime, the Tigers rallied to take a four-point lead with 43 seconds left but missed three of their final four free-throw attempts in regulation.
That allowed the Hoyas to send the game to the extra period, where they outscored Missouri 17-8.
“I felt we had the game in control, but at the end you have to finish games with defense and free throws,” said Denmon, who had a career-high 27 points. “Our defense got us back in the game, but we’ve got to zero in and knock in free throws.”
Oregon (4-2) didn’t make too many of its attempts from the line or anywhere else in its last outing Saturday. In a 98-71 loss to top-ranked Duke at Portland’s Rose Garden, the Ducks were held to 33.8 percent from the field and 60.0 percent from the line – both season lows.
“I think (the players will) be fine,” Altman said. “We have small steps at a time to complete in order to compete against Missouri, and to get ready for the Pac-10.”
Altman’s team hasn’t been very competitive against Top 25 opponents recently, going 1-13 in its last 14 versus ranked foes.
They’ll need to be much better at both ends of the floor than they were in last season’s meeting if they want to exact revenge against Missouri. Oregon shot 30.6 percent and allowed the Tigers to make 57.8 percent.
Senior center Joevan Catron, who leads the Ducks with 18.8 points and 6.3 rebounds per game, missed that matchup because of an ailing back.
The Ducks have lost all four meetings with the Tigers, including two in Eugene.
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