Viewer - UO takes on Arizona: Talk Ducks basketball with Adam Jude

UO takes on Arizona: Talk Ducks basketball with Adam Jude

Thursday January 10, 2013

11:59

The Oregonian:

Folks, please add your questions for Adam Jude, and we'll get going shortly.

Thursday January 10, 2013 11:59 The Oregonian

12:00

The Oregonian:

Welcome, Adam.

Thursday January 10, 2013 12:00 The Oregonian

12:00

Adam Jude:

Thanks for stopping by, everyone. Let's get started.

Thursday January 10, 2013 12:00 Adam Jude

12:00

The Oregonian:

Just start by giving us your take on tonight's game. Should be a pretty nice atmosphere at Matt Court.

Thursday January 10, 2013 12:00 The Oregonian

12:01

Adam Jude:

Should be a fantastic atmosphere. A lot of buzz here in Eugene. Highest-ranked opponent to ever come to Matt Knight. Could start to feel a little bit like old Mac Court. Maybe.

Thursday January 10, 2013 12:01 Adam Jude

12:02

The Oregonian:

Big test for Dominic Artis tonight, it would seem.

Thursday January 10, 2013 12:02 The Oregonian

12:03

Adam Jude:

Yes, to me the point guard matchup is critical for the Ducks.

Thursday January 10, 2013 12:03 Adam Jude

12:03

[Comment From DanDan: ]

Any ideas when we can expect to see Erik Armstead take the court?

Thursday January 10, 2013 12:03 Dan

12:03

Adam Jude:

Can the true freshman, Artis, keep up with Arizona's stellar senior, Mark Lyons? Big question mark in my mind.

Thursday January 10, 2013 12:03 Adam Jude

12:04

Adam Jude:

Armstead has been working out with the Ducks since getting back from the Fiesta Bowl. But Altman has said there's a big difference between being in football shape vs. basketball shape.

Thursday January 10, 2013 12:04 Adam Jude

12:04

Adam Jude:

Frankly, I don't think the Ducks are expecting to need much of Armstead this season.

Thursday January 10, 2013 12:04 Adam Jude

12:04

Adam Jude:

If Armstead can get a grasp of Altman's complex system and contribute a bit, then that would be a bonus.

Thursday January 10, 2013 12:04 Adam Jude

12:05

The Oregonian:

Arizona has had some close calls. If the Ducks could knock off the Wildcats, how big would it be for the program?

Thursday January 10, 2013 12:05 The Oregonian

12:06

Adam Jude:

The problem for Armstead is the Ducks are already deep. Take a look at the Civil War boxscore: Ben Carter, who has been solid as a freshman, only played 4 minutes. Just not a whole lot of minutes to go 'round as Ducks get deeper into Pac-12 play.

Thursday January 10, 2013 12:06 Adam Jude

12:06

Adam Jude:

I think it's fair to say this would be the biggest win of the Altman era for the Ducks.

Thursday January 10, 2013 12:06 Adam Jude

12:07

[Comment From DanDan: ]

Why did Jabari Brown leave?

Thursday January 10, 2013 12:07 Dan

12:07

Adam Jude:

Yes, it's only early January, but beating a Top 5 team would be a major boost to Oregon's NCAA hopes.

Thursday January 10, 2013 12:07 Adam Jude

12:08

Adam Jude:

Wow. I don't know the exact reason for Brown leaving, to be honest. I wasn't on the basketball beat full-time last year. Some rumblings about Brown not being a good match for Altman's intensity, but I don't know how much of that is true.

Thursday January 10, 2013 12:08 Adam Jude

12:09

The Oregonian:

Back to the Arizona game: You mentioned the point guard battle. What other keys should we look for tonight?

Thursday January 10, 2013 12:09 The Oregonian

12:09

Adam Jude:

Rebounding. The Ducks, led by Arsalan Kazemi, lead the Pac-12 in rebounding and rebounding margin. They'll need to continue to do that tonight to have a chance.

Thursday January 10, 2013 12:09 Adam Jude

12:10

Adam Jude:

Also, the matchup between E.J. Singler and Solomon Hill should be fun to watch. Two seniors who have been through a lot.

Thursday January 10, 2013 12:10 Adam Jude

12:10

[Comment From Duck in WADuck in WA: ]

Do the Ducks have the panache, with such a young roster, to keep composed down the stretch if this one stays within an arm's reach? I would imagine the close-calls and OT game against UTEP give them at least a bit of seasoning...

Thursday January 10, 2013 12:10 Duck in WA

12:12

Adam Jude:

Great point. Arizona has the experienced point guard who has helped pull out a number of really tight games recently (though that Colorado shot should have counted). Again, that's why I think this game will tell us a lot about Dominic Artis.

Thursday January 10, 2013 12:12 Adam Jude

12:12

Adam Jude:

Oregon had plenty of chances to win at UTEP. Ducks missed almost half their free throws that game. That was the difference.

Thursday January 10, 2013 12:12 Adam Jude

12:13

The Oregonian:

Perhaps Artis could show more similarities to the Blazers' Damian Lillard than just both being from Oakland.

Thursday January 10, 2013 12:13 The Oregonian

12:14

Adam Jude:

The Ducks would be thrilled with that comparison, I'm sure. Artis hasn't earned it yet, though. He's been solid for a freshman. Needs to be even better for the Ducks to get back to the NCAA tourney for the first time in five years.

Thursday January 10, 2013 12:14 Adam Jude

12:15

[Comment From DanDan: ]

Can you do some speculating? Who finishes 1-4 in the pac 12 this year?

Thursday January 10, 2013 12:15 Dan

12:16

Adam Jude:

You have to give Arizona the nod at this point. They're versatile and they've won a lot of close ones. UCLA's hot right now, so I'll put them at No. 2. Let's go with Oregon third and Colorado fourth ... though Arizona State and Stanford should be in the mix, too.

Thursday January 10, 2013 12:16 Adam Jude

12:16

Adam Jude:

Washington looked good last night at Cal, no? That surprised me a little bit. And don't forget: The Huskies are always tough at home. They could be a bit of a sleeper.

Thursday January 10, 2013 12:16 Adam Jude

12:18

The Oregonian:

Where do the Ducks need the most improvement to stay near the top of the Pac-12? Is it just the continued development of the freshman backcourt?

Thursday January 10, 2013 12:18 The Oregonian

12:18

Adam Jude:

I'm curious, what do y'all expect out of the Ducks this season? Is getting back to the NCAA tourney good enough ... or should the bar be raised even higher?

Thursday January 10, 2013 12:18 Adam Jude

12:19

Adam Jude:

The freshmen need to continue to get better, no doubt. Singler might be the X-factor. I think the tendinitis in his knees was bothering him some in December, but he was good in the Civil War.

Thursday January 10, 2013 12:19 Adam Jude

12:19

[Comment From DanDan: ]

Getting to the tournament would be a tremendous accomplishment. Raising the bar above that seems a bit audacious.

Thursday January 10, 2013 12:19 Dan

12:20

[Comment From Duck in WADuck in WA: ]

I'd like to see a top-four regular season finish, a run to at least the semi-finals of the conference tourney and the chance to get to the second weekend with a first round win and grit down the stretch of what is always a tough second game.

Thursday January 10, 2013 12:20 Duck in WA

12:20

Adam Jude:

That's fair, Dan. I think getting back to the NCAA tourney AND finally setting a foundation with this freshman class should be the two biggest goals.

Thursday January 10, 2013 12:20 Adam Jude

12:21

Adam Jude:

In 2.5 seasons, we do know this: Dana Altman can coach. He's as demanding as anyone, and it's working.

Thursday January 10, 2013 12:21 Adam Jude

12:23

The Oregonian:

The history that Altman and Miller have from their Creighton and Xavier days ... do you see that factoring into their matchups at all? Just the familiarity of the other, or is it just so different now that they're with different teams?

Thursday January 10, 2013 12:23 The Oregonian

12:24

Adam Jude:

Well, they're clearly familiar with each other. Could be interesting.

Thursday January 10, 2013 12:24 Adam Jude

12:24

The Oregonian:

Score prediction for tonight?

Thursday January 10, 2013 12:24 The Oregonian

12:24

Adam Jude:

Altman was the one who noted their history. And Miller was an assistant under Thad Matta (now at Ohio State) before becoming the Xavier head coach.

Thursday January 10, 2013 12:24 Adam Jude

12:25

Adam Jude:

I've been going back and forth on the prediction. I have to give Arizona a slight edge because of their veteran backcourt and the Wildcats' ability to close out games. I';l say 79-75, Arizona.

Thursday January 10, 2013 12:25 Adam Jude

12:26

Adam Jude:

The crowd could be a major factor, though. If 10,000-plus show up, Ducks should feed off that energy and pull off the upset.

Thursday January 10, 2013 12:26 Adam Jude

12:26

[Comment From RgyleRgyle: ]

79-72 Ducks in OT - more a prayer than a prediction.

Thursday January 10, 2013 12:26 Rgyle

12:27

The Oregonian:

Thanks for the time today, Adam. Before we let you go, any thoughts on the Ducks football schedule, just out today? Have you had a chance to take a look at it?

Thursday January 10, 2013 12:27 The Oregonian

12:28

Adam Jude:

My first reaction: No USC?!?

Thursday January 10, 2013 12:28 Adam Jude

12:28

The Oregonian:

That's just part of the rotation with the South, though, right?

Thursday January 10, 2013 12:28 The Oregonian

12:28

Adam Jude:

Also, a Thursday night matchup at Stanford in November should be great.