The Oregon males’s basketball staff has been devastated by accidents throughout the early portion of the 2023-24 season.
However regardless of lacking a number of starters on Monday, the Geese battled their option to a 67-54 win over Florida A&M in Tallahassee, Fla as a part of the Pac-12/SWAC Legacy Collection. With the victory, they improved to 4-0 on the yr.
Jesse Zarzuela scored 14 factors and was one among 4 Oregon gamers who scored in double figures. Jadrian Tracey scored 13, Jermaine Couisnard scored 11, and Keesahwn Barthelemy scored 10 for a balanced Geese’ scoring assault.
Oregon was with out all-conference heart N’Faly Dante (leg) and its different beginning massive man, junior Nate Bittle (wrist) in opposition to Florida A&M.
“With out Dante and Nate, a bit confidence goes,” Oregon coach Dana Altman mentioned. “… So we misplaced a bit little bit of that confidence there, of getting it into them and enjoying from there. However I like the best way the blokes responded. We have been capable of end the sport.”
The Geese struggled offensively all through the primary half and have been simply 7-of-21 from the sphere as they entered halftime with a 28-27 lead.
However they discovered their footing early within the second half and acquired an enormous enhance from Tracey, who drained a three-pointer shortly after the break to assist Oregon open the second half on a 9-2 run.
The Geese went 12-for-22 (55%) from the sphere within the second half, and 5-for-12 (42%) from three-point vary.
“Our guys have been enjoying exhausting, we simply made loads of unhealthy selections offensively within the first half,” Altman mentioned. “However we performed exhausting; I’ve bought no complaints with how exhausting we performed. We have been down on the boards on the half, got here again, and ended up a optimistic. … We simply didn’t make many pictures.”
Oregon might be in motion once more on Friday when it kicks off play on the Emerald Coast Traditional in Florida in opposition to Santa Clara. The sport is slated for a 6:30 p.m. PT tip-off. Then, on Saturday, the Geese will face the winner of Friday’s showdown between Alabama and Ohio State at a time that’s but to be determined.
The Geese are anticipated to be with out Bittle as soon as once more on Friday. The standout junior injured his wrist throughout final Friday’s win over Tennessee State and Altman didn’t have an replace on his standing instantly after the sport.
Dante visited a specialist in Chicago on Monday with a view to tackle a knee problem that saved him sidelined all through the preseason.
Whereas talking with reporters final Friday, Altman didn’t rule out Dante doubtlessly becoming a member of the staff later this week for the Emerald Coast Traditional.
