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Two Pac-12 rivals meet in their last season before heading to the Big Ten when the Oregon Ducks (10-3, 2-0 Pac-12) travel to take on the Washington Huskies (8-5, 0-2 Pac-12) on Thursday. Oregon is coming off a home win over UCLA 64-59, but did not cover as 7.5-point favorites. Washington lost in their last game, going down 95-90 in Utah, but covered the spread as 10.5-point dogs. These teams only met once last year, with Washington pulling out a one-point win at home. Tipoff is scheduled for 9:00 EST from Alaska Airlines Arena in Seattle, and can be found on the Pac-12 Network.
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Oregon did expect to be without two of their best interior players for the majority of the season, but they are making it work. Big men N'Faly Dante and Nate Bittle are out with injuries, but that hasn't stopped Oregon from winning their first two conference games. Oregon played their first two games at home, defeating both teams from Los Angeles as they took down USC and UCLA in consecutive games. In the most recent game against UCLA, the Ducks were led by freshman guard Jackson Shelstad with 20 points in the win.
Shelstad has stepped up as the team's leading scorer with 14.7 PPG, and is the top shooter on the team with 17 made threes at 41.5% from deep. Shelstad has become more comfortable as of late, the 6'0 freshman has scored 15 or more in each of his last five games. Jermaine Cousinard is 6'4 senior wing adding 13.2 PPG to go with 4.8 RPG and a team high 2.6 APG. He recentl y had a 27-point, 10-rebound game in their last non-conference game against Kent State. Kario Oquendo is another 6'4 wing adding 11.0 PPG, and freshman Kwame Evans Jr. now must start in the paint as a 6'8 forward with 9.2 PPG and 5.8 RPG. The Ducks use 6'10 senior Mahamadou Diawara inside due to injuries, but he only scores 3.6 per game.
Oregon currently ranks 50th in the nation according to KenPom. Their offense ranks 54th in efficiency and their defense ranks 61st. Oregon plays at the 164th fastest tempo based on their pace of play.