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Quick Oregon Review

Scott Olmos-USA TODAY Sports


Bruin Report Online does an excellent job following UCLA recruiting successes and right now in basketball woes. (Although in fairness, that could turn around in Spring.) They have come around to some of our points on the importance of Tony Parker and Chrissorr's point on starting GG. Their preview of the Oregon game is here and not behind a firewall.

Below are four key graphs from the article.

BRO lays out why Oregon is a much better match up then OSU

Oregon also plays a style that is much more comfortable for the Bruins. Essentially we are going to witness a game between two fully green-lit teams. UCLA will not have to worry about the slowdown tactics of Oregon State, or the defensive intensity of the Beavers.

As I have been saying, it is not as much a matter of talent as Defense. We lose to teams that play defense first. Oregon is the exact opposite of that. This is going to be a game more fitting for the Wooden Center than a PAC 12 division battle.

The author also lays out the need for GG in detail and the potential problem with Parker's absence:

Remember that UCLA will probably be without Parker and will have a much harder time rendering the Ducks moot on the boards. If Parker plays, even in a diminished capacity, then UCLA will have an exponentially better chance of winning. Although Oregon rebounds well as a team, averaging over 40 RPG on the season, the Ducks simply don't do well when faced with a more imposing front line.

That brings me to the personnel change most people who watch the Bruins know should happen: Isaac Hamilton should come off the bench and Gyorgy Golomon should start. If the Bruins played zone with Golomon, Looney and Parker/Welsh on the floor then UCLA would have one of the longest teams Oregon has faced. It would also be a better rebounding team and a better defensive team.

I am not sure this is right reason regarding rebounding. GG had zero rebounds against OSU. GG rebound per minutes number for the season are horrid for a guy playing four. GG rebounds at the same rate as Isaac, a 2 guard. (Both get a rebound every 8.2 minutes.) Welsh does not rebound as well as Parker.

The advantages of GG are that he would make us a better offense team in not taking bad shots and passing. He also may make us a better defensive team as Oregon is bad shooting outside and GG's length and steal skills would help in a packed in zone.

However, one thing I do agree with BRO online is:

This game is now a pivotal one in determining how the season ultimately goes -- either mediocre or potentially disastrous. After Oregon, the Bruins will face Utah and Colorado at home (probably a split at best) and then two in the Bay Area against two schools who should have all or their respective players available. That means the Bruins will be decided underdogs in both games. In short, lose to Oregon and UCLA is staring at 12-12 when the Oregon schools come to Pauley Pavilion in February. After Thursday night, the Oregon State game looks like a toss-up at best at Pauley simply because of the tactical advantage Oregon State clearly has with Wayne Tinkle as head coach.

A must win. I think this is a realtively easy win with Tony and even without him a "should win."

Go Bruins!

This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of BruinsNation's (BN) editors. It does reflect the views of this particular fan though, which is as important as the views of BN's editors.

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