[0] Confident Ducks won't overlook Cal.

Byline: JOHN CONRAD Register-Guard Sports Editor 

What's all this talk about the Oregon men's basketball team being so much better than a year ago?

The Ducks were 10-4 overall this time last year and they are 10-4 now pending tonight's 7:05 Pac-10 Conference showdown with California at McArthur Court.

Well, Oregon was 1-3 in the Pac-10 a year ago and it is 3-1 now, and over the next two months the improvement the Ducks have made since a 14-14 overall record and a 5-13 league mark a year ago should reflect in their record.

The thing that killed Oregon a year ago was its failure to win at Mac Court, historically one of the toughest venues in the league. The Ducks were 3-6 at home in conference play and lost their last five in a row. Other than an upset of Arizona, the only home wins were over Oregon State and Washington State, who combined to go 9-27 in conference play.

The Ducks have prospered at home so far this year. They are 8-0 and that is the longest win streak within a single season since 1986-87. Their average margin of victory in those games is 32.2 points. That naturally includes several non-conference mismatches, but it also includes a 30-point blowout of Arizona.

UO coach Ernie Kent gets impatient with comparisons to last year, but he's more than happy to talk about how well this team has played at home this year.

"This is a different team than last year," he said. "This team has a lot of confidence, and that has come from these players and their work ethic last spring and this fall. They want to win a championship and they are on a mission to do that.

"The other thing I really like about this team is they don't allow distractions to bother them at home. They are around family, friends and they all have people in their ears. It doesn't seem to affect them. They come ready to play. This team loves playing at home, they love Mac Court and their confidence and game goes to another level there. That's the way you should be at home."

California enters the game with a 10-2 overall record and a 1-1 Pac-10 mark after splitting two games with nationally ranked Stanford. But the Bears have been away from home only twice all year, losing by 20 at both South Florida and Stanford, while winning all their games at home. That would not seem to be good preparation for a visit to Mac Court, but Kent believes the Bears will be dangerous.

"They are a very good basketball team," he said. "They are probably the best defensive team in the conference and we've always had problems with that. They are also big and do an excellent job on the boards. And they can really shoot the ball from a couple of spots."

The Bears will likely depend on two freshmen underneath as senior post Solomon Hughes is doubtful after missing both games against Stanford with a knee strain. That has moved 6-10 Amit Tamir into the lineup alongside 6-foot-11 Jamal Sampson. Tamir had 10 points and five rebounds in 25 minutes in the win over Stanford on Sunday. Sampson has 23 blocked shots and has rebounded in double figures three times.

The Bears have a lot of veterans on the perimeter with Shantay Legans, Dennis Gates, Joe Shipp, Brian Wethers and Ryan Forehan-Kelly. This is one game Oregon would like to get the edge inside going against players who haven't been in Mac Court before.

"Sampson is going to be a very good player," Kent said. "He's very active, he can score at the low block and he's a great shot blocker. Tamir had a great game against Stanford, and he can shoot outside and cause a lot of matchup problems."

The game offers an intriguing matchup. Oregon leads the Pac-10 in scoring this year with an 88.1 average and is tops in every shooting category. Cal leads defensively with a 61.4 average and tops the conference in both blocked shots and steals. The UO defense, which had problems in a loss at Arizona State on Sunday, will have to be strong if the Ducks are to have any chance of setting the tempo.

Even at home.

UO Outlook

Men's basketball

CALIFORNIA AT OREGON

OREGON (10-4, 3-1) STARTERS

Luke Ridnour, 6-2 So.

(14.6 ppg, 5.2 apg)

Frederick Jones, 6-4 Sr.

(15.5 ppg, 4.4 rpg)

Luke Jackson, 6-7 So.

(15.8 ppg, 5.3 rpg)

Robert Johnson, 6-8 Jr.

(8.7 ppg, 7.9 rpg)

C. Christoffersen, 7-3 Sr.

(9.2 ppg, 5.4 rpg)

CALIFORNIA (10-2, 1-1) STARTERS

Shantay Legans, 5-10 Jr.

(7.5 ppg, 3.8 apg)

Dennis Gates, 6-3 Sr.

(6.4 ppg, 3.8 apg)

Joe Shipp, 6-5 Jr.

(14.4 ppg, 4.9 rpg)

Amit Tamir, 6-10 Fr.

(8.5 ppg, 4.8 rpg)

Jamal Sampson, 6-11 Fr.

(7.6 ppg, 7.6 rpg)

TIME

7:05 p.m., PST.

RADIO/TV

KUGN-AM (590). Live TV on the Oregon Sports Network.

TICKETS

Approximately 125 reserved seats at $18, 100 general admission seats at $11 for adults and $7 for students/seniors, plus 100 obstructed-view reserve seats at $12 remain available.

WATCH: After three quiet games, Robert Johnson played well with 12 points and 13 rebounds at ASU. Another strong performance is crucial against Cal's big but young front line.

THE DUCKS: Averaging 96.5 points a game in Pac-10 and have scored 86 points or more in last seven games. ... In 10 wins, shooting 49.2 percent beyond the arc; in four losses, 27.0 percent. ... Current eight-game win streak at Mac Court is the longest in one season since 1986-87. ... Giving up 67.9 points a game compared to 75.8 this time last year. ... Lead Pac-10 in scoring (88.1), scoring margin (+20.2), field-goal percentage (49.9), three-point percentage (43.0) and free-throw percentage (78.8). ... Freshman Ian Crosswhite will redshirt rather than try to return from ankle injury.

THE BEARS: Unbeaten at home but have lost by 20 in only road games at South Florida and Stanford. ... Veteran center Solomon Hughes (11.4 ppg, 4.7 rpg) is doubtful with strained knee. ... Have blocked 60 shots this year compared to 66 all of last year. ... Lead Pac-10 in blocked shots (5.0), steals (9.2), scoring defense (61.4) and is second in field goal percentage defense (38.9) but is last in three-point percentage (29.0).