[0] UO in position to make statement.

Byline: JOHN CONRAD Register-Guard Sports Editor 

Oregon leads the Pac-10 Conference in three of four shooting categories, so it isn't about offense. The Ducks' improvement at the other end of the court has been well-documented, so it's not about defense.

Oregon can play big and it can play small. The Ducks have good depth, great chemistry and tremendous confidence.

But can Oregon handle the hype of a pennant race?

The pressure of contending for a Pac-10 men's basketball title, something the Ducks have never won, as each game becomes bigger than the one before. The distraction of family, friends and fans all checking results around the league and calculating scenarios best left to unfold for themselves over the next six weeks. The temptation to view a visit from the Los Angeles schools next week as bigger than a trip to Washington this week.

We will find out about the latter at least when 19th-ranked Oregon (14-4, 6-1) meets Washington (7-11, 1-7) at Bank of America Pavilion in Seattle at 7:05 tonight.

Should the Ducks prevail in that game and again Saturday against Washington State in Pullman, they could hold more than a piece of the Pac-10 lead when UCLA and USC come to town.

The L.A. schools have tough games against the Bay Area schools this week, and if the Ducks sweep and the Trojans don't, Oregon will be leading the league all by itself at the halfway mark.

"The thing I've been telling my team is that there is no pressure," UO coach Ernie Kent said. "Just look forward to what's next and get excited about another opportunity to showcase what we can do as a basketball team. I can honestly say I'm not concerned about this group being able to handle everything that comes with this."

Some of that comes back to in-state standouts Frederick Jones and Luke Jackson, Kent said.

"Look at Luke with all his friends and relatives right here and how he's done such a good job of keeping his perspective and playing within the framework of the team," Kent said. "My hat is off to him, but some of that goes back to his parents. They've turned him over to us and his growth has been tremendous.

"Same thing with Freddie. He's playing the most consistent basketball he's ever played, and he's handling things so well because of his parents. Both come from neat families who are humble and have raised their children to be that way."

But it doesn't end there.

"Luke Ridnour comes in with so much hype," Kent said. "But he is humble and he can handle it.

"Robert Johnson just puts his hard hat on and goes to work every day. He's only focused on one thing, and that's winning. We've got a lot of great guys like that. You look at guys like Mark Michaelis and Jay Anderson, guys who don't get to play very much, and they could be all about that, but they are about the success of our team.

"That's the thing that really makes us a good team. Everybody is together."

Everybody is together, and the Ducks have developed a lot of flexibility.

They can go big rotating Chris Christoffersen and Brian Helquist in the post, where they will be if the Huskies want to give 6-foot-11 David Dixon major minutes. Dixon has improved tremendously this year and is averaging 7.8 points and 8.3 rebounds with 42 blocks.

"He's a lot more consistent," Kent said. "He's dropped weight so he's more mobile and confident. He's very effective if you let him stay on the low block."

But if Christoffersen and Helquist can neutralize Dixon, the Huskies might choose to go small because they love the transition game as much as the Ducks. So then the Ducks respond with four perimeter players and Johnson.

"It doesn't matter," Kent said. "We can be effective both ways."

Here's Kent's take on what will be the key for Oregon in this game and all the ones to follow:

"It's not about what our opponents do," he said. "It's about what we do. We will dictate our success by playing tough defense, playing smart on offense and taking good shots. When we are on our game defensively, we neutralize a lot of things. When we are on offensively, we shoot the ball well."

So it's not about the L.A. and Bay Area schools this week. It's not even really about Washington and Washington State. It's about the Ducks, and their coach believes they are ready for that challenge.

UO Outlook

Men's basketball

OREGON AT WASHINGTON

OREGON (14-4, 6-1) STARTERS

Luke Ridnour, 6-2 So. (13.9 ppg, 4.9 apg)

Frederick Jones, 6-4 Sr. (15.9 ppg, 4.9 rpg)

Luke Jackson, 6-7 So. (15.6 ppg, 5.4 rpg)

Robert Johnson, 6-8 Jr. (8.2 ppg, 7.8 rpg)

C. Christoffersen, 7-2 Sr. (9.1 ppg, 4.9 rpg)

WASHINGTON (7-11, 1-7) STARTERS

Curtis Allen, 6-0 So. (12.5 ppg, 4.9 apg)

Erroll Knight, 6-7 Fr. (7.6 ppg, 3.3 rpg)

Doug Wrenn, 6-8 So. (17.6 ppg, 6.1 rpg)

Grant Leep, 6-7 Sr. (8.2 ppg, 4.3 rpg)

David Dixon, 6-11 Sr. (7.8 ppg, 8.3 rpg)

TIME

7:05 p.m. PST.

RADIO/TV

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

WATCH: Luke Jackson enjoyed playing Washington as a freshman. He had 15 points in Eugene and a triple-double in Seattle.

THE DUCKS: A win would make for first 7-1 start in league since NCAA championship season in 1939 ... A 15th win would be more than Oregon had all of last year and first time for that many before end of January since 1945 ... Still lead Pac-10 in scoring (85.1) and are giving up 66.7 compared with 76.1 this time last year ... Frederick Jones has been in double figures 12 straight games, and Ducks are 26-6 when he gets 15 or more.

THE HUSKIES: Have lost nine of last 10, with the only win over Arizona State ... Have split with Oregon each of past two years despite losing 20 games both seasons ... David Dixon has 11 or more rebounds in each of past three games and leads Pac-10 in blocks with 42 ... Grant Leep leads Pac-10 in three-point percentage (56.4).