Ducks seek big lift from Dorsainvil.

Byline: Bob Clark The Register-Guard

OMAHA, Neb. - Classes are completed for the term at the University of Oregon, but school is likely to be back in session for Frantz Dorsainvil today when the 16th-ranked Ducks take on Nebraska in the Qwest Center.

The 6-foot-8 junior college transfer is averaging only about eight minutes of playing time, but practice preparations for today's game included a special emphasis on Dorsainvil being ready to lend a hand in defending Nebraska's Aleks Maric, a 6-11, 275-pound senior.

At the least, it's part of the process for preparing Dorsainvil for what awaits later.

"We're going to need Frantz when the conference season comes around," UO coach Ernie Kent said. "We know that, and it's why I'm trying to be as patient with him as I can and spend as much time with him as I can."

The initial assignment of taking on Maric will fall to Maarty Leunen, but either in relief or along with Leunen, the Ducks want Dorsainvil to become more of a factor.

He's a big, strong and athletic force, but he's still adjusting to this level of basketball, a transition perhaps slowed by the fact he didn't play at all last season as immigration issues delayed his arrival in Eugene.

"We've got to get him ready for conference play," Kent said. "To his credit, he's starting to come."

Dorsainvil had season highs for minutes played (16), points (11) and rebounds (6) in Tuesday's win over Sacramento State, and even taking into account the level of opposition, Kent said "he did some very good things. He's just got to get consistent and understand the day-to-day grind of practice, knowing what you're supposed to do."

In that aspect, he hasn't caught up to 6-10 senior Mitch Platt, currently Oregon's other option for backup help in the post with Ray Schafer out with a broken hand. Platt doesn't have the same athletic ability as Dorsainvil, but compensates with being in the right place and helping teammates know where they should be.

"Whichever one of those guys is on his game, Mitch or Frantz, we're rolling with him," Kent said. "Frantz doesn't quite know what we're doing like Mitch does."

Leunen welcomes the possible help from a bigger body, or two. "Then I don't have to wrestle all those big guys by myself with my 220-pound body," he joked.

Kent also wants Leunen playing with a bigger teammate, whether it's Dorsainvil or Platt.

"They will probably be playing together a lot more as we get to those bigger teams like Stanford," Kent said.

Oregon's other starter in the post is Joevan Catron, who has been effective in scoring and rebounding so far but may find bigger challenges awaiting him than his 6-6 height can handle.

"There are games where Joevan may get neutralized by bigger (opponents) and that's when Frantz needs to step up and help us," Kent said.

In Nebraska, the Ducks will be defending an opponent that Kent said "has a dominant presence on the inside" in Maric, and often surrounds him with four guards.

Maric scored 12 points and had six rebounds a year ago when Oregon beat the Huskers 68-56 in Portland.

"I feel like we're a much better team now than we were at that point in time last year but they might be able to say the same thing," Kent said.

Nebraska is off to a 7-2 start, but the defeats came in the only two games out of Lincoln, at Western Kentucky and to Creighton at the site of today's game.

The Nebraska wins are over the likes of Presbyterian College, Alabama A&M and Savannah State, with a home win over Rutgers mixed in.

The defensive statistics speak well of the Huskers, who have held opponents to 53.9 points and .361 shooting, but what's the level of opposition been in doing that?

"It's a good challenge for us to make us able to adjust to how different teams play us defensively," Oregon's Bryce Taylor said.

The Ducks expect both Malik Hairston (bruised knee) and LeKendric Longmire (bruised ribs) to play today after they missed the last game with injuries.

Oregon vs. Nebraska

11 a.m. today at Qwest Center, Omaha, Neb. TV: KEZI/Comcast 37. Radio: KUGN-AM (590)

oregon vs. nebraska

Oregon (8-1) Starters

Maarty Leunen, 6-9, Sr. (16.0 ppg, 10.4 rpg)

Joevan Catron, 6-6, So. (12.0 ppg, 8.9 rpg)

Malik Hairston, 6-6, Sr. (16.5 ppg, 4.9 rpg)

Bryce Taylor, 6-4, Sr. (15.7 ppg, 4.6 rpg)

Tajuan Porter, 5-6, So. (15.9 ppg, 3.1 apg)

Nebraska (7-2) Starters

Aleks Maric, 6-11, Sr. (15.9 ppg, 9.0 rpg)

Sek Henry, 6-3, So. (4.0 ppg, 3.3 rpg)

Ade Dagunduro, 6-5, Jr. (11.4 ppg, 4.6 rpg)

Cookie Miller, 5-7, Fr. (5.1 ppg, 3.6 apg)

Ryan Anderson, 6-4, So. (9.4 ppg, 5.9 rpg)

Time: 11 a.m.

Radio/TV: KUGN-AM (590)/KEZI.