Leunen rewards Ducks with big steps forward.

Byline: Bob Clark The Register-Guard

In three games this season, Oregon sophomore Maarty Leunen has set career highs for points, matched his greatest rebound total from last season and on a team laden with three-point shooters, has made more of them than any of his teammates and shot them at a better percentage.

`It's just being more confident at the offensive end, knowing that I play a bigger role this year and I've got to be more productive for us to be successful,' Leunen said Friday after Oregon's practice.

Leunen enters today's 2 p.m. game at McArthur Court against Rice averaging 11.0 points and 9.0 rebounds. Those figures are both double what he averaged as a freshman, when he made only four starts.

`It's a matter of confidence,' UO coach Ernie Kent said, in a seemingly continuing theme on the difference with Leunen.

Leunen did all of the usual offseason work. Lots of shooting. A camp or two to work on skills. Regular pick-up games. He conditioned and lifted.

And then came a talk with Kent.

`Definitely being a year older is part of it, and Coach put it on me to be a little more productive,' Leunen said. `I know he's got confidence in me, so it makes it a lot easier knowing I've got a coaching staff and a team that will back me.'

What Leunen is doing is what the Ducks had waited a couple of years to get from Ian Crosswhite, who offered teasing indications of being an inside presence who could go outside and shoot, but never provided any consistency before he was dismissed from the team last season for what he later admitted was repeated use of marijuana.

Inside and outside? Look at Leunen's numbers: Oregon's leading rebounder, and he's made 5-of-9 three-point shots.

`I think the whole key to their team is the Leunen kid,' Pacific coach Bob Thomason said the other night after the 6-foot-9 Leunen posted his first college double-double against the Tigers. `He has excellent skills to pass and he's so unselfish.

`He can spread the defense out, where if (Oregon) had two post guys who just stayed inside, (the defense) could maybe jam people up.'

Leunen struggled with his three-point shooting last season, hitting at a .276 percentage and attempted only 29 in Oregon's 27 games. He sometimes seemed hesitant about taking jumpers from the outside, and at other times simply passed them up.

And yet, there were practice situations and drills during that freshman year where Leunen could match threes with most any of his teammates.

`Confidence plays a huge role in how you perform in games,' Leunen said. `I've always been able to shoot, but it's being able to do it in a game (that matters), to show that you can do it and prove it.'

Certainly, there will be more proving to do. Leunen has so far started and played the majority of the minutes at the `4' position in Oregon's offense, but there are options beyond him. Adam Zahn came into the season as the primary backup to Leunen and is Oregon's second-leading rebounder in 13 minutes per game. Transfer Ivan Johnson has shown he can function very well at the position as well as sharing time as the primary `5' man with Ray Schafer.

And now, Jordan Kent is on a break from football and could make his basketball playing debut today, either in that rotation at the `4' position or on the wing, where there is also substantial depth.

`It's whatever the situation might be,' Leunen said of which Duck plays at his position.

To defend a smaller, quicker opponent, it might require Kent. Or, `Ivan and Adam can post them up,' Leunen said.

And Leunen himself? `I don't do anything special, just shoot open jumpers and go get rebounds,' he said.

Leunen will probably have to again also play a primary role as a defender against Rice. After successfully taking on Pacific's Christian Maraker, Leunen's likely assignment today is J.R. Harrison, who leads the Owls in scoring (15.3) and rebounding (7.7).

Rice is 1-2, with a home win over New Mexico Highlands following losses to Marquette and IUPUI. After consecutive trips to the NIT and 60 total victories over the previous three seasons, the Owls are in what Kent termed `a little bit of a rebuilding mode' after losing several key regulars.

RICE VS.

OREGON MEN

Oregon (3-0)

Starters

Malik Hairston, 6-6 So.

(13.0 ppg, 3.7 rpg)

Maarty Leunen, 6-9 So.

(11.0 ppg, 9.0 rpg)

Ray Schafer, 7-0 So.

(7.7 ppg, 4.0 rpg)

Bryce Taylor, 6-5 So.

(11.0 ppg, 0.7 rpg)

Aaron Brooks, 6-0 Jr.

(5.3 ppg, 3.7 apg)

Rice (1-2)

Starters

Jamaal Moore, 6-5 Sr.

(11.3 ppg, 3.0 rpg)

J.R. Harrison, 6-6 Sr.

(15.3 ppg, 7.7 rpg)

Patrick Britton, 6-8 So.

(3.0 ppg, 4.3 rpg)

Lorenzo Williams, 6-1 Jr.

(13.3 ppg, 5.7 apg)

Morris Almond, 6-6 Jr.

(13.3 ppg, 3.3 rpg)

Time: 2 p.m. PST 

Radio/TV: KUGN-AM (590). No live or delayed television

Tickets: General admission $11 for adults and $7 for students and seniors available, from the allotment for students.

UO MEN VS. RICE

2 p.m. today at McArthur Court. Radio: KUGN-AM (590). No TV.

CAPTION(S):

Oregon sophomore Maarty Leunen has doubled his scoring and rebounding through three games.