Oregon places emphasis on rebounding for season opener.

Byline: Bob Clark The Register-Guard

It's time for Oregon to rebound, and the season doesn't even officially start until tonight at 7 o'clock when Fresno State visits McArthur Court.

For the Ducks, the primary assignment is rebound, as in corral the basketball after missed Fresno State shots, in order to get the Oregon running game going. Rebound as in put up a few follow shots at the offensive end. Rebound, period.

`That's going to be maybe the biggest key,' UO coach Ernie Kent said.

In Fresno State, the Ducks face a team that led the Western Athletic Conference last season, outrebounding opponents by a margin of 5.7 per game. In their two exhibition games this month, the Bulldogs averaged 17 more rebounds than their opponents, including a 45-25 advantage on the same EA Sports squad that then came to Eugene and pulled down five more rebounds than the Ducks.

To line up against that, Oregon won't have its tallest veteran, 7-foot Matt Short, as he recovers from a leg injury, and after already losing its second-leading rebounder from last season, the graduated Robert Johnson.

`Robert was a big-time rebounder, and he's hard to replace,' said Ian Crosswhite, Oregon's 6-foot-11 sophomore. `As a team, we're going to have to make up for those eight to 10 rebounds a game Robert pulled in.'

`Everyone has to pick up the slack,' said Luke Jackson, who led UO rebounders last season. `We have to send four guys in there to crash the boards.'

How successful the Ducks are on the backboards will go far in determining if they make it 12 consecutive season-opening victories, dating back to a 78-39 loss at Montana to begin the 1991-92 season. The Ducks shouldn't be overmatched like that tonight, but this isn't the usual first-game visitor either.

`It's a tremendous test for us right off the bat,' Kent said.

In the second season since Ray Lopes replaced Jerry Tarkanian as coach, the Bulldogs are picked as a contender in the WAC after winning the league title in Lopes' first season, though Fresno State held itself out of postseason play due to `misconduct' in the program in Tarkanian's reign.

These aren't exactly the Bulldogs who went 20-8 last season, however, though talent doesn't appear to be an issue.

Leading a list of six newcomers is Shantay Legans, who transferred from California after his junior season and thus sat out last year.

The last time the Ducks saw Legans, he scored 22 points and had six assists as Cal defeated Oregon, 107-103 in double overtime.

Also in action after redshirting last season due to knee problems is 6-10 Mustafa Al-Sayyad, a native of the Sudan who had a double-double for points and rebounds in one of Fresno State's exhibition games.

Then there are the five junior college transfers on the FSU roster, though two aren't expected to be available tonight, 6-7 Francis Koffi while eligibility issues are resolved and 6-8 Dreike Bouldin due to a broken finger. Also not in uniform are 6-6 Reggie Butler, not eligible until the next semester due to grades, and Terry Pettis, a returning starter who is suspended for disciplinary reasons.

The cumulative effect of all those transactions is that Fresno State might have only seven players in uniform tonight.

Oregon has its newcomers, too, and two freshmen are likely starters. Aaron Brooks will take over at point guard for Luke Ridnour, and Mitch Platt starts at one of the post positions, both because of Short's absence and Platt's continued strong play. One of the first reserves figures to be another freshman on the inside, Adam Zahn.

Is that any way to take on a strong rebounding team, with potentially two rookies on the front line?

`Mitch and Adam, they're tough guys and very athletic,' Crosswhite said. `Physically they're ready, and mentally, we're going to get them ready.'

Kent said his freshmen big men gained experience in the two exhibitions, when they were up against `crafty veteran players. ... I'm pleased with where they're at. They can score, they can get some things done.'

They'd best rebound, first and foremost. Otherwise, the Ducks could seriously be on the rebound after tonight, and there's not another game until Dec. 2, when Portland State visits McArthur Court.

Are the Ducks ready for a season to begin?

`It's hard to say, and I won't know until we get into a game,' Kent said. `Whether you are or not, every team is in the same boat and it's time to go play now.'

FRESNO STATE

AT OREGON MEN

Oregon (0-0)

Starters

Mitch Platt, 6-10 Fr. (stats n.a.)

Luke Jackson, 6-7 Sr. (16.0 ppg, 6.9 rpg)

Ian Crosswhite, 6-11 So. (9.3 ppg, 3.8 rpg)

Andre Joseph, 6-3 Sr. (9.3 ppg, 3.0 rpg)

Aaron Brooks, 6-0 Fr. (stats n.a.)

Fresno State (0-0)

Starters

Jonathan Woods, 6-7 Jr. (9.6 ppg, 5.7 rpg)

Chris Adams, 6-10 Jr. (stats n.a.)

Mustafa Al-Sayyad, 6-9 Jr. (2.7 ppg, 3.0 rpg)

Renaldo Major, 6-7 Sr. (10.0 ppg, 4.5 rpg)

Shantay Legans, 5-10 Sr. (9.0 ppg, 4.1 apg)

Time: 7 p.m. PST.

Radio/TV: KUGN-AM (590). Televised live on Oregon Sports Network (KEZI locally).

Tickets: All seats sold.

CAPTION(S):

Freshman Mitch Platt, who will start tonight's game, struggles to corral a rebound in front of Ed O'Bannon (left) and Dion Bailey in an exhibition game.