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Freshmen leading Oregon, while UCLA sees improvement

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Freshmen leading Oregon, while UCLA sees improvement


Oregon and UCLA each seek 2-0 opening weekends in Pac-12 Conference play on Saturday when the Bruins visit the Ducks in Eugene, Ore.

Oregon (9-3, 1-0 Pac-12) overwhelmed Southern California early in Thursday’s league opener, building a lead of as many as 20 points in the first half en route to an 82-74 win.

Freshmen Kwame Evans Jr. and Jackson Shelstad each scored career highs with 22 and 21 points, respectively. Evans also pulled in eight rebounds and powered the Ducks’ defense with five steals.

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Evans’ standout all-around performance provides a cornerstone for Oregon building into the conference schedule, with the Ducks down two key veterans on the interior.

N’Faly Dante, an All-Pac-12 honoree a season ago, has been out since the season opener after having knee surgery. Nate Bittle is likely out for the season due to a wrist injury.

“When they went down, I had to step up,” Evans said in Thursday’s postgame press conference. “When (Oregon coach Dana) Altman talked to me he wanted me to instill confidence, play physically, play with a lot of effort.”

Oregon heads into Saturday’s contest seeking a third consecutive win, while visiting UCLA aims for back-to-back victories for the first time since opening the season 3-0.

The Bruins (6-6) pulled out of a four-game skid on Thursday when they rallied in the second half to beat Oregon State 69-62.

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Dylan Andrews and Adem Bona each scored 13 points to lead five Bruins scorers in double figures. Defensively, UCLA held Oregon State to 22-of-50 shooting from the floor and forced 14 turnovers while committing only nine turnovers on the other end.

“Three things that we focused on and identified (coming off the losing streak): We got to guard the ball better. We did that,” Bruins coach Mick Cronin said in Thursday’s postgame press conference. “We got to stop fouling. We did that until late into the game. They didn’t shoot a free throw in the first half. Maryland shot 30 (in UCLA’s 69-60 loss on Dec. 22).

“… When we help, we’ve got to get something done. Steal the ball, block a shot. We can’t just help and leave people open.”

—Field Level Media



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Oregon

Oregon women’s basketball locks down UC Irvine for second straight win

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Oregon women’s basketball locks down UC Irvine for second straight win


To wrap up non-conference play, Oregon women’s basketball picked up its second straight win with a 71-43 victory over UC Irvine on Thursday night at Matthew Knight Arena.

The Ducks (9-3, 0-1 Big Ten) were led by freshman guard Katie Fiso with 11 points. Fiso was recently away from the team for a stretch due to the sudden passing of her father, and she put in a complete performance for Oregon in the blowout win Thursday.

Supplementing Fiso in the scoring department was Alexis Whitfield (10 points) and Peyton Scott (nine points). 10 different Ducks scored on a night when they held UC Irvine to just 25% shooting.

It was an ugly start from the field for both teams, as the Anteaters and Ducks combined to shoot 0-11 to begin the night. Oregon scored the first basket of the game nearly five minutes in, a layup by Sarah Rambus.

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A 14-0 run by the Ducks broke the game open, however, with a three-pointer by Scott making it 15-3 Oregon.

Midway through the second quarter, spreading the ball around and getting quality looks, Oregon extended its lead to 27-7 with a 9-0 run. At that point, the Ducks’ shooting percentage ticked up to 44% while the Anteaters were shooting just 6%.

In the process, Scott surpassed 2,000 points for her collegiate career, stretching between her time at Miami (Ohio) and Oregon. She became the eighth active player to reach that mark.

The Ducks relented slightly in the late second quarter, allowing a 7-0 run to cut their lead down to 34-18. They led at the half, 36-20.

Scott got right back to work in the second half, nailing a three-pointer on the opening possession to give Oregon a 39-20 lead.

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The Ducks went cold, though, going more than five minutes without a basket as the quarter waned on. But a 12-0 run over a four-minute span to end the third quarter gave Oregon a 55-29 lead heading into the fourth.

Fiso controlled the fourth quarter with mostly substitutes in the game for both teams, hitting her fifth basket to get into double-digit scoring on the night. The Ducks maintained a significant advantage down the stretch and walked away with another lop-sided home win.

It was a holiday sendoff for the Ducks as well, with head coach Kelly Graves rocking a Christmas sweater that featured a rubber ducky wearing a Santa hat.

Next game: Oregon (9-3, 0-1 Big Ten) at Illinois (9-2, 0-1)

  • When: Saturday, Dec. 28
  • Time: 12 p.m. PT
  • Where: State Farm Center — Champaign, Illinois
  • TV: B1G+
  • Radio: Oregon Sports Network

Ryan Clarke covers the Oregon Ducks and Big Ten Conference. Listen to the Ducks Confidential podcast or subscribe to the Ducks Roundup newsletter.



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Oregon’s incoming attorney general announces ‘cabinet’ to strategize Trump response

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Oregon’s incoming attorney general announces ‘cabinet’ to strategize Trump response


Dan Rayfield speaks at the Democratic election night party held at the Hilton in Portland, Ore., Nov. 5, 2024.

Brooke Herbert / OPB

Oregon’s incoming attorney general says he doesn’t need an infusion of cash to fund legal fights against the Trump administration next year. Instead, he’s looking for better intel from Democratic allies.

To that end, Attorney General-elect Dan Rayfield announced Thursday he’s creating a new “Federal Oversight and Accountability Cabinet” to give advocacy groups, unions and others a direct line to his office. It’s a way, Rayfield said, for people impacted by the new administration’s policies — likely to include steps like widespread deportations and environmental deregulation — to communicate those impacts to the office responsible for fighting what it considers federal overreach.

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“If there were an attack on reproductive health,” Rayfield said, offering an example of the group’s utility, “we will have feelers out into the community, so that the state of Oregon can be more responsive and nimble in terms of protecting our values.”

A roster of participants in Rayfield’s proposed cabinet reads like a who’s who of prominent left-leaning groups, including public-sector labor unions, the ACLU of Oregon, the state’s largest Planned Parenthood affiliate, Basic Rights Oregon, and the Oregon League of Conservation Voters. It also includes a pair of law professors, and is expected to rope in healthcare organizations that may be impacted if Trump attempts to cut Medicaid funding.

Rayfield told OPB the membership isn’t about picking favorites.

“It’s more issue-based on where the most likely impact is coming from the federal government,” he said. “It’s the high-impact areas where we think Oregon has stuck its neck out.”

The announcement comes as Democratic states around the country are preparing possible responses to a litany of campaign promises Trump made on the campaign trail. Those responses inevitably include state attorneys general, who repeatedly challenged Trump policies in court during his first term. Outgoing Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum participated in dozens of lawsuits against the Trump administration during that time, often joining forces with the same group of more than a dozen Democratic-led states.

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Following Trump’s victory in November, California Gov. Gavin Newsom, a Democrat, called a special session in order to set aside $25 million to challenge Trump’s actions in court. In a proposed budget unveiled earlier this month, Gov. Tina Kotek included a smaller infusion: $2 million to the Oregon Department of Justice to respond to federal actions.

Rayfield said that money might not be necessary.

“I think that there are ways to creatively work within the DOJ to meet the needs in Oregon,” he said. “It’s not like those things are done easily. You have to make sure that you’re utilizing resources and not taking away from other existing work.”

Among those planning to participate in Rayfield’s group is Melissa Unger, executive director of the state’s largest labor union, Service Employees International Union Local 503. Unger said Thursday her members are concerned about possible attempts to cut Medicaid, restrict access to abortions and deport undocumented immigrants.

“If things emerge that do not uphold Oregon’s values or the ways voters have spoken… how do we make sure that we’re standing up for Oregonians?” Unger said. “Maybe it’s nothing. Maybe it’s something. But having people prepared to engage in this discussion is an opportunity.”

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Also involved in the cabinet will be Joe Baessler, executive director of Oregon AFSCME Council 75, another large public-sector union. Baessler said he only learned about the new group on Wednesday, but he welcomed the approach.

“One of the things that was really frustrating with previous AGs was, like, ‘Sorry, we’re lawyers. We’re not going to tell you what’s going on,’” Baessler said. “It’s good they are talking about how they communicate the work they’re doing.”

Leading the new advisory group are DOJ attorneys Dustin Buehler and Fay Stetz-Walters. Rayfield said he hasn’t set any meeting dates for the group.

A roster of participants in the planned cabinet includes:

  • Joe Baessler, Executive Director, Oregon AFSCME
  • Sandy Chung, Executive Director, ACLU of Oregon
  • Prof. Greg Dotson, University of Oregon School of Law
  • Dr. Sara Kennedy, CEO, Planned Parenthood Columbia Willamette
  • Kyndall Mason, Executive Director, Basic Rights Oregon
  • Isa Peña, Director of Strategy, Innovation Law Lab
  • Jeremiah Rigsby, Chief of Staff, CareOregon
  • Lindsey Scholten, Executive Director, Oregon League of Conservation Voters
  • Melissa Unger, Executive Director, SEIU 503
  • Prof. Norman Williams, Willamette University College of Law



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Oregon Ducks Five-Star Receiver Dallas Wilson To Decommit, Flip To Florida Gators?

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Oregon Ducks Five-Star Receiver Dallas Wilson To Decommit, Flip To Florida Gators?


The Oregon Ducks 2025 recruiting class is losing the commitment of five-star receiver Dallas Wilson, who will reportedly flip to the Florida Gators. Wilson has been committed to Oregon coach Dan Lanning’s Ducks since January of 2023. The five-star prospect is ranked as the nation’s No. 2 wide receiver.

Wilson asked Oregon to be released from his financial affidavit and will sign with Florida upon release, according to a report from On3’s Gators Online.

Oregon Ducks recruiting target Dallas Wilson and coach Dan Lanning in Autzen Stadium.

Oregon Ducks recruiting target Dallas Wilson and coach Dan Lanning in Autzen Stadium. / . atr.dallas / Dallas Wilson / Instagram

Wilson spoke with Oregon Ducks on SI in an exclusive interview after he signed during the Early National Signing Period.

“My whole life I was like, if I ever get an offer from Oregon, I’ll commit,” Wilson said on December 6. “One day, I was talking to my Spanish teacher, and I’m like, if I ever get this offer from Oregon, I’ll commit. That same day, Coach [Adrian] Klemm came to talk to me. He was like, ‘Yeah, we’d like to offer you.’ And I was ecstatic. I think that same day, right when he left, I committed and had the whole coaching staff happy about me. It was just an amazing moment.” 

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“Dan Lanning is the coolest guy on earth” Wilson continued. “I think he’s one of the best head coaches in the nation, if not the best. He definitely knows how to talk to a player. He knows my background, my life, and I appreciate him taking the time to actually learn stuff about me because a lot of head coaches, they just want you to come to their schools and play for them and not care really, but Oregon’s been real since day one.” 

Two weeks later, Wilson is flipping his commitment to Florida. Coach Billy Napier’s Gators and coach Mario Cristobal’s Miami Hurricanes were pushing for Wilson to flip later in the recruiting cycle.

MORE: Updated National Championship Odds: Oregon Ducks, Texas or Ohio State?

MORE: Oregon Ducks 5-Star Commit Kendre Harrison Reacts to Bill Belichick, North Carolina

MORE: Oregon Ducks Predicted To Land No. 1 Transfer Portal Offensive Lineman Isaiah World?

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Florida Gators head coach Billy Napier participates during Gator Walk at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in Gainesville, FL on Satur

Florida Gators head coach Billy Napier participates during Gator Walk at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in Gainesville, FL on Saturday, November 23, 2024 before the game against the University of Mississippi. [Doug Engle/Gainesville Sun] / Doug Engle/Gainesville Sun / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Wilson is a 6-3, 195 pound receiver from Tampa, Florida and the pull to his hometown state made an impact. Wilson made a visit to the Swamp for the Gators’ 27-16 victory over LSU, which helped Florida’s case.

With Wilson flipping, Oregon will have three five-star recruits in it 2025 recruiting class, which ranked No. 2 in the nation before his decommitment. The Ducks five-star recruits are; wide receiver Dakorien Moore from Duncanville, Texas; cornerback Na’eem Offord from Birmingham, Alabama; safety Trey McNutt from Shaker Heights, Ohio.

Rounding out Oregon’s 2025 recruiting class is 15 four-stars players and two three-star players for a total of 21 new Ducks.

MORE: Oregon Ducks Injury Update Ahead of Rose Bowl: College Football Playoff

MORE: Justin Herbert Injury Update: Los Angeles Chargers vs. Denver Broncos, Thursday Night Football

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MORE: Oregon Ducks’ Dan Lanning ‘Attacking’ Extra Preparation Time Before Rose Bowl

MORE: Oregon Ducks Fans Color To Wear In Rose Bowl Vs. Ohio State Or Tennessee in Pasadena



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