Oregon

Pac-12 men’s basketball power rankings: UCLA hits rock bottom as Oregon, ASU surge

Published

4 months ago

January 8, 2024

Pac-12 men’s basketball power rankings: UCLA hits rock bottom as Oregon, ASU surge

Despite a surprising loss to Stanford during the first week of conference play, Arizona still has the resume and the talent to remain at the top of the Pac-12 men’s basketball power rankings.

But Oregon and Arizona State, who are tied for first place in the conference standings at 4-0, are giving chase.

That can’t be said for traditional power UCLA, a program that is reeling and has just one win over the last six weeks.

Here’s our latest Pac-12 men’s basketball power rankings.

1. Arizona

Last week: 1

What to know: The Wildcats looked vulnerable after losing three times in five games — including to Stanford — but they bounced back in a big way as they walloped both Colorado and Utah over the weekend to get back on track.

2. Oregon

Last week: 5

What to know: The shorthanded Ducks are 8-1 since the start of December and are 4-0 in games decided by five points or less during that stretch. Now they’re on the verge of getting N’Faly Dante back. The 7-0 all-conference center hasn’t played since the season-opener when he had 16 points and 21 rebounds against Georgia.

3. Arizona State

Last week: 10

What to know: The surprising Sun Devils are off to great start for a team that entered conference play at 6-5 and on a three-game losing streak. But ASU has shown an ability to win the close games. Its victories against Stanford, California and Colorado have come by a combined eight points.

4. Colorado

Last week: 2

What to know: The Buffaloes are coming off a tough road trip to the desert where they were swept by Arizona and Arizona State. Colorado has had injury issues recently, with star freshman Cody Williams out the last seven games with a wrist injury. Guard Julian Hammond III didn’t play against ASU with a back issue, though forward Tristan da Silva returned Saturday from his three-game absence due to an ankle injury.

5. Utah

Last week: 3

What to know: The Utes were the hottest team in the conference last week as they took an eight-game winning streak to the desert. But humbling losses to Arizona State (82-70) and Arizona (92-73) have knocked Utah down a couple pegs. Star big man Branden Carlson scored just seven points against the Wildcats despite coming in with an 18.5-point average.

6. Stanford

Last week: 11

What to know: The Cardinal have the biggest upset of the conference season thus far with their 100-82 victory against Arizona on New Year’s Eve Day. They followed with a win against UCLA at Pauley Pavilion on Jan. 3. Stanford’s gonna be a tough out for every team in the conference this season.

7. Southern California

Last week: 7

What to know: Have the Trojans finally flipped the switch? After going 1-5 in December, including losses to Oregon and Oregon State to start conference play, USC swept its home series against California and Stanford to get its record back over .500 at 8-7.

8. Washington

Last week: 4

What to know: The Huskies are the best of the five 1-3 teams in the conference, and certainly the most talented (unless UCLA’s collection of future stars start playing to their potential). Their three Pac-12 losses were by a combined 11 points to 11-4 Colorado, 11-4 Utah and 12-3 Oregon.

9. Washington State

Last week: 6

What to know: The Cougars have built a nice overall record (10-5) thanks to early games against inferior teams. Now they’ve lost four of their last six with their only conference win coming against Oregon State.

10. Oregon State

Last week: 9

What to know: The Beavers have to figure out a way to finish off close games. In their three Pac-12 losses, they’ve been beaten by an average of seven points and with chances to flip the outcome late in each game. Their one victory was a 14-point win against USC.

11. California

Last week: 12

What to know: The Golden Bears ended their 19-game Pac-12 losing streak in style on Saturday, beating UCLA at Pauley Pavilion, the most iconic home court in the conference. Yes, the Bruins are having a bad season, but it was still a win that California desperately needed just to put the losing streak in the past.

12. UCLA

Last week: 8

What to know: The Bruins have hit rock bottom. They’ve lost four straight at home for the first time in 21 years, and are 1-7 since the start of December. Fifth-year coach Mick Cronin can’t seem to get his seven freshmen and eight newcomers to play together.

Follow Chris Hansen on Twitter @chansen_RG or email at chansen@registerguard.com.

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Oregon

Oregon saw a 17.5% Y-o-Y increase in cranberry harvest in 2023

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4 hours ago

May 3, 2024

Press Room

Oregon saw a 17.5% Y-o-Y increase in cranberry harvest in 2023

In 2023, Oregon experienced a 17.5% increase in cranberry production compared to the previous year, attributed to favorable weather and growing conditions. Despite a 5% decrease in the overall U.S. cranberry harvest, Oregon’s output contrasted positively, as reported by USDA data. Oregon’s cranberries, constituting about 5% of the national harvest, are noted for their deep red color and high proanthocyanidin (PAC) content.

Cal Bewicke, CEO of Ethical Naturals Inc. (ENI), highlighted the challenges faced in 2022 with the supply of high-grade cranberries and the anticipation of better pricing and supply conditions into 2024 due to Oregon’s robust harvest.

ENI, which launched its Cranberex ingredient in 2017, has observed increasing demand for high-quality cranberry extracts, especially from the European market, amidst global supply constraints. Cranberry, as a herbal dietary supplement, ranked sixth in the mainstream multi-outlet channel in the US in 2022, with significant sales figures reported.

Source: nutraingredients-usa.com

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Oregon

Dan Lanning explains what Will Stein provides to Oregon staff

Published

10 hours ago

May 3, 2024

Press Room

Dan Lanning explains what Will Stein provides to Oregon staff

Oregon will look to build on its 12-2 season from one year ago under second-year offensive coordinator Will Stein and third-year head coach Dan Lanning.

Lanning spoke to the success Stein has had since arriving in Eugene as the Ducks prepare for their jump to the Big Ten Conference this fall.

“I just think that he does a great job as a coach and working with other coaches, a really collaborative effort,” Lanning said during spring training. “I think he has a great vision of exactly what we want to look like and articulates that vision. He’s brought some great, you know, ideas. He’s one that is always constantly studying what other things exist and doesn’t have an ego. I think that’s really important in this profession. You got to figure out where you can improve and grow. Will’s done an outstanding job of doing that.”

He came into his own down the stretch last season during his first season as OC. Once Oregon got rolling, Stein deserves a lot of credit for how the Ducks shredded defenses all of last year. An entire offseason with Dan Lanning in Eugene will only help in that regard.

Stein came to Oregon after serving as a co-offensive coordinator at UTSA in 2022, but last season marked his first running an offense on his own. With that in mind, the numbers he put up were quite impressive, though there’s certainly room for him to improve being so young in his career.

The Ducks will likely face tougher defenses next season with their transition to the Big Ten Conference. Add in the fact that a lot of their offensive production came through former quarterback Bo Nix, who finished third in last season’s Heisman voting, and leading rusher Bucky Irving.

Oregon went out to get Dillon Gabriel out of the NCAA transfer portal this offseason to replace Nix, now a Denver Bronco, at quarterback. He’ll also have Tez Johnson, who had 86 catches for 1,182 yards and 10 touchdowns this past season, back as the Ducks’ top receiver.

This past season at Oklahoma, Gabriel had arguably the best season of his career yet. He finished with 3,660 yards, 30 touchdowns, six interceptions, a 69.3% completion percentage, 373 rushing yards and 12 rushing touchdowns.

Throughout his five-year college career, Gabriel has 14,865 yards, 125 touchdowns, 26 interceptions, a 63.1% completion percentage, 1,060 rushing yards and 26 rushing touchdowns. With that kind of resume behind him, there was no better candidate in the portal to take over Oregon’s starting quarterback job in year two of Will Stein’s offense.

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Oregon Football Battles Texas Longhorns for Five-Star Florida Wide Receiver

Published

17 hours ago

May 2, 2024

Press Room

Oregon Football Battles Texas Longhorns for Five-Star Florida Wide Receiver

Oregon football fans got a jolt this week when rumors of five-star wide receiver Dallas Wilson flipping his commitment to Texas started getting traction on social media. As the spring transfer window closes and teams shift their focus to high school recruiting, the importance of retaining key commits has only increased. Wilson gained his five-star prospect status with 247 Sports last month.

The 6-foot-3, 180-pound receiver from the class of 2025 is out of Tampa, Florida and is a hot commodity in this year’s cycle as teams look to add firepower at one of the game’s most important positions. Wilson holds offers from essentially every major program including Auburn, Miami, Florida, Texas, and Oregon, his current commitment.

Oregon head coach Dan Lanning takes notes during the Oregon Ducks’ Spring Game Saturday, April 27.

Ben Lonergan/The Register-Guard / USA

As a junior at Tampa Bay Tech, Wilson logged 49 receptions for 872 yards and nine touchdowns in 13 games, proving his value early and often for Tampa Bay Tech. Now, he shifts his focus to the collegiate level where a plethora of big-name teams vie for his services.

Special Teams Coordinator and Tight Ends coach Jeff Banks paid a visit to Wilson in Tampa and the promising receiver is reportedly fond of what Texas has accomplished in turning players pro and winning games on the field, per Charlie Williams of Inside Texas,

A receiver of Wilson’s size at his age has the intangibles and production to make college teams salivate over what he could do for their programs, leading to scheduled visits at Miami, Florida, and Oregon this summer.

Dan Lanning has made no bones about his dedication to bringing in the best talent available and Wilson is surely near the top of his list this year. With so many variables in players’ recruitments, there’s little way to know where he will end up but Duck fans can rest easy knowing Oregon’s staff is hard at work trying to bring him to Eugene.

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