Media Credit: Matt Nicholson Malik Hairston and the Ducks believe that there hasn't been a conference team that has beat them this year. The losses have resulted from Oregon's inability to close out games by creating stops, Hairston said. [Click to enlarge]

Despite losing its past four games, the men's basketball team got a much-needed break this week by only having to plan for one game this week.

The Ducks (12-8 overall, 3-5 Pacific-10 Conference) have been feeling a bit worn out lately and coach Ernie Kent decided it would be better to let his players rest rather than having some extra practice.

"We needed the time off because it's the only time they can't take any time off between now and the end of the season," Kent said. "We need to give them an opportunity to get a breather."

And although Oregon State (6-14, 0-8) is at the bottom of the conference, the Ducks aren't taking them lightly because they're sure the Beavers will play better come Civil War time.

"We're going to get a different Oregon State team than anyone else has gotten," Kent said. "They've got some good pieces over there, they've just been out of sync."

That, and both teams are desperate for a Pac-10 win, though for different reasons. The Beavers need it for respect while the Ducks need it to gain some momentum to build a win streak to launch themselves back into the thick of the league.

"It's a jumbled up conference and a lot is going to happen between now and the course of the next two or three weeks," Kent said. "We've been in every single ball game and we should have won every single ball game as I go back to look at games."

Seniors Malik Hairston and Maarty Leunen echoed Kent's sentiments, saying that it's been the Ducks' fault they've lost games rather than the teams they're playing.

"We really want to focus on finishing games," Hairston said. "We have to get stops. We have to be the ones to make plays down the stretch."

Said Leunen: "There hasn't been a Pac-10 team that's beat us convincingly."

And the latest point guard becomes...

Kent said Kamyron Brown is questionable for Saturday because of a "freshman boo-boo" suffered while playing basketball in the Student Recreation Center. He rolled his ankle and was in a safety boot while the rest of the team practiced Thursday.

It wasn't too smart on Brown's part, Kent said.

As a result, senior Bryce Taylor expects to handle some point guard duties against Oregon State, spelling sophomore Tajuan Porter when needed. Taylor said it would have been better for Brown to have come to McArthur Court and work out with one of the assistant coaches or trainers.

"You can't really blame him for trying to get his confidence going, get up and down in a less structured environment," Taylor said. "But at the same time, you just have to be smarter than that. There's so much on the line for our team right now."

Taylor likes to play in the Rec Center in the offseason for fun, but would never risk it during the season.

"It's too much risk to put yourself in that situation during the season," he said.

As for playing point, Taylor said he'll be ready, if needed.

"It puts us in a tough situation because we only have one point guard right now," Taylor said. "As far as bringing the ball up (the court), it shouldn't be too much of a problem."

jmay@dailyemerald.com

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