Oregon @ California preview

Last Meeting ( Feb 6, 2019 ) California 62, Oregon 73

Oregon guard Chris Duarte appears to be settling in well with the 12th-ranked Ducks, who wrap up the first half of Pac-12 play on Thursday against host California. The junior college transfer has averaged 15.8 points over the past 16 games for an Oregon team that sits atop the league standings at 6-2.

Duarte bounced back from a rough outing against Washington and was named Pac-12 player of the week for the second time after averaging 27.5 points, 8.5 rebounds and seven steals in wins over USC and UCLA. The 6-6 junior recorded 24 points, six steals, six rebounds and five assists in last Sunday’s 96-75 victory over the Bruins. "We definitely need that from him,” Ducks point guard Payton Pritchard told reporters. “Chris has a special talent and defensively he showed what he’s capable of last week. We've got to hold him to that standard because this team needs that.” The Ducks have clinched their 10th consecutive winning record but need to be careful not to look past Cal, which began its three-game homestand with a 52-50 upset of rival Stanford last Sunday.

TIME: 9 p.m. ET. TV: Pac-12 Network

ABOUT OREGON (17-4, 6-2 Pac-12): Pritchard is the first player in Pac-12 history to reach 1,500 career points, 600 career assists and 500 career rebounds and ranks first in the conference in assists (5.8 per game) and second in scoring (19.7). Senior guard Anthony Mathis is mired in a lengthy shooting slump, but coach Dana Altman was encouraged by his play last Sunday. “I thought he got some good looks against UCLA in transition,” Altman told reporters. “He’s got to keep working and I’ve got to find a way to get him some more shots. He’s just going to have to run the floor and keep moving.”

ABOUT CAL (9-10, 3-3): The Bears have exceeded the eight wins of each of the past two seasons and carry plenty of momentum into Thursday’s contest after senior guard Paris Austin made two free throws with 3.2 seconds remaining to secure the win over Stanford. Austin scored 15 points while Matt Bradley and Kareem South combined for 27 as the Bears rallied from an 11-point deficit with 12 minutes remaining. Coach Mark Fox's six-man rotation against the Cardinal was led by Bradley, who averages 17.3 points and 5.2 rebounds.

BUZZER BEATERS

1. Cal owns an 84-62 lead in the all-time series, but Oregon has won the last five meetings.

2. Pritchard is five assists shy of the Oregon record of 614 held by Kenya Wilkins (1993-97).

3. Cal is 9-2 at home compared to 0-8 in road and neutral-site games.

PREDICTION: Oregon 75, Cal 62