Oregon-Stanford Preview

Oregon's six-game win streak ended thanks to an awful start and listless defensive performance.

The 11th-ranked Ducks should be able to rectify their problems at the defensive end Saturday against the worst offensive team in the Pac-12.

They seek a split of their trip to the Bay Area when they try to hand Stanford its first five-game losing streak in 23 seasons.

Oregon (20-5, 9-3) suffered its worst loss of the season Thursday, 83-63 to California. The Golden Bears shot 55.7 percent for the second-highest mark allowed by the Ducks, who trailed by 10 less than three minutes into the game and 20 midway through the first half.

''We came out with no energy, no effort on defense,'' forward Dwayne Benjamin said. ''(We) just let them get a lot of confidence. Once a good team gets confidence, it's hard to stop them.''

That's something that seems to be in short supply for Stanford (11-11, 4-7) after Thursday's 62-50 home defeat to Oregon State in which it shot 37.0 percent. The Cardinal have hit 38.0 percent during their four-game slide and are at 41.6 for the season - last in the conference.

Stanford also averages a league-worst 69.5 points and is last in 3-point shooting at 31.2 percent - 23.2 in this losing streak.

"We have opportunities right in front of us, and we're turning down those opportunities," coach Johnny Dawkins said. "You might not get a better look than the looks we've gotten, and we're turning them down. That's an indicator to me that we're not as confident shooting the ball as we have been most of the season."

Top scorer Rosco Allen has shot 30.8 percent in his last three games for Stanford, which has not dropped five in a row since losing its final six of 1992-93. Dawkins insists the Cardinal can turn it around.

"I don't think any of our goals are unattainable," he said. "Whether it's winning the Pac-12, or being an NCAA Tournament team, I don't think any of those things are out of the question."

The Ducks posted a 71-58 home win over the Cardinal on Jan. 10. Dillon Brooks had 15 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists to come close to being the first Oregon player with a triple-double in 13 seasons. Stanford was outscored 36-16 in the paint and outrebounded 38-22.

Michael Humphrey led the Cardinal with 18 points in that contest, but the forward has averaged 6.4 points and 38.5 percent shooting in seven games since.

Oregon's Casey Benson had nine points, six assists and one turnover against Stanford. The point guard is third in the nation with an assist-to-turnover ratio of 4.9.

Benson was held scoreless Thursday on a forgettable night in which Brooks scored 17, with 15 coming in the second half after the game was essentially decided. Oregon trailed by as many as 25.

"You just have to bounce back," coach Dana Altman said. "It was not what we wanted or what we were hoping for, so now we have really got to bounce back. The team was shocked, and it'll take some leadership to get these guys to bounce back."