McArthur Court
Encyclopedia
McArthur Court is a basketball
arena located on the campus of the University of Oregon
in Eugene
and the former home of the Oregon Ducks
men's and women's basketball teams, replaced in 2011 by Matthew Knight Arena.
Also known as "The Pit" or "Mac Court," it was known as one of the most hostile arenas in the nation. The arena is named for Clifton N. (Pat) McArthur, U. S. Congressman
and Oregon student-athlete and the school's first student body president.
Its unique and antiquated structure has the fans on top of the court. The maple
floor bounces under the weight of the student section that surrounds the court. In 2001 Sporting News named it "best gym in America". For its history, character, and atmosphere, sports writer and arena researcher Bill Kintner named McArthur Court in his top five of college basketball arenas in America. He notes that McArthur Court "is a building that will give you chills even if there is no game being played."
The arena was funded by a $15 fee imposed by the Associated Students of the University of Oregon and the mortgage papers were burned as part of a public ceremony after the building was completely paid for.
Until it was replaced in 2011, it was the second-oldest on-campus arena still in use, after Fordham University
's Rose Hill Gym
. McArthur Court saw its first game on January 14, 1927, a 38–10 Oregon victory over Willamette University
. Among its finest moments are two upsets over #1 UCLA in the mid-1970s and another upset of the top-ranked Bruins on January 6, 2007. An undefeated home season in 2001–02 propelled the Ducks to the "Elite Eight" in the NCAA Tournament
. Players to call the court home over the years include Ron Lee
, Greg Ballard, Blair Rasmussen
, Terrell Brandon
, Fred Jones, Luke Ridnour
, Luke Jackson, Malik Hairston
, and Aaron Brooks
.
Women began playing in 1974 and played their first game at McArthur Court on January 23, 1974 against Southern Oregon University
. Mac Court is also home to the OSAA
high school 5A and 6A boys' basketball championships.
(40, Oregon vs. Oregon State, 3-1-1947)
Cal State Northridge (41) vs. Portland State (27), 11-10-2006
Individual
(42, Luke Jackson vs. Arizona, 2-19-2004)
(17, Stan Love vs. California, 2-13-1970)
11-12-2006
12-16-1989 (15, James Davis vs. Arizona State, 2-21-2004)
1-19-1980 (19, Max Anderson vs. Oregon State, 3-9-1957,
and Chuck Rask vs. Oregon State, 3-5-1960)
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
arena located on the campus of the University of Oregon
University of Oregon
-Colleges and schools:The University of Oregon is organized into eight schools and colleges—six professional schools and colleges, an Arts and Sciences College and an Honors College.- School of Architecture and Allied Arts :...
in Eugene
Eugene, Oregon
Eugene is the second largest city in the U.S. state of Oregon and the seat of Lane County. It is located at the south end of the Willamette Valley, at the confluence of the McKenzie and Willamette rivers, about east of the Oregon Coast.As of the 2010 U.S...
and the former home of the Oregon Ducks
Oregon Ducks
The Oregon Ducks refers to the sports teams of the University of Oregon, located in Eugene, Oregon. The Oregon Ducks are part of the Pacific-12 Conference in the Division 1 of the NCAA. With seventeen varsity teams, the Oregon Ducks are best known for their football team and Track and Field...
men's and women's basketball teams, replaced in 2011 by Matthew Knight Arena.
Also known as "The Pit" or "Mac Court," it was known as one of the most hostile arenas in the nation. The arena is named for Clifton N. (Pat) McArthur, U. S. Congressman
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
and Oregon student-athlete and the school's first student body president.
Its unique and antiquated structure has the fans on top of the court. The maple
Maple
Acer is a genus of trees or shrubs commonly known as maple.Maples are variously classified in a family of their own, the Aceraceae, or together with the Hippocastanaceae included in the family Sapindaceae. Modern classifications, including the Angiosperm Phylogeny Group system, favour inclusion in...
floor bounces under the weight of the student section that surrounds the court. In 2001 Sporting News named it "best gym in America". For its history, character, and atmosphere, sports writer and arena researcher Bill Kintner named McArthur Court in his top five of college basketball arenas in America. He notes that McArthur Court "is a building that will give you chills even if there is no game being played."
The arena was funded by a $15 fee imposed by the Associated Students of the University of Oregon and the mortgage papers were burned as part of a public ceremony after the building was completely paid for.
Until it was replaced in 2011, it was the second-oldest on-campus arena still in use, after Fordham University
Fordham University
Fordham University is a private, nonprofit, coeducational research university in the United States, with three campuses in and around New York City. It was founded by the Roman Catholic Diocese of New York in 1841 as St...
's Rose Hill Gym
Rose Hill Gym
Rose Hill Gymnasium is a 3,470-seat multi-purpose arena on the Rose Hill campus of Fordham University in The Bronx, New York City. The arena, which opened in 1925, is the oldest on-campus venue currently in use by a NCAA Division I basketball team and the second-oldest overall, with the oldest...
. McArthur Court saw its first game on January 14, 1927, a 38–10 Oregon victory over Willamette University
Willamette University
Willamette University is an American private institution of higher learning located in Salem, Oregon. Founded in 1842, it is the oldest university in the Western United States. Willamette is a member of the Annapolis Group of colleges, and is made up of an undergraduate College of Liberal Arts and...
. Among its finest moments are two upsets over #1 UCLA in the mid-1970s and another upset of the top-ranked Bruins on January 6, 2007. An undefeated home season in 2001–02 propelled the Ducks to the "Elite Eight" in the NCAA Tournament
NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship
The NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship is a single-elimination tournament held each spring in the United States, featuring 68 college basketball teams, to determine the national championship in the top tier of college basketball...
. Players to call the court home over the years include Ron Lee
Ron Lee
Ronald Henry Lee was an All-American basketball player for the University of Oregon, and epitomized the "Kamikaze Kids" under coach Dick Harter with his all-out, fearless hustle and relentless desire to win. Lee played four seasons for the Ducks between 1972 and 1976...
, Greg Ballard, Blair Rasmussen
Blair Rasmussen
Blair Allen Rasmussen is a retired American professional basketball player who was selected by the Denver Nuggets in the first round of the 1985 NBA Draft. A 7'0" center from the University of Oregon, Rasmussen played in eight seasons in the NBA from 1985 to 1993...
, Terrell Brandon
Terrell Brandon
Thomas Terrell Brandon is a retired American professional basketball player in the National Basketball Association . Terrell was known throughout his 10-year career for his passing ability and stealing skills.-Early life:...
, Fred Jones, Luke Ridnour
Luke Ridnour
Lucas Robin "Luke" Ridnour is an American professional basketball player for the Minnesota Timberwolves. He was born in Coeur d' Alene, Idaho and grew up in Blaine, Washington.- High school career :...
, Luke Jackson, Malik Hairston
Malik Hairston
Malik Samory Hairston is an American basketball player, chosen in the 2008 NBA Draft by the Phoenix Suns, who then traded his rights to the San Antonio Spurs. He previously played for the University of Oregon. During his professional career, Hairston has played for the San Antonio Spurs and the...
, and Aaron Brooks
Aaron Brooks (basketball)
Aaron Jamal Brooks is an American basketball player who is currently a point guard for the Guangdong Southern Tigers. He was selected 26th overall in the 2007 NBA Draft...
.
Women began playing in 1974 and played their first game at McArthur Court on January 23, 1974 against Southern Oregon University
Southern Oregon University
is a public liberal arts college located in Ashland, Oregon, United States. Founded in 1926, it was formerly known as Southern Oregon College and Southern Oregon State College . SOU offers criminology, natural sciences, including environmental science, Shakespearean studies and theatre arts programs...
. Mac Court is also home to the OSAA
Oregon School Activities Association
The Oregon School Activities Association is a non-profit, board-governed organization that regulates high school athletics and competitive activities via athletic conferences in the U.S. state of Oregon, providing equitable competition among its members, both public and private...
high school 5A and 6A boys' basketball championships.
McArthur Court records
Team- Scoring – 116 vs. Villanova (12/23/1974), vs. Portland State (11/12/2006)
- Scoring, One Half – 68 vs. Portland State (11/12/2006)
- Scoring, Two Teams – 210, UCLA (107) vs. Oregon (103) (2/8/1975)
- Scoring, Two Teams, One Half – 121, Oregon (61) vs. UCLA (60) (2/8/1975)
- Field Goals Made – 45, UCLA (12/10/1968)
- Field Goal Attempts – 109 vs. Idaho (2/14/1947)
- Field Goal Percentage – .769, Stanford (30-39) (1/8/1983)
- 3-Point Field Goals Made – 17 vs. Portland State (11/12/2006)
- 3-Point Field Goal Attempts – 41, Oral Roberts (12/20/1991)
- 3-Point Field Goal Percentage – .857 (6-7) vs. Arizona State (1/2/1987), vs. Washington (1/22/1987)
- Free Throws Made – 35 vs. Arizona State (12/20/2001)
- Free Throw Attempts – 54 vs. Washington (2/10/2005)
- Free Throw Percentage – 1.000 vs. Washington State (19-19), 1-21-2003
- Rebounds – 77 vs. Brigham Young, 1-28-1955
- Fouls – 41, Cal State Northridge vs. Portland State, 11-10-2006
(40, Oregon vs. Oregon State, 3-1-1947)
- Fouls, Two Teams – 68, Oregon (36) vs. Washington (32), 2-28-1975;
Cal State Northridge (41) vs. Portland State (27), 11-10-2006
Individual
- Scoring – 44, John Block, USC, 2-18-1966
(42, Luke Jackson vs. Arizona, 2-19-2004)
- Field Goals Made – 18, John Block, USC, 2-18-1966
(17, Stan Love vs. California, 2-13-1970)
- Field Goal Attempts – 33, Nick Jones vs. Washington, 1-13-1967
- 3-Point Field Goals Made – 10, Tajuan Porter vs. Portland State,
11-12-2006
- 3-Point Field Goal Attempts – 17, Kevin Franklin, Nevada,
12-16-1989 (15, James Davis vs. Arizona State, 2-21-2004)
- Free Throws Made – 18, Chuck Rask vs. Oregon State, 3-5-1960
- Free Throw Attempts – 20, Brian Rison, Washington State,
1-19-1980 (19, Max Anderson vs. Oregon State, 3-9-1957,
and Chuck Rask vs. Oregon State, 3-5-1960)
- Rebounds – 32, Jim Loscutoff vs. Brigham Young, 1-28-1955