EUGENE, Ore. -- Oregon has already determined who forms the toughest tandem in the country.

It is, according to the Ducks, Luke Ridnour and Luke Jackson.

Don't believe the Ducks? Well, get used to the pub. Eugene already has its billboard, a "Luke 2 Luke" slogan with Ridnour and Jackson next to each other with a ball at the end of each of their outstretched arm. A similar billboard, this one screaming "OMen," will be visible to those near the Staples Center in Los Angeles and the Bay Bridge in Oakland.

And, of course, there will be another placed in Oregon's reserved spot in New York City -- just outside Madison Square Garden -- where former Oregon quarterback Joey Harrington's Heisman campaign started last year, and where Duck running back Onterrio Smith's banner flies until December.

	On his own, Luke Ridnour makes a strong case as the nation's best point guard ...

"When we decided to do it, Luke Ridnour said, 'Are you sure, I don't need that,' " Oregon coach Ernie Kent said. "But my response was that, 'You've earned it.' And the next challenge is for them to rise up to it.

"Joey Harrington lived up to the hype (of the NYC billboard) and these two guys are capable, too. They won't let it go to their heads. This won't deter their work ethic or their day-to-day grind."

Despite what those in Oregon will lead you to believe, we know there are three candidates for the toughest tandem: The Lukes, Kansas' Kirk Hinrich and Nick Collison, and Arizona's Luke Walton and Jason Gardner. All have a legit case for the unofficial title of "Best Duo" in a leading role, but The Lukes at least are the most offensive -- and we're not talking about the school's P.R. campaign. So, if forced to choose two players who mean the most to their team, it would be hard to put Oregon's pair anywhere but first or second -- definitely not third.

Maybe it's the way Oregon plays, the rip-and-run style of get it and go from the board to the break to a layup or jumper without more than two dribbles. The Lukes are certainly the most entertaining to watch. They are throwbacks, old-school players who love to simply play the game. Their basketball IQ is as high as any pair in the country this season, and while getting back to the Elite Eight (where they lost to Kansas) isn't a given, they do have a legitimate shot to make another Pac-10 title run.

	... while 6-7 Jackson is a matchup problem as a shooting guard in a small forward's body.

"We're two of the most competitive people in college basketball once we get on the floor," Jackson said. "Luke is determined to be the best point guard in the country. He's tough enough to do it. He can take you off the dribble and shoot it as well as anybody. He's a good defender, too."

"LJ is so competitive and he can use his size to his advantage (at 6-7)," Ridnour said. "He can shoot it, go to the hole over the big guys and make shots over any guard. He's tough to defend. You put the two of us on the same team and we want to win for each other."

Ridnour is probably the best true point guard in the nation. The ball stays with his hand as if he has it on a string. He can get to the hole for a layup, push the ball with ease, pull-up for a 3-pointer or a mid-range jumper. Getting through traffic for a dump pass to someone inside, or a pass out for a 3-pointer is no sweat for Ridnour. Jackson, meanwhile, is a two guard in a small forward's body. He loves to use the glass, hitting fadeaways from the corner, usually with someone hanging on him. And his court sense is unmatched.

"We knew we had a great player in Luke Ridnour because he understood the game," Kent said. "He was tailor-made for our style of play."

Ridnour had a national reputation as a McDonald's All-American coming out of Blaine (Wash.) High School, where he was a three-time Class AA state player of the year and averaged 23 points and seven assists as a senior. Jackson somehow slipped under the national radar but was a sinch to wind up at Eugene, scoring 2,095 points (fourth-best in state history) at nearby Creswell High. The pair first suited up together at the 2000 Global Games.

"We felt (Jackson) was a good player, but we didn't anticipate how great a player he has made himself to be," Kent said. "Luke Jackson is a lot tougher mentally than people know. He understands the grind. His skill level is so far advanced that he could play the point."

And, of course, Kent wouldn't trade his pair for Hinrich-Collison or Walton-Gardner -- two tandems his Ducks will face again this season.

"These guys have the complete package. They've got the academic side off the floor, they're great leaders and the hardest working pair I've been around," Kent said. "They can score the basketball, pass the basketball and the biggest asset that goes unnoticed is that they are tenacious defenders."

When asked to compare their partner to the other top duos' players, each makes a strong case for the other Duck.

	Dueling Duos
	A breakdown of the top duos in the country this season (2001-02 stats):
	Arizona
	Duo	PPG	ASP	RPG
	Walton	15.7	6.3	7.3
	Gardner	20.4	4.6	2.9
	Combined	36.1	10.9	10.2
	Gardner/Walton accounted for 42% of the Wildcats' offense in 2001-02.
	Kansas
	Duo	PPG	ASP	RPG
	Collison	15.6	1.7	8.3
	Hinrich	14.8	5.0	4.8
	Combined	30.4	6.7	13.1
	Collison/Hinrich accounted for 33% of the Jayhawks' offense in 2001-02.
	Oregon
	Duo	PPG	ASP	RPG
	Jackson	16.7	3.3	5.4
	Ridnour	15.5	5.0	2.9
	Combined	32.1	8.3	8.3
	Jackson/Ridnour accounted for 37% of the Ducks' offense in 2001-02.
	Xavier
	Duo	PPG	ASP	RPG
	West	18.5	1.6	9.8
	Sato	15.6	1.8	6.5
	Combined	34.1	3.4	16.3
	West/Sato accounted for 47% of the Musketeers' offense in 2001-02.

Jackson on Ridnour vs. Gardner and Hinrich: "They're good players, but Luke has what they have and more. He works harder than those guys do in the summer time (after seeing Gardner at the Nike camp and Hinrich at the Jordan camp). He puts in the extra time. He can handle the ball and has the floor leadership. He can take over our team when he needs to.

Comparing Jackson to Walton and Collison is a bit harder, considering Jackson is more of a face-up player than the other two, but Ridnour breaks it down like this: "Walton guarded Luke here last year and he couldn't stay up with him, he was too quick and too athletic for him. Walton can score, but (Jackson) can pass better. He's more athletic. Collison, well, he's a beast down there and killed us in that one game (in the NCAAs). Luke is going to do whatever it takes to win."

The Lukes' competitive spirit comes out no matter the competition. Roomates as well as running mates, teammates Jay Anderson and Matt Short felt what most Pac-10 foes feel when it came time to pick the best room two months ago with halfcourt hook shots.

"Jackson got it, he drained the first one, even with everyone jumping in his face," Anderson said. "Everything comes a lot easier when you play with those two guys. When I was playing with the freshmen I had to do everything (in the scrimmage). But when I'm with them, one move and I've got the ball in my hand.

"The way they connect off the court is the same. They've got similar backgrounds, both strong Christians and love to play basketball. They've had a great friendship since they've been here."

After the Global Games in Dallas in the summer of 2000, Ridnour moved to Eugene to spend the summer with Jackson prior to their freshman years. The Ducks finished a disappointing 14-14 that first season, but they reached the Elite Eight and won the Pac-10 title in Year Two. They spent this summer in Eugene, Jackson adding 10 pounds of muscle working on his body. Ridnour worked on his mid-range game.

But to get back to the Elite Eight, Oregon will need more than The Lukes. Losing high-flying guard Fred Jones (Indiana Pacers' first round pick) and mountain man Chris Christoffersen in the middle means the Ducks' best lineup is also their smallest. During a scrimmage on Oct. 24, the best team was The Lukes, 5-10 guard James Davis at shooting guard, 6-8 forward Robert Johnson and 6-3 Andre Joseph. All can score facing the basket, but getting boards is another issue. That's why 6-9 Anderson, oft-injured 6-9, 260-pound Brian Helquist, 6-11 redshirt freshman Ian Crosswhite and 7-foot redshirt freshman Short have to give them something in the middle.

"There is no doubt that if this team comes together it will be by understanding the grind," Kent said. "We're not as deep as last year, but we're as good as anyone in the Pac-10. We'll miss Freddie Jones, the spectacular dunks, so we'll need someone to win the close games."

That responsibility will likely fall on one of the Lukes most games, in what could be their final season together. Ridnour is atop NBA scouts' lists, and Jackson is starting to create a buzz about his game. Expecting both to be back for their senior season is a reach. The Ducks picked up a much-needed point replacement for Ridnour in Seattle Franklin High's Aaron Brooks. They don't have one for Jackson if he were to bolt, too.

"We're just really blessed to play together," said Jackson, who is trying to emulate Larry Bird by adding some good-natured trash talking to his game, even in 3-on-3 pick-up games. "We're both Christian guys. We live together and we're both from small towns. His parents come down and stay with my family. It really has been a fortunate situation."

"It's so rare that you find someone who you get along with on and off the court as much as we do," said Ridnour, who declined to be on the Playboy all-American team because of his faith. "And we want to win so bad and just play. We just love to play basketball."

Together, "Luke 2 Luke" is easily the tallest tandem off the court. They also could prove to be the toughest in the game this season.

Andy Katz is a senior writer at ESPN.com.