Oregon occupies a respectable position in the very competitive Big 10 conference. Not only have they factored pretty consistently in postseason play, but they actually won the first-ever NCAA Mens Basketball Championship all the way back in 1939.
Different times, of course. The playoffs featured only eight teams and generated not even a small sliver of the interest that the event now attracts. Still, Oregon has a strong program with a proven ability to make it to basketball’s greatest contest. Can they have a successful March Madness this year?
On the Men’s Side
The men’s team has had a season full of stops and starts. They went on a big, nasty, five-game losing streak in the middle of the season that cost them considerable ground. Since then, they’ve rebounded with forward momentum. The team has recently gone on a five-game winning streak that boosted their standing considerably in the competitive Big 10 conference, and they are currently projected to come in as the seventh seed in the West.
Hot Take:
The men of Oregon have put together a respectable—even if somewhat shaky season. That said, their play to this point has put them well outside the top 25 ranked teams. The ranking system is admittedly imperfect but ultimately relatively accurate at determining probable winners.
To date, an unranked team has never won the NCAA tournament. Oregon is definitely heading into the tournament with solid momentum. That said, nothing about the Ducks’ performance to this point says “history-making postseason.”
Nate Bittle will be a big part of the Ducks strategy in March Madness. (Photo by Gary Breedlove)
Chances?
Expect a relatively early elimination. As a fan, you can always hope for the best. However, if you are going to stake the tournament at YouBet you should make an educated decision. March Madness produces some pretty crazy storylines, but the odds tend to be almost bizarrely accurate.
Bottom line: Don’t bet on the Ducks if you want to win. (Darn!)
On the Women’s End
All too often, March Madness discussions begin and end with the boys. It’s easy to forget that many of the most exciting games happen on the women’s side of the sport. This year, the girls may be able to expect a little bit more of the focus that they have so long deserved.
Last March, Caitlin Clark, Angel Reese, and Cameron Brink generated enormous attention from a global audience. Clark and Reese generated particular buzz as they revisited their rivalry from the previous season in which Reese’s LSU defeated Clark’s Iowa in the finals.
In 2024, the tables were turned when Iowa made it all the way to the finals before falling to South Carolina in an upset. Clark and Reese are both in the WNBA now, but attention to women in NCAA play has continued into the 2024/25 season.
The Lady Ducks have played well in the past, such as when they last made it to the Final Four in 2019. That year, they played with an almost ridiculously stacked roster. Nyara Sabally, her sister Satou, Ruthy Hebard, and Sabrina Ionescu helped lead the Ducks to one of their best seasons ever. The Ducks were favored to win the 2020 championship under the strength of basically that same lineup.
Sabrina Ionescu and Ruthy Hebard executed the greatest “Pick-and-Roll” play ever in the history of Oregon Basketball.
Unfortunately, the tournament was canceled due to Covid. Just several weeks later, Sabrina and Satou would be drafted into the WNBA as the first and second picks respectively. The Oregon women had slightly mixed results since then, last appearing in the tournament back in 2022 when they were eliminated in the first round.
This year, the Lady Ducks are on the bubble. While they are currently projected to make the tournament, they are very close in the standings. It wouldn’t take much to move the needle in a way that would knock them out of eligibility.
Better Luck Next Year
If you are an Oregon fan, it’s ok to feel mildly disappointed. Even if both teams do make it to the tournament, they probably won’t get very far, and in the world of college basketball, that’s just how it goes. In 2020, the women’s team had two of the best college players in the world in the form of Sabrina Ionescu, and Satou Sabally. The next year, they did not. Players graduate. They get drafted. They transfer. Because teams fluctuate so often, no franchise is amazing every year.
Look at UConn, because for two years in a row they were basically unbeatable, and this year they aren’t really factoring. Things could easily change in the next few seasons. For now, maybe focus your energy—and certainly your money—on a team with better odds of winning. Historically speaking, the top five teams win virtually every tournament. If you are going to place a wager on the event, that’s where you’ll want to look.
And if you are loyal to the Ducks even to the bitter end? Well, cheer and hope with all your heart. Such is the life of a fan.
OregonReigns
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OregonReigns is an occasional contributor to FishDuck and loves his Ducks!