With the loss to the Wildcats, the Oregon Ducks have slipped to 9-2 on the season, No. 13 in the BCS standings, and now have little chance of gaining a BCS berth unless chaos hits the nation in the coming weeks.
What Duck fans do have to look forward to is continuing their dominance as a powerhouse football team, with a win in whatever bowl they’re selected to play in – as well as the start of a season for a young and exciting No. 14-ranked Oregon men’s basketball team.
At this point, since No. 8 Stanford is finished with conference play, the Ducks do not have a chance to win the Pac-12 title, knocking them out of the Rose Bowl. Even worse, the horrific loss to Arizona was the Dagger of Doom that struck to the heart, knocking them out of contention – as it seems right now.
A severe amount of destruction would have to occur to shake the national picture in order for Oregon to get back into the conversation of BCS bowls. No. 1 Alabama, No. 4 Auburn and No. 5 Missouri, all are projected to play each other in the next few weeks, and if the champs can tame the two Tiger teams, then they will see themselves in yet another national championship game. However, a loss may crowd the field too much for the Ducks.
With much help needed, rivalry week couldn’t have come at a better time; Oklahoma State will face Oklahoma, Baylor will face off against Texas, and there are still a heap of conference championship games to be played. Before any of that matters, though, Oregon will have to take care of little brother Oregon State at home this Friday.
Marcus Mariota scrambles away from the Arizona defense.
Marcus Mariota is suspected to start at quarterback, despite the head injury suffered in the fourth quarter last weekend. Mariota is the heart of this Ducks offense and it should comfort fans to know that he is okay.
The Beavers are coming off a dreadful loss to the Washington Huskies, but they still will be a tough feat for the Ducks. OSU played Stanford very well because of their level of physicality and the talent they have on both sides of the ball. With a disappointing season for the Beavers thus far, a win over Oregon would make for a happy winter.
And if they don’t receive the help they need, Bleacher Report’s Brian Pederson predicts to see the Ducks in the National University Holiday Bowl on Dec. 30th, but hopefully the committee will match them against an elite opponent.
From the field to the court, the Ducks are thriving in their respective sports.
Oregon basketball has started out 4-0 so far this year, including a win over Georgetown, who in turn defeated then-No. 10 Virginia Commonwealth.
They have been without point guard Dominic Artis and forward Ben Carter due to off-court disciplinary issues, but junior transfer Joseph Young has taken the reins. If you haven’t heard his name yet then get used to it because he is an elite player and he’s only getting better.
So far, Young is averaging 23.0 points and four rebounds per game, while posting an efficient .553 field goal percentage. His biggest game came against Western Carolina, shooting 9-12 from the field to accumulate 36 points in Oregon’s 107-83 rout of the Catamounts.
The season has begun.
Everyone’s favorite point guard Johnny Lloyd is back for his senior season and has controlled things well inArtis’ absence with 10.3 points per game, and 5.3 assists. Transfer Mike Moser and senior guard Jason Calliste have also been important parts of the squad, each averaging more than 10 points per game, as well.
The Ducks will also continue their season this Friday at home against the 4-0 Pacific Tigers, as they look to duplicate and expand on their Sweet 16 appearance of a year ago.
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Bryan Holt is a 20 year old junior at the University in Oregon looking to major in Journalism and Communications with hopes in pursuing a career as a sports writer or analyst.