We took a peek at Michigan a week ago when the brackets were announced. But it looked like the Ducks would face Louisville so we focused on the Cardinals. March Madness strikes again. Here’s an in-depth look at the Wolverines: Overall Oregon needs to hit shots and if so, they should win this game. I don’t just mean 3’s or …
What Really Happened When the Ducks Played Rhode Island?
What really happened when the Ducks played the Rhode Island Rams on Sunday night? Why did the game go down to the wire and how did the team build its lead, squander it and then roar back? Many of you who are reading this article saw the game in part or whole for yourselves, and you have your own thoughts about …
What the Taggart Staff Can Learn From the Helfrich Staff …
As fans of our beloved Ducks, we have gone through many mental phases as the football program declined, and we wanted the coaches on the former staff (whom we loved and cared about) to succeed. I started pondering the differences between them and those we immediately noted with the new football staff, and, after collaborating with other fans, have come to …
Oregon Final Four Bound? 3-Seeded Ducks Better Than Last Year’s 1-Seed Team
Oregon is three wins away from the Final Four. Given the Ducks have already run off 8- and 17-game winning streaks this season, the Final Four feels like the Oregon’s destiny. But we’ve been here before. The Ducks have made the Elite Eight six times, including last year, and only made the Final Four once, but that was during the FDR administration …
NCAA Tournament: ‘Sleeping Ducks’ Ready To Fly South
With March Madness (my favorite three weeks of the year) underway, I am sure that we all feel a little lump of uncertainty in our stomachs because of how our beloved Ducks have sort of stumbled into the field of 68. Certainly we were all disappointed to see them get a 3-seed and be placed in the Midwest Region, where …
Jordan Bell: To the NBA or Not to the NBA?
Oregon fans have rarely, if ever seen a player like Jordan Bell, but the NBA is filled with them. Long and athletic, a leaper, passer, terrific pick-setter with a high basketball IQ and a guy who finishes well on the break. If he had a proven low post game or a 12-foot jumper he’d be a sure-fire NBA 1st-round pick. …
Pac-12 Analysts and Taggart’s Surprising “Reverse Vetting”
Can you believe the Oregon news these days? Even in the slow days of March, we have things to feel a little down about, news that is incredible and an item that Mr. FishDuck has been pondering. Let’s get to it, my fellow Duck fans! Be Proud of the Unknown From Men’s Basketball … Yup … the loss in the Pac-12 …
Breaking down Oregon’s Road to the Final Four
First, the NCAA Selection Committee’s lack of respect the Pac-12 is unbelievable. The wins the conference had on the road over Kentucky, willing to go to Baylor, and the difficulty of the conference itself mean all three teams deserve a 2 seed at least, and Arizona, a one seed ahead of Gonzaga. But I digress. And an absolute snow job …
Mama’s Bigger, Stronger Guys and Ducks Football
I have often thought in the past few years about bigger, stronger and faster football players at Oregon. I guess that’s because of the success and the overall upward trajectory of the UO football program over the last seven or so years. Some of that thinking was propelled by Chip Kelly’s “big guys beat up little guys’ illustration. Some of it …
Catch a Falling Star: What Now, Chip Kelly?
At one time or another we all slogged through basic literature and were tutored in the Greek structure for the dramatic story, that of Beginning, Middle and End. So if Oregon (my alma mater) was the beginning, and San Francisco (my home) the end, then I feel as though I’ve had a front row seat to the story arc of …
Dillon Brooks to the NBA or Not to the NBA?
The question will be on everyone’s minds soon enough. Will Pac-12 Player of the Year Dillon Brooks be back in 2017-18? Let’s take a deeper look at why – or why not – he might be back. As the Pac-12 POY, some think he’s a lock to go to the NBA. Maybe not. Joe Young earned the honor and wound …
Dana Altman’s In-Game Coaching makes him a Future Hall-of-Famer
Dana Altman is now approaching 600 wins in Division 1 basketball, and that’s more than all but 40 coaches in the history of the game. His status is rising quickly as he has stacked seven 20 win seasons at Oregon on top of the longest home court winning streak, back to back conference titles, Sweet 16’s and an Elite 8 …