Recruiting Update: Oregon Raids Southwest for Top Drop-End

Mark Flores FishWrap, FishWrap Archive

Kevin Cline Football Recruiting Commitments Following the 42-14 drubbing of visiting UCLA, Oregon received news of a commitment from southwest-based defensive lineman/linebacker Justin Hollins (3-Star/Arlington, TX).  A longtime target of defensive coaches Ron Aiken and Don Pellum, Hollins, a stout 6-foot-5, 210 lbs., fits the mold of a young Dion Jordan and promises to follow in the footsteps of current drop-end Tony …

Recruiting Update: 4* RB Tony James Trades Florida Humidity for Oregon Reign

Mark Flores FishWrap, FishWrap Archive

Steve Francis Football Recruiting Commitments Almost equally impressive as the Oregon offense, a torrential downpour — the likes of which have not seen in Eugene for some time – brought with it the Ducks’ newest commitment: vaunted tailback Tony James (4-Star/Gainesville, FL/Rivals250). “I kind of knew I would be verballing while I was on my visit,” said the 5’9, 175-lb. James.  ”All I …

Recruiting Update: 5* Stanley Johnson — Nation’s Top Forward — to Visit

Mark Flores FishWrap, FishWrap Archive

Kevin Cline Football Recruiting Visits This past Saturday, a who’s who of elite high school stars made their way into Autzen Stadium and discovered what We, The Oregon Faithful already know; We’re fast . . . Really fast. One of those preps, heralded southwest defensive back John Plattenburg Jr., (3-Star/Houston, TX) had a preconceived idea of what to expect upon disembarking …

Recruiting Update: The Dancing Bear Returns

Mark Flores FishWrap, FishWrap Archive

Kevin Cline Football Recruiting News You thought I was going to lead off with Portland Trail Blazers legend Arvydas Sabonis, didn’t you? What! This is football season… oh, just you wait. Oregon is waist deep in two-a-days, and a clearer picture of the 2013 campaign is rapidly taking shape. Headliners of head coach Mark Helfrich’s first recruiting class, running back …

From Hardwood To Hard Hits, Armstead’s Development Continues

Joel Gunderson FishWrap, FishWrap Archive

As the final seconds of Oregon’s Sweet 16 loss to Louisville ticked off the clock Friday night, one member of the Ducks squad knew that while the basketball season may have come to an end, the real work was about to begin. Arik Armstead gets no rest.  Back in Eugene, football is in the air once again, and the big …

Oregon Unknowns: Ducks the odds-on favorite to advance in the Sweet Sixteen

Josh White History

When Oregon and Louisville tip it off tonight at 4:15 on CBS, the Ducks are matched up against arguably the hottest team in the country. But you should also know that this “Return of the Firs” team has been bending their knees and breaking all kinds of records this year.  Also, Oregon has some distinct historical and statistical advantages in this game. …

Ducks Perform Elegant First Step at the Big Dance

Luke Roth FishWrap, FishWrap Archive

SAN JOSE, Calif. – The NCAA tournament game was technically an upset: No. 12 seed Oregon topples No. 5 seed Oklahoma State 68-55.  It felt like anything but. Oregon, now 27-8, was the aggressor from the opening tip and took the game physically to the higher-ranked Cowboys from the Big-12 Conference.  On Thursday, the Ducks were simply the quicker and …

Loyd’s ‘Outstanding’ Homecoming Leads Ducks to Pac-12 Championship

Luke Roth FishWrap, FishWrap Archive

LAS VEGAS, Nev. – You couldn’t write a better script. The local high school star comes back to his hometown and comes off the bench to lead his college team to a major conference championship, and along the way, picks up the tournament Most Outstanding Player award. Johnathan Loyd, a Las Vegas native son, came off Oregon’s bench for the …

Ducks Pay Back Utah and Gain Another Chance to Claim a Pac-12 Title

Luke Roth FishWrap, FishWrap Archive

LAS VEGAS, Nev. – Utah ended Oregon’s goal of winning the regular season conference championship a week ago in the final Pac-12 game in Salt Lake City with a stifling performance against a flat and uninspired Duck effort. Last night in semifinal action from the MGM Grand Garden Arena, in No. 10-seed Utah’s third game in three nights, Oregon got …

Loyd’s FT’s Force OT and Kazemi Wakes Up to Help Ducks Advance to Pac-12 Semifinals

Luke Roth FishWrap, FishWrap Archive

LAS VEGAS, Nev. – First, Johnny Loyd made two critical free throws to tie the score and send the game into overtime. Then, Arsalan Kazemi awakened from a two-and a-half-game funk in time to score 11 points and grab three rebounds in the extra period to lead the Ducks into the semifinals of the Pac-12 Tournament Wednesday night with a …

Oregon Basketball Analysis: What a Difference One Rocky Road Trip Makes

Luke Roth Coach's Opinion

LAS VEGAS–  Who was that team disguised in Oregon basketball uniforms playing at Colorado and Utah in the last round of Pac-12 regular season games? Certainly not the team Duck fans have learned to know this season and definitely not the same team that piled up 23 wins. Most assuredly, it wasn’t the same one that led the conference for …

Tourneys Loom As Oregon Stumbles

Joel Gunderson FishWrap, FishWrap Archive

With Saturday’s loss at Utah, Oregon is officially backing into the PAC-12 tournament, riding a two-game losing streak, and facing a mounting list of questions about where this team stands. With a regular season conference title staring them right in the eye, Oregon laid down in the face of a challenge, falling to a lowly Utes team that is headed home …