The Ducks beat Kansas Saturday with defense and because they rebounded. There’s so much to love about that win, and as coach Dana Altman pointed out, a few things to work on as they get ready for North Carolina in the Final Four. The Hot Hand Tyler Dorsey’s great first half gave the Ducks a cushion, momentum and belief that they …
Is that one of most improbable, surprising and stunning men’s basketball games in your memory? It should be, because by defeating one of the blue-bloods of college basketball in Kansas, (74-60) our beloved Ducks will play in the Final Four next Saturday for the first time in the modern era. I am still stunned, because even as a devoted Ducks …
A Ducks run at the NCAA men’s basketball national championship lies ahead. How the team performs and its final place in the tournament will be destined by its overall balance. Depth and balance have been the defining characteristics of the 2016-2017 team throughout the regular season and so far in the tournament. Balance is a key to how deep the …
Yes, Oregon is playing Michigan for a spot in the Elite 8. But for a couple moments let’s look at the trajectory of Oregon’s program under Dana Altman. Altman is on his way to being a Hall-of-Fame coach. One Final Four or one national title and he’s almost assured of it. At the pace he’s on, if he coaches another …
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 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 …
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 …
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. …
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 …
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 …
I know what you’re thinking, and you are not wrong for thinking it. Seeing the Oregon Ducks men’s basketball team playing for a National Championship is about as fathomable as seeing a funny SNL skit with Kenan Thompson. In fact, the last time Oregon basketball played in a National Championship game was March 27, 1939 (a game they won). They …
2016 has played out like an episode of The Twighlight Zone. The Chicago Cubs just won the World Series for the first time in more than 100 years, the Warriors blew a 3-1 lead in the NBA finals for the first time ever, and now the country is calling Donald Trump its president-elect. The year for Duck fans has been even …