Enough of the bubble babble, folks. Let’s give it a rest. When the Oregon Ducks men’s basketball team missed the game-winning shot to fall to the No. 16 USC Trojans on Saturday night in Eugene, many believe the bubble may have finally burst. But I refuse to join the growing crowd of heretics. I find it hard to believe Dana …
After Rivalry Turbulence, Ducks Prepare to Fly into Madness
Losing to your in-state rival sucks. Every time. Always. And it was especially disappointing for the Oregon Ducks (20-6, 14-4 Pac-12), who were red-hot and rolling on a six-game win streak to fall flat against a very eager and energized Oregon State Beavers (16-12, 10-10 Pac-12) team in a Pac-12 Tournament semifinal matchup Friday night. It’s hard to hit the …
Altman’s Duck Playoff Magic is Back (Again!)
Oregon head coach Dana Altman has done it. Again. The Ducks Men’s Basketball team is heading into the postseason with a full head of steam, winning their last seven of eight games and defeating the California Golden Bears 74-63 on Saturday at Haas Pavilion. The Ducks have recorded their 11th consecutive winning season under coach Altman, securing a first-round bye for …
Final Four Keys To Victory for Oregon
Here we are, Duck fans. This is the stage on which we have all dreamed for years to see our beloved Ducks (78 years for those of you who have been around that long). With four games down and four teams left, here are four keys to Oregon taking home that National Championship trophy. 1. Balanced Scoring Effort While Tyler Dorsey …
78 Years Apart, Oregon’s Two Final Four Trips Are Very Similar
A lot will be written about the Tall Firs of 1939 this week. Years ago, I interviewed guard John Dick who started on that squad. Dick, who grew up in The Dalles, went on to become an Admiral in the Navy and later retired in Eugene, where he lived until his death in 2011. Oregon’s ride back to the Final …
Can the Michigan Wolverines Deal With Dorsey?
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 …
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 …
Oregon Duck Basketball Is Ready for ‘Final Four’ Flight
Dreary days have come to Eugene. The glowing, summer sun that represents the hype and hope that Oregon Duck football brings, is gone. For all intents and purposes the season is done, despite the fact that there are seven games left. As the losses compound, the panic is palpable. With three losses before the second day of October, a perplexingly …
Why the NBA Should Support “Two,Three and Degree” Over “One and Done”
Another college basketball season has come and gone, and faithful fans have watched and witnessed another March Madness that lived up to all the hype. Now we have entered the time of year when the players who were so devoutly followed will decide whether to pursue their lifelong dream of playing in the NBA – or return to college for another …
To Build a Better Program: Start at Home
It is the day before the National Championship for college basketball, and for the third year in a row, the opponent that knocked the Ducks out of the dance has gone on to the final four (2013/Louisville, 2014-15 Wisconsin). This fun little statistic is a perfect microcosm for Oregon’s basketball program, flirting with greatness but coming up short. Coach Dana Altman …
A Bright Future for Elgin Cook
The Ducks have wrapped up their 2015 NCAA tournament campaign after a 72-65 loss to Wisconsin, but things are still looking bright after this season. With Joseph Young leaving, the Ducks will be looking for new players to feed the ball to next season. The 6-6 forward Elgin Cook may be one of the answers for the Ducks as they …
Rematch at The Big Dance: Wisconsin Scouting Report
Mighty Joe Young and the Oregon Ducks squeezed past Oklahoma State with a 79 – 73 victory. Next up is a team that the Ducks should be very familiar with, Frank Kaminsky and the Wisconsin Badgers. For those Duck fans who have blocked the 2014 tournament from their memory, here’s a painful reminder. The Ducks played against Wisconsin in last …