One of the many ways the NCAA tournament is one of the best sporting events out there are the upsets. Everyone loves a Cinderella story and there’s at least one in every March.
The 5-12 game is usually one that people point to, but the contest pitting the 11-seed vs. the 6-seed is a definite upset contender. As it so happens, the Ducks find themselves as the 11-seed in the Midwest Regional against the 5-seed South Carolina.
According to USA TODAY writer Jordan Mendoza, Oregon is a team that could make one of those improbable runs in this year’s tournament.
“Another Power Six team that only got in the tournament by becoming conference tournament champion, Oregon’s hot play makes them a dangerous No. 11 seed to go against this upcoming weekend,” he said. “The Ducks got excellent play from guard Jackson Shelstad, who makes the backcourt even more explosive with Jermaine Couisnard. Mix that in with big man N’Faly Dante and Oregon has several ways to attack on offense.”
Those three players mentioned are going to have to have good games in order for the Ducks to survive and advance. But the lack of depth with just eight scholarship players available, should eventually catch up with Oregon.
But the NCAA tournament is usually an event where the point guard dominates and for the first time since Payton Pritchard, the Ducks have a pure point guard in Shelstad. He gives Oregon a fighter’s chance to advance further than anyone thought just two weeks ago when Arizona hung 100 on the Ducks in Tuscon.