Jermaine Couisnard set an Oregon record, dropping 40 points against his former team as the Ducks downed the South Carolina Gamecocks, 87-73, to advance to the Round of 32.
The Ducks played their way into the field of 68 by winning the Pac-12 Tournament, drawing a matchup against Lamont Paris and the Gamecocks – a team projected to finish last in the SEC but who massively exceeded expectations and finished tied for second, earning a six seed in the big dance.
If Couisnard can drop a 40 burger against his former team, perhaps Oregon coach Dana Altman can have similar success against his former team, Creighton, who Oregon will face on Saturday in the second round.
Altman was the head coach at Creighton from 1994-2010, leading the Blue Jays to seven NCAA Tournament appearances while winning 65% of his games in the Missouri Valley Conference.
Altman has led Oregon to eight NCAA Tournament appearances since taking over in 2010, and that includes a Final 4 run in 2017. However, he looked in danger of missing the field for the third straight year this year – which could have been the end of his tenure in Eugene. Now he has a chance to get back into the Sweet 16, while beating his former employer in the process.
March.