On any other day, the dominant beating of their in-state rival would be the biggest storyline for the Oregon Ducks.
On Saturday night, though, it was about the electric atmosphere inside Matthew Knight Arena, the crowd, and the company.
It’s unfair to make the focus of a basketball article about Dan Lanning and the Ducks’ football team, but it’s more about what Dana Altman provided for the Ducks’ new coaching staff. With some of the best recruits in the nation in attendance just a few days before National Signing Day, Oregon put a beating on the Oregon State Beavers and allowed a party to break out.
Lanning danced to ‘Shout!’ as players waved on the crowd. Oregon’s new coaching staff threw t-shirts into the crowd and celebrated with a nearly packed house. Nobody was concerned with the outcome of the game simply because they didn’t have to be. The Ducks built a double-digit lead in the first half and never looked back.
Dana Altman, Dan Lanning certainly owes you one.
Saturday night was bigger than just basketball, but if you came looking for insights on the game, I’m not going to leave you hanging. Here are some rapid reactions from all of the basketball: