Tag: oregon basketball

Oregon loses as Pac-12 finally takes a few hits in NCAA Tournament

N’Faly Dante and Jermaine Couisnard were spectacular, but no one else from Oregon showed up against Creighton.

The Oregon Ducks were this close to making the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament: They led the Creighton Bluejays by four points in the final minute of regulation. Yet, they couldn’t close the deal and lost to the Jays in double overtime on Saturday night in Pittsburgh.

Ducks Wire had more on the story:

“Oregon’s magical run got unceremoniously cut short on Saturday night after what was quite possibly their most impressive game of the year. If you didn’t stay up until 1 a.m. on the East Coast, you’ll see a box score that reads 86-73, Creighton, in double-overtime. If you did stay up, though, then you witnessed two of the best performances from Oregon players in program history.

“N’Faly Dante and Jermaine Couisnard were special, combining for 60 of the team’s 73 points, and all but two of the Ducks’ points from halftime to the final whistle.

“The rest of the team? Different story.”

Injuries played a huge part in limiting Oregon this season. Coach Dana Altman did well to get this team as far as he did, but attrition ultimately limited what this talented team was capable of. It’s a bitter loss for the Pac-12, which just missed putting a second team in the Sweet 16. Colorado gives the Pac one more chance to make the second weekend of March Madness on Sunday. The Buffs face Marquette.

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NCAA Tournament: Betting line drops slightly in favor of Ducks vs. Creighton

The Oregon Ducks are still underdogs against the Creighton Bluejays on Saturday in the NCAA Tournament, though the line dropped slightly.

The Oregon Ducks are going to be underdogs entering the second round of the NCAA Tournament against the Creighton Bluejays, but as we get closer to tip-off, the betting line is moving in their favor.

Once the matchup was set on Thursday afternoon, the betting line opened up at 5.5 points in favor of the 3-seed Bluejays, but it has since dropped a point in favor of the 11-seed Ducks, who are now a 4.5-point underdog, according to FanDuel Sportsbook.

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While Oregon rode a 40-point game from Jermaine Couisnard in the opening game against the South Carolina Gamecocks earlier in the week, there will need to be a stellar performance from N’Faly Dante in this one if the Ducks want to advance to the Sweet 16. Dante will be matched up with Creighton’s center Ryan Kalkbrenner, one of the better big men in the nation.

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Though the Ducks aren’t favored to win, I don’t think anyone who has watched Dana Altman’s squad play over the last few weeks would be surprised to see them keep this magical run alive and live for another week.

Tip is set for 6:40 p.m. PT, on TBS.

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Report: Ducks eyeing intriguing pair of players in basketball portal

The Oregon Ducks have reportedly reached out to a pair of intriguing players in the transfer portal so far.

While Dana Altman and the Oregon Ducks are focused on the NCAA Tournament and their second-round game against the Creighton Bluejays on Saturday, there are members of the staff who have kept a close eye on the transfer portal, which opened earlier this week.

According to On3’s Joe Tipton, the Ducks have been in contact with a pair of players in the portal so far — Michigan’s Tarris Reed and St. Louis’s Sincere Parker.

Reed is a 6-foot-10 forward who has played for two years in Anne Arbor. As a former 4-star recruit who was rated as the No. 35 player in the 2022 class, Reed now ranks as the No. 17 available player in the transfer portal, per 247Sports.

He averaged 9 points and 7 rebounds in 2023 with the Wolverines.

Sincere Parker is a former Community College player who has spent two years at St. Louis, averaging 16 points and 4 rebounds in 2023. Parker did not have a ranking as a recruit coming out of high school, but 247Sports sees him as the No. 32 available player in the portal this offseason.

While the focus is on March Madness for the time being, it will be interesting to see what moves the Ducks make this offseason. Players like N’Faly Dante and Jermaine Couisnard are leaving after the end of the season, so replacing some production at the center and guard spots will be crucial.

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‘I still love that school;’ Oregon’s Dana Altman prepares for bittersweet battle vs. Creighton

Oregon Ducks coach Dana Altman knows Saturday’s NCAA Tournament matchup will be bittersweet against his former Creighton Bluejays.

The 11-seed Oregon Ducks surprised some people on Thursday afternoon when they rode a 40-point game from guard Jermaine Couisnard to “upset” 6-seed South Carolina, 87-73 in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.

Those who follow the Ducks closely know this wasn’t really an upset, though. For starters, Oregon was favored by 2.5 points to win the game, and on top of that, head coach Dana Altman entered the game with a 7-0 record in the first round of the March Madness tournament.

If you know Altman, you had a pretty good sense that the Ducks would win on Thursday. Of course, if you know Altman, then you also know how meaningful this upcoming round of 32 game will be for the long-time coach.

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Oregon will tip off against the 3-seed Creighton Bluejays on Saturday night at 6:40 p.m. PT. This matchup will pit the Oregon coach of 14 years up against his old team, where Altman spent 16 years coaching before he came to Eugene.

It’s not just an entertaining storyline that has been drummed up over the past week, but something that holds real meaning for Altman, the winningest coach in both Oregon and Creighton history.

“Oh, you know, you spend 16 years at a place…” Altman trailed off on Thursday after being asked about the matchup on Saturday. “I’ve got great feelings about Creighton. As I said yesterday, you can leave a place, but that doesn’t mean you still don’t love the place.”

Altman coached in Omaha from 1995-2010, where he took Creighton to a total of seven NCAA Tournaments, having won six Missouri Valley Conference regular season titles, and three conference championships. Currently, Altman is the winningest coach in Creighton men’s basketball history, though he could lose that title this month if the Bluejays are to make a deep tournament run. Greg McDermott is only three wins off of his pace.

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Seeing a new name on top of that list is likely something that would please Altman, though.

“I’m so happy for Greg and Creighton and all their fans and the people that I know there,” Altman said. “Greg’s done a tremendous job. They’ve got a tremendous program. I’m so happy for him.”

On the court, Saturday’s matchup is going to be grueling for both teams. The Bluejays are currently favored, and many have them as a real contender to make a deep run and potentially get into the Final Four later this month. However, anyone who has watched the Ducks over the past few weeks, and saw their game against South Carolina in the first round knows that Altman’s team is far from an easy out.

“It’s bittersweet because only one of us is going to move on. But we’ll battle our tails off,” Altman said. “We’re going to have to play as good as we’ve ever played to get ’em. We’re going to have to be so sharp defensively, on the boards. We’re going to have to shoot it good again.”

If the Ducks find a way to pull off the upset, Altman will continue this magical run in 2024 and strengthen his already robust legacy as one of the best coaches in the history of the sport.

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If Oregon loses, at least the 65-year-old coach can take pride in watching one of his favorite teams battle on into the second weekend of March Madness.

“I’ve had 14 great years at Oregon, and I love this place,” Altman said. “And when I’m done, I’ll feel the same way about Oregon as I do about Creighton.

“Oregon is 1, but I think Creighton is 1A. There’s not much separation. I still love the school.”

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Trash talk from a former teammate inspired Oregon’s Jermaine Couisnard to drop 40 points in a bracket-busting win

Oregon’s Jermaine Couisnard said he used to mentor this player as teammates at South Carolina.

Oregon senior guard Jermaine Couisnard was one of the breakout stars of the first game of the NCAA men’s basketball tournament.

Couisnard, a 25-year-old playing for the Ducks in the opening round of March Madness, is currently finishing his senior year in Eugene for the Oregon men’s basketball program.

He had previously played multiple seasons for South Carolina in the SEC before transferring to the Pacific Northwest to play for Oregon head coach Dana Altman.

Yet, in a juicy storyline, Oregon was fatefully matched up against South Carolina to begin March Madness and Couisnard did not disappoint.

The senior led the Ducks in many key statistical categories, including: points, assists, 3-pointers, and steals. He was dominant while playing against South Carolina, finishing with 40 points as the Ducks advanced to the second round to play Creighton in the Midwest region of the bracket.

It was the first time a double-digit seed had scored at least 40 points in a men’s basketball tournament game since Stephen Curry did as much in 2008.

After the game, Couisnard admitted that he was feeling particularly inspired because someone on South Carolina’s roster was hitting him with some “trash talk” after hitting a 3-point against him.

Couisnard said that this is a player that he used to mentor when they were teammates in South Carolina (who he later confirmed was Jacobi Wright), so he was feeling especially motivated after hearing that.

Couisnard described it as “normal” trash talk and nothing egregious.

Either way, the Oregon star played for South Carolina for many years.

So this win to survive and advance had to feel especially good for Couisnard and the Ducks.

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Jermaine Couisnard breaks Oregon record with 40 points in Ducks’ big win

Oregon Ducks guard Jermaine Couisnard broke the program NCAA Tournament record with 40 points in an NCAA Tournament win over South Carolina.

The Oregon Ducks needed someone to step up in a major way if they wanted their magical postseason run to continue in March, and veteran guard Jermaine Couisnard answered the call.

On Thursday, in Oregon’s 87-73 win over the South Carolina Gamecocks in the first round of the NCAA Tournament, Couisnard poured in 40 points, breaking the Oregon program record for most points in an NCAA Tournament game.

The previous record of 33 points was held by Tajaun Porter, set in the 2007 Sweet Sixteen against UNLV.

Couisnard got his 40 points on 14-for-22 shooting, and he added 6 assists and 4 rebounds as well.

The former South Carolina Gamecock was not the only Duck with a massive game, as N’Faly Dante also tacked on 23 points on 7-for-9 shooting with 6 rebounds, 2 blocks, and 2 steals.

The Ducks will now face off against the 3-seed Creighton Bluejays on Saturday in the second round of the tournament, leading head coach Dana Altman to meet his former team.

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11-seed Ducks now favored over 6-seed Gamecocks in NCAA Tournament matchup

The 11-seed Oregon Ducks are now favored to beat the 6-seed South Carolina Gamecocks in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.

If the Oregon Ducks win on Thursday afternoon in their first-round game against the South Carolina Gamecocks, it will be an upset by seeding only. That much is clear after various sports books across the nation have adjusted their lines on the morning of the NCAA Tournament getting underway.

The 11-seed Ducks are no longer underdogs against the 6-seed Gamecocks, now favored in that first-round game by 1.5 points, per FanDuel Sportsbook. Earlier in the week when the matchup was announced, South Carolina was a 1.5-point favorite. The Ducks are also now a -118 money-line favorite as well.

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The shift in odds goes along with what we’ve seen nationally this past week, with a lot of bracket experts picking the Ducks to get past South Carolina and match up with the 3-seed Creighton Bluejays in the second round.

The game tips off at 1 p.m. ET on TNT on Thursday afternoon. For complete coverage, stay tuned in at Ducks Wire and follow along with Zachary Neel on Twitter.

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Nate Bittle gives update on his sickness and says he’s coming back to Oregon in the fall

Nate Bittle shines light on the nature of his illness and announces his return to Oregon next year.

This was supposed to be a big year for Nate Bittle. Entering his third season at Oregon, the former 5-star recruit was set to have a key role on this season’s Ducks team, playing next to N’Faly Dante in the post.

But then in the third game of the season, Bittle took a fall in the paint and injured his wrist, which kept him out until late January. Then, as Bittle was making his return against Arizona State, he got sick. Bittle played a bit in the Ducks’ next game against Arizona, but since then, that sickness — which is still unknown — has kept Bittle off the court.

Now, almost two months later, the Oregon Ducks are about to tip off their first NCAA tournament game in three years. On Wednesday before the Ducks practice in Pittsburgh, Bittle spoke to the media, shining light on what the last seven weeks have been like for him.

“I lost 15 pounds,” Bittle said during Wednesday’s media availability, per The Oregonian’s James Crepea. “I was about 230-232. Then I dropped all the way down to 214.6 I remember was I think the lowest. Now I’m working my way back up, but it’s been difficult.”

Oregon certainly wishes Bittle was available, as they prepare for their most important game in the last three seasons, with just eight healthy scholarship players. While tethered to the sideline, Bittle has still found a way to make impact, often being the most vocal and encouraging member of the Ducks bench.

After this season, Bittle will likely have two remaining seasons of eligibility, since he is pursuing a medical redshirt according to Crepea. In his talk with the media, Bittle declared his intention to return to Oregon in the fall.

“This is my place. I can’t leave.”

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N’Faly Dante named as one of top players on double-digit seeded teams

Andy Katz named N’Faly Dante as the No. 1 player on double-digit seeded teams in this year’s NCAA tournament field.

The Oregon Ducks are in the NCAA tournament for the first time in three years. Making it to the Big Dance was a long shot for Oregon since the Ducks needed to win their conference tournament to qualify. But after battling hard for three straight games in the Pac-12 tournament, the Ducks punched their tickets to the tournament.

A massive reason for Oregon’s success in the conference tournament was the premier play of senior center N’Faly Dante. In the Pac-12 tournament, Dante averaged 20.3 points, 8.3 rebounds, and 4.3 stocks (steals + blocks), per game.

Dante’s recent run of elite form has garnered national attention since Oregon received its automatic bid. Andy Katz, a reporter with the NCAA, named who he sees as the best 10 players from double-digit seeded teams in this year’s field. Topping the list, is N’Faly Dante.

Five seasons ago, Dante joined the Oregon Ducks, and since then, his road through college hasn’t been easy. But in a career riddled by injuries, Dante has persevered and enshrined himself as one of the great Oregon big men. In those five seasons, Dante has played over 100 games and scored over 1000 points for the Ducks. Now, he’s headed to his first NCAA tournament.

On Thursday, Oregon will play South Carolina at 1:00 p.m. PT in the first round of the NCAA tournament. If they win that game, they’ll play the winner of No. 3 Creighton vs. No. 14 Akron.

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Intriguing freshman with Oregon basketball ties to enter transfer portal

Stanford freshman Andrej Stojakovic has entered the transfer portal and will look for a new school to continue his career at.

While the Oregon Ducks are preparing for their first-round matchup in the NCAA Tournament later this week against the South Carolina Gamecocks, part of the coaching staff is also being asked to keep an eye on the transfer portal, which opened on Monday for college basketball players.

One intriguing name popped up when the portal opened, with some Oregon ties over the last year as well.

Stanford small forward Andrej Stojakovic is reportedly looking to transfer to a new school for his sophomore season after averaging 7 points and 3 rebounds per game in 2023. Stojakovic shot 40% from the field and 32% from deep as a freshman with the Cardinal, and had one 20-point game to go along with a pair of 18-point showings.

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Stojakovic, the son of former NBA All-Star Peja Stojakovic, had the Ducks among the final schools in his recruitment last year as a 5-star player who was ranked as the No. 25 player in the nation. He took a trip out to Eugene for Oregon’s football game vs. BYU in 2022 and spent some time shooting around with his dad inside Matthew Knight Arena. 

We will see if he takes another look at the Ducks this time around, but we do know that there is at least a prior relationship there with the program.

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