Reader poll: Do Ducks belong in NCAA tourney?
The cheerleading for the University of Oregon men's basketball team, which on the whole had a pretty anemic year, continues unabated. They won a couple of home games against the Arizona teams this weekend, and now the Phil Knight faithful are all talking about continued hopes of "going to the big dance."
Really?
| Posted at 8:56 AM | Permalink |
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Comments (13)
They are in if they can pull just one win in the Pac-10 tourney. With wins against Stanford & UofA (sweeping them I believe), a stronger RPI and strength of schedule than other Pac-10 bubble conteneders (like ASU), they should just need one solid win.
Personally, I won't be cheering for them, but they've had a tough schedule and are finishing strong.
Posted by Clerk06 | March 9, 2008 12:05 PM
They beat Kansas State (away), Arizona (twice), AZ St, Stanford... they're all tournament teams. I think that should get them in, but a win at the tournament would seal it. They went 9-9 in the toughest conference... not too bad.
Posted by TKrueg | March 9, 2008 12:17 PM
I'd say no if the Pac-10 wasn't silly-tough this year. But I agree that they need at least one tourney win to seal the deal.
Posted by Sebastian | March 9, 2008 12:43 PM
they've had a tough schedule and are finishing strong.
Really? By beating Oregon State and the Arizona schools? Yawn.
Posted by Jack Bog | March 9, 2008 5:37 PM
Apparently 'no' is not an option.
Posted by Mike | March 9, 2008 7:35 PM
So are you trying to say that only Phil Knight & delusional duck fans are the ones trumpeting the horn that they deserve a tournament shot?
Agree to disagree.
Some other unbiased national media "expert" sources like
espn.com and crashingthedance.com seem to think they have a legit shot.
Arizona and Arizona St. were two tournament "bubble teams" Yawn?
So do tell, which other bubble teams have a better resume than undeserving Oregon? Would love to know......
Posted by KB | March 9, 2008 10:59 PM
espn.com and crashingthedance.com seem to think they have a legit shot.
This is supposed to impress me?
If you couldn't play better than .500 ball in your own conference, then maybe you should be glad you got into the NIT. I don't care what conference it is.
Posted by Jack Bog | March 9, 2008 11:33 PM
Apparently 'no' is not an option.
If they win the Pac-10 tournament (think snowball/hell), they're automatically in the NCAA, I think.
Posted by Jack Bog | March 10, 2008 12:30 AM
If you couldn't play better than .500 ball in your own conference, then maybe you should be glad you got into the NIT. I don't care what conference it is.
Thank goodness Jack isn't on the selection committee.
If the Pac-10 is so strong this year that Oregon at 9-9 is better than other teams ranked 3rd or 4th in their "major" conference, then the Ducks should have a shot at making the tournament.
Strength of schedule should (and does!) play a role.
Posted by Joey | March 10, 2008 8:41 AM
The Pac-10 isn't as great as you make it out to be. Four teams from that conference is plenty. The next few can go to the NIT.
Posted by Jack Bog | March 10, 2008 12:33 PM
4 teams is plenty for the Pac-10?
And the Big East should send 7 teams?
The Big 10 should send 5?
Oregon isn't playing like a world-beater this year but I think you're overestimating what it takes to be one of the top 65 teams in the land.
I'd still like to know what teams you consider more deserving.
Posted by KB | March 10, 2008 1:47 PM
Just to prove my point that it's not just Oregon fan homers who think the ducks have a legit shot at making it:
http://msn.foxsports.com/cbk/story/7895596?MSNHPHMA
http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/bracketology
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/writers/stewart_mandel/03/10/bubble.watch/index.html?eref=T1
Posted by KB | March 10, 2008 2:00 PM
Love 'em or hate 'em, Ernie Kent's teams always come through in the conference tournament to raise their profile... I think they'll play with their hair on fire against Washington State and move on. Even still, they're probably going to slip in... barely.
Posted by TKrueg | March 10, 2008 2:35 PM