Oregon must solve this freefall
Posted: Sunday, January 27, 2008 9:19 PM
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Pac-10
What’s with Oregon?
It’s a simple question, really, though probably not one many people are asking. How does a team that returns four starters from a 29-7 Elite Eight squad appear to be floundering midway through the 2007-08 season?
After an 8-1 start, the Ducks (12-8) have lost four straight, including a game they had against USC on Saturday. A would-be 14-point rally was offset by a putrid overtime period and turned what could have been a nice home victory into a deflating, frustrating outcome.
"It would have been a big win for us since we're on the skids right now," forward Joevan Catron told the Oregonian.
This was just two days after Oregon native Kevin Love came into Eugene and muscled the Bruins to an 80-75 win in front of a rowdy, sometimes insulting crowd. (It was bad enough to have UCLA coach Ben Howland come to his defense.)
Earning a split from the L.A. schools isn’t easy, but it’s an essential when it comes to holding the home court and building that NCAA résumé, which already includes losses to Nebraska and Oakland (Mich.).
Oregon’s the same as it ever was in terms of offense (sixth in adjusted offensive efficiency, according to kenpom.com, but still wretched on defense), but just doesn’t have the same urgency it did last season with Aaron Brooks.
Maybe the complacency isn’t something the Ducks can overcome, either. This (Eugene) Register-Guard article from last week talks about how the Ducks were looking for moral victories after a loss to Washington State in Pullman and looking forward to holding their home court against UCLA and USC.
Now? They’re reeling a little bit.
So, is there anything good to report? A home game against in-state rival Oregon State is on Saturday. The Beavers (6-14, 235 in RPI) are as bad it gets among BCS schools. If there’s anything to solve a team’s problems, it’s giving a rival a good thumping.
But a loss would be unthinkable – and effectively end their NCAA Tournament hopes.
