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Well I guess Houston stopped Flagg. Color me shocked. Congrats to Houston.

Paul may have a national show but he has and always will cater to the State of Alabama generally. The SEC as a whole is his secondary base. People need to remember that. He's like a beat writer that got a platform on ESPN.

Duke COLLAPSES!!!!!

Flagg misses go ahead shot; Houston gets the rebound.

Looked like Flagg was being fouled by 2 players on the free throw rebound, and he got called for a foul. Houston hits both ends of a 1 & 1, takes the lead. Houston on a 7-0 run the last 15 seconds.

The commentators noted that Duke doesn't have much experience in close games.

Crazy picture:

The part of that that is really irritating is the SEC's defense of their 8 game schedule, "Our conference is so deep & competitive that the Mercer game in Week 11 is justified". Also why when B1G teams lose to each other it's viewed as weak, and the loss will send the team tumbling. But if an SEC team beats another SEC team, they don't drop at all, and it's seen as a good win. Paul had a lot of trouble with it last season. But if Vandy and /or Okie, beat Alabama again, it won't be that Alabama is slipping, Vandy & Okie are just "emerging superpowers".

Paul has had a rough couple years. His claim that the B1G is being propped up by two heavyweights and a bunch of mid teams works to his core audience. The big problem is the SEC has been propped up by two programs and a bunch of fluff as well. LSU is not consistently great, they'll pop up every odd year like 2003, 2007, 2011, and 2019 when the title game is played in the Superdome. But outside of that they aren't better than Penn State. Tennessee was down for a decade, they got ran off the field vs Ohio State in the playoffs. I can't say they're elite yet. Texas is in the same league as Oregon, only less consistent. Texas A&M is like USC in the way they get hyped up and then lose when it matters. Oklahoma has gotten thrashed every single time they have made the playoff. Under Venables they've been a seven win squad per average. Florida? Don't get me started on our issues, hopefully Billy and DJ can put those issues to bed. But until they go it's nothing but hope. So the SEC has had Alabama and Georgia carrying the shield. I'm sorry but that doesn't make me proud or happy. Just like I'm sure Oregon wasn't happy when USC had their run in the 2000's or now with Ohio State and Michigan. Little brothers and never have beens take credit for other's success. Programs like Ole Miss or Oregon State.

AND, across town the Oregon softball team did a 9-1 run-rule game on Saturday evening against Michigan. Both Michigan teams being in Eugene made me wonder if there was a combined charter flight? But softball series ended Saturday night, and baseball still has a game on Sunday.

Ducks Clinch Series, Walsh Sets Another Record EUGENE, Ore. — Jacob Walsh added to his legacy at Oregon on Saturday afternoon while leading No. 15 Oregon to a second run-rule and series clinching win over Michigan at PK Park in front of 4,130 fans. The Ducks’ senior first baseman added the program’s career RBI record to his resume while reaching base four times (2-for-3, 2 BB), hitting a home run and driving in four runs in a 13-3, 8-inning win over the Wolverines. Walsh now owns three career Oregon records, adding the RBI mark to the home run and multi-RBI records he set earlier in his career. How it Happened: Anson Aroz continued to swing a hot bat to start the game. After homering in the Ducks’ last five games, the Ducks’ leftfielder gave UO an early lead with a two-run ground-rule double in the first scoring Mason Neville and Jeffery Heard with two outs. Michigan (16-14, 7-7 Big Ten) took the lead with a two-run homer in the top of the fourth and another run in the fifth, but Oregon regained the lead it in its half of the fifth. The Ducks loaded the bases on two walks and a hit-by-pitch before Chase Meggers drove in the tying run with a fielder’s choice. Maddox Molony After an Aroz walk loaded the bases again, Maddox Molony pulled a 2-2 pitch through the hole between short and third scoring Heard and Meggers for a two-run lead. Back-to-back walks to pinch-hitter Dominic Hellman and Ryan Cooney push the lead to 6-3. Oregon (22-8, 10-4 Big Ten) added three more runs in the bottom of the sixth. Walsh delivered his record-breaking RBI after Mason Neville walked to leadoff the inning. Walsh smoked a full-count pitch over the left-center field wall for a two-run homer to push the UO lead to 8-3. Meggers followed the Walsh homer with a double into the right-field corner and eventually scored on a wild pitch for a six-run lead. The Ducks weren’t done, adding three runs in the seventh and one in the eighth to end the game. After a pair of walks and a bunt hit to lead off the seventh loaded the bases, Walsh came to the plate and added to his RBI record ripping a base hit between first and second that scored Carter Garate and Neville. Meggers tacked on a sacrifice flying scoring Heard for a nine-run lead. In the eighth, Cooney singled before stealing second and moving to third on a Garate fly out to center. He ended the game scoring on a wild pitch. Box Score Notes: The attendance matched the sixth largest crowd in stadium history and the largest regular-season crowd as well … Walsh now has 162 career RBI, breaking Tanner Smith’s (2019-23) record of 158 … Walsh extended his reached base streak to 24 games … Aroz saw his consecutive games with a home run snapped at five, matching the longest in program history … The Ducks homered in the sixth straight game … Four Ducks’ relief pitchers combined to toss 3.1 scoreless innings … Ryan Featherston (2-0) picked up the win tossing 0.1 innings after inheriting a two-on, two-out situation. On Deck: Oregon will go for the series sweep on Sunday. First pitch is at 12:05 p.m. at PK Park. Quotes: Head Coach Mark Wasikowski On how it feels to see fans showing out this weekend... “Really good. And thanks to the fans for coming out and supporting the ball club. It's a really good ball club, we haven’t played that way at times and the club is well aware of it. To have their support and trust and to be able to play good two days in a row in front of really big crowds here is obviously awesome. And the fans showing up and showing out here at PK, I mean, it's really cool. It's great for the guys and we'll try to continue to earn your trust, we know we haven't at a 100% clip yet. But still, I think this one heck of a ball club and we got a chance to be really, really good if we do our jobs.” On what Jacob Walsh has meant to the program... “He's just a wonderful kid. First of all, he's brought up well. He’s not perfect, none of these kids, none of us, are perfect, right? I mean, it's, he's just kind of who everybody is out there right now. He's a guy that has his days where he struggled and he's fought through them, you know, and he's a guy that's tremendously talented. The things you listed off, that's a lot of success for one guy with all those records. And I love being around him, because he's got a good impact in that clubhouse, in the locker room. And when he leaves I'm going to miss him, just like I did the Tanner Smiths and Aaron Zavalas and so many other kids that we've had that are just really special human beings.” On Anson Aroz’s performance... “Yeah, critical hit too. I mean, it was early in the game, but it was a two out double to score two. At that time their starter was out there, 94-95 with heavy sink. I haven't seen the metrics on his sink on his fastball, but I'm sure he was at least average on a pro scale. Yeah, heck of an arm. And we were able to get to him, Anson was able to get to him there. That was huge. And for us to get him out of the game as early as we did, I thought was the real critical piece. I don't think they wanted him to be out of the game that early.” Jacob Walsh On becoming Oregon’s all-time RBI leader… “It’s cool. I’m just out there playing ball and having fun. Records come and come, but we got a good win today.” On feeling at the plate… “I feel good. When you’re having a good approach and are quiet with everything, the ball comes in a lot easier and it’s easier to make good decisions, so I’m just trying to stick to that.” On the team’s momentum right now… “It’s awesome. We’re showing the lineup that we all knew we had. (Dominic) Hellman hits a ball 800 feet yesterday and is the player of the game yesterday and he’s not in the lineup today. That just shows how strong our lineup is and it’s good to finally have that come around.” Maddox Molony On seeing the ball better at the plate… “Yeah. I’ve been ready to hit and I’m seeing the ball well.” On driving in runs in a variety of ways…“It says that we’re a mature group of guys. We can have those days with a lot of home runs and we can also be mature enough to stay in, take some pitches, and get on base.”

Both teams have gotten into a groove. Enjoyable second half, I worry about Houston's depth though.

Duke 34-Houston 28. Houston's D has Duke shooting 41% from the field, unfortunately, Houston is shooting 31%.

Back in the early 70's my dad and me, and some other U of O faculty members and some of my friends used to play basketball early Saturday mornings, at Gerlinger Hall, which was constructed, 1919-21.

They were behind most of the game, and came back to win it!

Ducks open doubleheader with 5-4 walk-off win over Michigan - Daily Emerald DAILYEMERALD.COM The Oregon softball team (34-3, 8-1 Big Ten) hosted the Michigan Wolverines (27-11, 6-3 Big Ten) for the first game of a...

My favorite Duck baseball player! Jacob Walsh’s career day sets tone in No. 15 Oregon’s 13-3 win over Michigan - Daily Emerald DAILYEMERALD.COM Jacob Walsh became Oregon’s all-time career RBI record holder on a beautiful day at PK Park as the No. 15 Ducks (22-8, 10-4...

Thanks Jon!! One more to go, but the last one is going to be the toughest one. Houston is a nightmare on the defensive side, they just don't give you space or second chance options. Florida averages around thirteen offensive rebounds a game which allows them to hit quick uncontested threes. Houston won't allow that. Duke is just an offensive juggernaut with their big guards and depth. Flagg won't be stopped, the scariest part is he's great defensively as well. There isn't a weakness I can see, which is why they were my pick. Crossing my fingers and hoping for the best. Whoever wins will be the best. Florida has been overlooked most of the year, they'll have a chance to prove that point on Monday. I am surprised that they made this run, but there is no such thing as being happy to be there. You never know if you'll ever get back to this point. You gotta make it count. As 30Duck said about still hating Florida for that '07 elite 8 loss. That was a super good Oregon team that could've won you a second title. But it just didn't go that way, the margin of a miss to a championship is super thin. I feel that way about the '14 Gator team that lost to UCONN.

Don't forget, Rueben Chinyelu, from Washington State. Definitely agree with this. Another agreement. Flagg is the most dominant player Duke has had. He needs to have a top game for them to win, and so far, he's been able to do that.

Joakim Noah was hated by everyone during his time with Florida. Kentucky fans in general really disliked him and said some really nasty things regarding his appearance and family. The '05-'06 Gators started out unranked much like this years team, four about four years straight the Gators couldn't get out of the first weekend. But that '05-'06 team started 11-0 and didn't look back for two years. I see similarities to this year's squad, the main difference is Golden built this squad through the portal. Clayton, Richard and Condon were all guys that started their careers elsewhere. I can't see them letting Duke get up early and come back, which has been the Gators run this far. Duke has too much depth and scoring. If it is Duke on Monday, the Gators better be the ones jumping out early, much like they did in the SEC tournament. Duke has the best player, but Florida has the length and depth to make him take tough shots all night. You can't stop him, you just have to make him work on the defensive side to wear him out.

Florida beats Southeastern Conference rival Auburn 79-73 in the Final Four to advance to the championship game SPORTS.YAHOO.COM Florida beats Southeastern Conference rival Auburn 79-73 in the Final Four to advance to the championship game.

Florida wins, 79-73 my bracket lives on!

13-3 Ducks is the final, as the Pride of Portland, Ryan Cooney, gets to second on a steal, to third on a wild pitch, and then scores the winning run from third on a wild pitch to Run-Rule the Wolverines! In the pregame interview, Coach Waz spoke of how the players are not always mentally engaged, and that is on HIM to get them there. He declared that these players are superb when fully on-point mentally, but he felt that their concentration, and mental discipline let some close games slip past this last week. He emphasized how it is on HIM as the coach to have them ready...and I think he did! Seth Mattox had a good 2.1 innings of scoreless work, and it sets him up nicely for future outings.

12-3 Ducks after seven innings, as California Baptist transfer pitcher, Seth Mattox, came in and gave Our Beloved Ducks a scoreless inning, as Michigan struggles at the plate and on the mound. Of COURSE, the Oregon RBI Leader scores two more!