MicroBurst61

All Hail Sir Couisnard! I had a feeling he was going to "punk" his ole' team.

Agreed. Best, complete, defensive game this season. Play this way each game during the tourney and you will be a hard out. Now I'm regretting my Tennessee over Oregon in the Elite Eight. SEC doesn't seem that, indomitable, after watching what OBD just did to the team that placed second. Great way to open up the Tourney. On to Creighton! Go Ducks Tourney Basketball!

Couisnard, today, is THE MAN!

Quack Frickin Attack!

Ok...wrong team butttt...what a three quarter shot by the gamecocks. Half to go and we be doing well. Ready for a dominating second half by OBD? GO Ducks!

What a "lil harasser" Rigby is. Not much for scoring but man does he enjoy disrupting other teams flow.

Got a weird feeling this one will go down to the wire. Dante fed down low and gets the "and one" and sinks the freethrow to win the game by one; sorta feeling. But, I'll take a Double Digit Duck win and help keep my blood pressure under control, anytime. Go Ducks Tourney Basketball!!

What just happened? What we had been waiting to happen since the beginning of February. Inconsistent is how I've described this team on more than one post. Even in the PAC12 tourney there were lapses in all three games. But, again as I've noted on more than one post, this team DOES NOT GIVE UP. Even when "shellshocked" from many of the "cold periods" they seem bewildered by, they always regroup and someone usually steps up their game as a result. Eight healthy scholarship players and the inconsistencies shown throughout the season most likely doom this team to a sweet sixteen or elite eight exit. But it is March Madness and who says our beloved ducks can't be the "madness" in this year's tourney? Here's hoping! Go Ducks Tourney Basketball.

This here is EXACTLY why the NFL will, sooner than later, become involved legally with all that is going on in college...er...NFL-Lite. I cannot see them allowing another league to "compete" with the NFL while NOT having the controls in place, to create parity, that the NFL does. "Superteams" is what the NFL has tried to temper and won't let these "young whippersnappers" come in and do exactly that, drawing fans and dollars away from the parity driven NFL. Said it before. Don't mess with the Billionaires, revenue driven, league. You WILL get burned! Just saying.

Honestly, I thought the ACC, this off season, was going to do the PAC collapse but in reverse. Instead of needing a media contract, which ten of the PAC teams waited for and we're left with "insulting" offers. The ACC is locked into, by today's standards, an "insulting" contract compared to what the Power2 or even the BIG12 are contracted towards. We all know what the NFL-Lite power brokers long-term goal is. All this legal maneuvering is just the "hoops and hurdles" to overcome in order to get there. The Real pain is coming for the WSU's and OSU's of the Power2. When all the "bottom feeders" are left out in the cold through further conference realignment, or a relegation system put in place for said teams that the Power2 do not deem as value added to those two conferences. States, universities, boosters, athletes, and fans may or may not like it, but it is evident that this is going to come to pass. As stated before in this thread, amongst many others, Thanks to the power brokers of the UofO ensuring the Ducks remain relevant in the new college conference realignment madness. Can't wait till it's all over and we as fans can adjust our "fandom" to the new dynamics forthcoming in the "new" college football league. Go Ducks!

Wow. What a run this Oregon team had to qualify for "The Dance". It was truly a fun and entertaining three game run. Something I hoped for but did not truly expect to happen. A season of often frustrating basketball and the inconsistencies we all observed throughout the season did not temper this teams' Will and Desire to win. May have not always been pretty and some of the losses were downright inexcusable (Cali an the road, Colo at home). But a team that has the belief and the tenacity to continue to fight through their own self-inflicted wounds to get to where they are now is nothing to take lightly. What I saw on Saturday night bodes well for a fairly deep run in the tourney. The "intangibles" regarding the emotion and comaradity that was showing after the win; especially watching the entire team approaching the announcers table, celebrating as a team, before trainers and coaches peeled the larger group off to allow Dante, Cousnard, and Shelstad the mic for the post game, was significant on a "team" perspective. I do believe that this team now "believes" in both themselves and their ability to compete with anybody. The first round game against a defensive minded, up and coming, gamecock team should help further their belief in themselves. This could very well be a Cousnard career game, game, being that it is his old team. Win that one and most likely a matchup with Dana's previous charge against Creighton, whom by the way was one of the few teams to actually beat, handily, a tourney favorite UConn during the regular season. Not going to be easy (but tourney games shouldn't be "easy"). I am fully expecting some icecold periods of play, as has happened most games all season. But also will see cohesive play, tough defense, rebounding by several different players, and a few plays of absolute brilliance from Dante, Shelstad, Cousnard, etc. As long as the cold periods are minimal and they play, consistently, to their abilities, this could very well be a second weekend "dark horse" team to contend with. Not finished filling out my bracket yet, but I do have Quackers Basketball "penciled" into the Elite Eight. With both Tennessee and Texas sitting on our side of the bracket, plus a probable Purdue (do not have them filled in that far, yet) in the Elite Eight; I'm fighting amongst myself regarding logic and facts vs. "fandom" logic and facts on if I think it is realistic to move them beyond that. If anything has taught the March Madness fanbase. It's that "madness" will always ensue...especially in the first 2-3 rounds of the tourney. Will an eleven seed seemingly coming out a nowhere be one of the major contributors to the "madness" this year? I think so. . GO DUCKS "TOURNEY" BASKETBALL

Won One ... For the Puddles! Quack Frickin attack Babe!

Hell at this point in the season, I'll take any and ALL the Luck we can get! Damn the Haters. Go Ducks!

Their "A, B, AND C game! Team Oregon "M*A*S*H-Unit" definitely has the talent to go toe to toe with Arizona and I am hoping for an entertaining and hopefully, competitive game. However Any lapse in Any facet of the game and the Wildcats will pounce and once they get you by the neck it's very hard to recover. Arizona is highly motivated to not only win the PAC12 tourney but want to dominate it as to secure a number one seed in the "Dance". Their bench is a whole lot deeper and experienced than Oregons and they will have a much more effective rotation throughout the game. Oregon will have to put together as complete of a game as they have all season. We have seen flashes of "completeness" during a half, or game run of ten minutes are so, but have also seen some horrific stretches of just plain bad basketball from this team that dooms a comeback attempt or ability to hold onto a lead. My prediction is that Oregon gives a solid first half, keeping the game at a pace that they are comfortable with. Second half I think Arizona makes the adjustments needed and will wear us down with a more effective rotation, slowly building a lead that Oregon will have a difficult time overcoming. I hope that one or two of Arizona's top players have a down game and that one of our bench players (Rigby?, Oquendo?) have their best game of the season. If the effort is there and the mistakes are minimal then the window is open for a victory which, depending on how the rest of conference championships finish, may be just enough for a invite to the dance. But we have to win first and that is sitting at a low percentile going into this semifinal game. Go Ducks ! Win one for the Puddles .

Sir Graves has not given us any reason for optimism regarding WBB. The biggest tell for me is that fact that several high profile players have committed and then left this program and have had relatively good success in other programs. I think he has done "shot his shot" here at Oregon and moving out of, arguably, the top WBB conference into a lesser competitive conference might make it a good time to transition to another WBB head coach. Do not think Sir Graves has a future as their head coach. Thanks for the memories and goodbye.

Maayybbeee the NFL will love it. The "new" college super leagues.....er...NFL-lite may soon be able to compete on several levels with the NFL without the restricting structure that has been put in place, over the decades, to promote "parity" in the NFL. In the NFL-Lite there is no salary cap. (Unless you consider roster limits a sort of a cap). No drafting or draft position based on previous years success or failure, just throw enough NIL money at a player you want or need and you get em. No negotiations regarding trading of players or even coaches with other teams. (Looking at you Sean Miller and da Broncos). No player contracts to honor or renegotiate. No "players union" or needs for collective bargaining agreements. No "begging for public funds" for new stadiums or facilities (colleges already had those set up in the name of "public higher education). And don't get me started on all of the individual state and federal laws, regulations, and other "administrative" details that arise between how a "professional" vs an "amateur" athlete is perceived. (Didn't Oregon legislators just pass a bill regarding said matters?) Point is NFL is King! Believe me when I tell you that those powers that be are watching and planning out their future based on the NFL-Lite, staying as...NFL-lite, and should only exist to feed the bigger and badder revenue monster that is the NFL. Once NFL-lite feels emboldened by any and all successes it may have and starts to view itself as an "alternative" rather than a farm or minor league system to the NFL; they will find out the hard and expensive legal way that you don't mess with Billionaires status quo league. Careful where you tread "College-NFLite league! There is Definitely a Bigger Fish than you can ever be and you step on their toes and you will be swallowed up faster than the changes that have been made to get to a NFLite league. Careful for what you wish for.

Unbalanced, in-conference scheduling affecting perceived strength of conference has been a point of frustration for me since the advent of the BCS era. They need to STOP IT now, regarding the unbalanced scheduling of conference games. Maybe, in the past, when comparing the ACC, BIG12, or the now defunct PAC to the other in-conference SOS, there was a noticable difference in level of competition top to bottom. However, with the conferences realigned and continuing to realign, the in-conference schedules for ALL teams in the B1G and SEC are now going to be weighted to where the eventual champions will have played 4-5 ranked teams EACH SEASON, if not more. (Exactly what the TV execs wanted from the changes in college football!) To have the advantage of most all teams in your conference having one less loss simply because you feel "entitled" to that extra, patsy non-conference game, Has and Will severely skew that perceived perception. Don't believe me? Just look how the SEC gets pimped out each year going into the last week or two of the season (more so than the regular ESPN pimpin', as they cover their "investment"). All the talk shifts on how they "finish strong" each year and SEC teams should be given preference, when playoff selection time comes, to other conferences teams that pickup a first or second loss that last two weeks. Would they be so cocky if HALF of their conference all had another loss in the win/loss column? If our (old) conference taught us anything is that any other conference member can rise up and "bitecha inda azz", usually when you least expect it. Conference familiarity, rivalries, and simple timing of when a conference match is played all factor into wins or losses as much as onfield personnel do. Why should one conference get to skew their perceived strength by NOT playing on an even playing field with that extra conference game? Because...of that, precisely..."perceived" strength. It has worked for them for most of this century so probably will have to be dragged, kicking, screaming, and protesting how "unfair" this "parity" thing has become! At least we can be Proud that OBD Earn their accomplishments(along with a few heartbreaks) through a gauntlet of a nine game conference schedule, bloody noses and all! GO DUCKS!

Man o man am I grateful and relieved that OBD secured their future by moving and playing in one of the two "bigdog" conferences. Maybe, for the next few years, the BIG12 and ACC may field some competitive teams into the playoffs but the revenue disparity will eventually catch up to them and the talent shift will definitely lie with the Power2. If Oregon can sustain it's level of coaching and competition and finish in the top three or four in the B1G, we should be able to "count on" a playoff position each and every year. Advantage Oregon, and any other teams playing in the power 2. Go Ducks!

Having, literally, a World Class Track & Field facility. A University that has invested, heavily in its Athletic Department. A Donor base maybe only rivaled with Big Oil money in the southwest universities. On campus sporting resources rivaling most. There should be No Reason that our Track & Field, in most all events and disciplines, not being a top 3 program, year in and year out, competing annually for conference and national championships. Can't wait for the program to get there again! TrackTown USA, Babe!

RedHot, Five Alarm Fire, Habanero/Carolina Reaper Fanny Hot Right now. I honestly believe he will not be coaching the Ducks Women's BB in the B1G next year. Dana has earned another year or two before his fanny starts to warm (consistent 20 win seasons will do that for ya) but going into the B1G he better be able to return to form or.... buttocks. Going to be an interesting couple years for Ducks Basketball, men and women's, and the direction they will be going.

I surely hope that the UofO and the city of Eugene (and to a smaller extent the State) realize the opportunity being presented here to create a long-term, sustainable, economic and cultural centric zone by viewing the Autzen complex, Alton Baker/Cuthbert, Riverfront Project, etc., all moving in unison towards this goal in mind. If they Work Together then within a decade we could have an active and vibrant area that not only would be a Great place for visiting sports fans and general tourists to spend their "travelin' money" at, but a place for the locals to frequent and a source of pride for Eugenians. I know that the "hoops and hurdles" needing to make this happen are....daunting, and I am not the only one that would like to see this entire area repurposed in such a way. That is even before we start talking cost! (100's of Millions? Maybe more than a Billion?!) and where does that all come from. But the long-term benefits would far surpass any cost and redtape, associated with the developement. City planners already appear to be moving cautiously in this direction but need to buckle down and, by committee or otherwise, create a comprehensive plan with all parties involved, attack any redtape stalling or slowing the process, find or "create" the financings required and get this done! Won't be easy but strike Now while the iron is hot and we will have Riverfront/Alton Baker/Autzen Sports complex to shine as the jewel of our community. Ok...now back to reality...lol, but here's hoping.

I have always wondered why this "tech" has not become more prevalent in both pros and college. Two-way helment communication, heads-up displays are pricey, but not so cutting edge as to not be attainable. I always assumed it was because of interpretation of the "rules of the game" placed it in the realm of sign stealing and illegal filming of opponents practices and such. IE: an unfair competitive advantage. It should be fun and increase the level of communication thus level of competition as this new tech gets incorporated into the game we all love. Go "Digital" DUCKS!

With all the flack the NCAA has received over the years people tend to forget their PRIMARY mission was always to promote, as fairly AND equally as they possibly could, the Student Athlete in ALL sports, and was always more focused on the Student aspect of that mission. Massive television contracts, seven figure coaching salaries, paying players as employees, a select few college sports being viewed more as professionals than amateurs, trying to satisfy all the college chancellors and athletic directors who all had different views of "amateur" athletics; doomed the effectiveness of the NCAA. Essentially "money" did an end run through and around their restrictions and here we are in this chaos today. Granted the NCAA could have evolved their positions but having the responsibilities of ALL college athletics, it was going to happen way slower than the "money merchants" of the high profile sports, were willing to wait for. So they now have NO real power or control, and people Not concerned about the student part of College athletics will continue to "tap" into the huge amounts of money that was previously kept at bay through the moniker of amateur athletics. So the "cat is out of the bag". NCAA college athletics is no longer an even playing field. Reminds me of the Olympic athletes back in the 80's through the early 90's. We were constantly reminded how the "American Athlete" competing was an amateur. Training as an amateur before and after work, school, or both. Sacrificed living conditions, social interactions, lived in "student poverty", and was presented as making these sacrifices to be the best in the world. This was held up as a reflection of the USA doing amateur athletics the "honorable" way vs. the "amatuer-professionals" of the eastern block athletes. We, here, now, are doing the same with our student "amateur" athletes. So much for equity in all of college sports. Basically until the sports cultural shift in the mid nineties the NCAA was a relevant organization and actually did their jobs as was required. Caused a lot of butthurt people who saw the restrictions as a deterrent to "growth" in both exposure and potential revenue generation and they took all the "legal" steps to get what they wanted, over what had been the acceptable status quo. The overall effects and reprecussions will not be known, or even realized, for many many years to come. NCAA was a regulating body that did not evolve with the warning signs that arose and has led to a significantly weaker entity. My experience and learning has shown that Any large-scale human endeavour NEEDS some sort of regulation and control or that said endeavor will most likely empower a few over the many. We are currently at that point now, and what if any regulating and control will arise from the turmoil will remain to be seen. (Bet it ends up in Congress or Sup. Crt in the next few years.) Point is that the line is now forever blurred between amateur and professional and is only going to get more convoluted. This makes the NCAA a nonviable organization for it was not created with this "blur" in mind. Will this lead to a better world in college athletics? Guess only time will tell. However I see more issues than not. (Even if they are "backburnered" as to not reflect poorly on the changes happening). Go Oregon Athletics.

Wow. Very close to a "complete" game. Again as inconsistent as this team has been to the negative, this was one game that it slanted towards the positive. Ball movement, defense, FG and FT percentage, communication, were all on display. Seem to finally realize that you don't have to try to get it to Dante inside, on every single offensive series. Thus opened up the floor for driving lanes and open shots. Best game of "played" basketball since the second half against Ariz St. I had really hoped this was what we would have seen out of this team through the month of February, establishing themselves as a contender in the PAC and for the tourney; yet they have gone 5-5 over the past ten games. If they can lock down their "consistency's", towards the positive over their last 5 games, then they may not need to win the PAC12 tourney (although why not go out as the last Tourney Champion) to secure a spot in "The Dance". Plus twenty wins and single digit losses by selection Sunday will do it. At least play like you did last night for us fans, cause it was damn entertaining! Go Ducks !

"If you haven't failed at something today you ain't getting better". DL The importance of this message it paramount. Most of these young boystomen have been so talented and elite that failure is often, rarely experienced and viewed negatively. Especially growing up in a society that places "winning and success" above all else. To have them come to understand that there is actual value, both personally and physically, in failure that it becomes just another "tool" to achieve the goals you have set for yourself. Not something to fear. These are the nuances of "life" that DL seems to have an insight on and attracts staff and players who understand learning under him will make them better. I am LOVING getting to know Dan Lanning and company through the A/V work that is giving us these glimpses into the building of this program. GO DUCKS!