SmithRiverDuck

Much was made today as two coaching legends met on the court. John Calipari's Razorbacks outlasting Pitino's whatever the hell St. John's nickname is. These two verifiable top notch coaches are contemporaries of one, Dana Altman. On the all-time wins list Calipari ranks #23. Dana Altman #42. Rick Pitino #54. Two of these coaches have been at some of the blue-bloodiest basketball programs in the country and have won national championships. One has toiled at the likes of Kansas State, Creighton and Oregon. Two of these coaches have been run off from their pinnacle programs for being mercenaries running win at any cost outfits. I won't detail the transgressions of the two coaches that led to their downfalls at their respective schools. That is widely reported and detailed. You could legitimately make an argument the Altman hasn't had the same temptations or been in the same win or die situations that the other two coaches have. I'll acknowledge that. But I will argue that Altman has stayed true to his convictions of doing things the right way regardless of the wins and losses. I'll also acknowledge that he tried the one and done recipe of Calipari and realized it wasn't the way to go because you can't gel in March with those players. In the end, I still believe that Altman is one of the finest coaches in the country and any calls for him to step aside because he doesn't "have it anymore" are misguided.

Was hoping to get to 100 and keep them under 50. Not at the beginning, just as the game got out of hand. On the bright side, we have a new mortal enemy in Liberty (See Fiesta bowl). I didn't realize Ritchie McKay was their coach and couldn't remember why I remembered the name Ritchie McKay. Oh yeah, didn't do so well at OSewe. Great game by the Ducks. I hope they play as well on Sunday.

So a sweet 16 matchup with Duke? Am I a jerk if I hope the Flagg kid rolls his ankle one more time in about 10 days?

It'll be interesting to see what the women can do. I haven't looked at the bracket to see what would happen with a win. The ESPN ticker a little while ago said our BPI (I don't pretend to know what this is) chance of reaching round of 32 (beating Vandy) was 26%. Here's hoping the lady Ducks beat the odds!

Hmmm, first loss after a seven-game winning streak. Now all we need is a six-game winning streak to finish out. I'd also happily take a five or four game winning streak. And these guys can do it.

Well, here's a crazy thought (and I've thought this for a couple of games now). The Ducks need a loss. I believe that for the Ducks to make their deepest possible run in the NCAA Tournament they'll need to lose once before it starts. So, tonight I decided that the best loss they could have before it starts is a loss in the B1G championship game. Of course, I don't want OBD to ever lose. But that reality doesn't exist. The only other choice would be a loss to the dirty Dawgs this weekend. A B1G tournament championship with a loss to Ewe Dub is palpable, but I don't know if it's preferable. Tough choice there. Obviously, the season ends on the highest note with the Ducks playing in the biggest tournament game possible. Earlier this season, after big wins against Alabama and A&M there was talk about a potential final four appearance. Then after five straight losses there was talk about potentially missing the tournament altogether. I guess what I'm saying is I don't believe in a 16 or whatever winning streak to end the season. But I can certainly believe in a six or eight game streak to end the season.

I've said it before. I'll say it again. Dana Altman is one of the top basketball coaches in the country. The only reason he's not already in the hall of fame is because the guys that have done what he has done coached at powerhouses. He's been at Creighton and Oregon. The guys on the floor aren't doing it like he's coached them. That's why he says it's up to them to figure it out. He ALWAYS takes responsibility for losses, saying the team wasn't coached good enough. He never throws his players under the bus, a la Cronin. Although, FUCLA is currently tearing it up, so what do I know? I do feel like Altman has been let down by his players for a few years. Although, he did choose them. Frank Kepnang's presence is sorely missed I believe and would have made a difference. I'd gladly trade Evans and Cook to get Frank back. When the Ducks were beating the likes of Alabama and A&M, people were commenting that Shelstead was far past Prichard at their common states of development. I disagreed with that then and I strongly disagree now. I don't believe Shelstead will EVER be the winner and leader that Pritchard is. Shelstead is Richardson with more energy. I don't foresee the Ducks having much success until he's gone, unfortunately. I'm kinda hoping they got Jeff Bassa to lead the players only meeting the other day as I don't see anyone on the basketball team that could have done it. They don't have a leader. Maybe that's the problem.

And for some strange reason, my mind immediately went, "Holy crap! Art Schlichter?!" It wasn't. It was J.T. Barrett, whom I barely remember. So I would have a hard time with the whole "legend" thing.

I would think that PSU (eastern version) is using plenty of the film from the game against the redheaded cheese heads. It's true that Wisconsin had an excellent defensive game plan. But being the eighth game, as has been discussed above, and having the SECOND most intimidating crowd in the B1G also played a large roll in that game. Luckily, we jumped around and I don't think it'll be as helpful as PU State thinks. Speaking of jumping around. Can the Ducks vs Them video series win an Emmy? Oscar? Something? They are so awesome! Absolute marketing gold! Here's how effective they are: The theme for the Michigan game was Gladiator with the thumbs down sign being prevalent. Fast forward to the video of the Wisconsin game while we are losing, and a lot of their crowd are doing the thumbs down sign. It ain't just us Ducks watching these videos!

Huh. He must have watched Mario choke a, I mean, coach a game.

Lanning: Hey Coach. I called for some advice. What do you think about me taking an NFL job. Saban: Oh Dan. Don't do it. You have it better right now than you would ever have it in the NFL.

He ought to hire Charlie Weiss as OC. That way they can also have a decided schematic advantage.

The two most dominating looking teams right now are Oregon and Georgia, only when they play Alabama.

1. We got pushed around for at least the first quarter and really, most of the first half. 2. I've never coached football. As Sgt. Schultz would say, "I know nothink!" But I would've gone for it on the longer 4th down attempt. A chance to stretch the field and you're on their side of the 50. And I would've kicked the field goal on the short attempt to make OSUSUC (that's my new akronym) have to score a touchdown at the end. 3. There was championship play by both teams. 4. Both Chip Kelly, Will Stein and every OC in the country seem to like to run it up the middle at really inopportune times. I think it's mostly to set up the next play. But, too often the next play is EXACTLY what the opposing team is expecting. 5. "I know NOTHINK!" 6. I say two nasty defenses tonight. Oregon's defense has been nasty since almost day one. It was my first experience with, "That school slightly south's) defense tonight. Nasty/salty.........You know what I'm sayin'. 7. Speaking of defense: DJ should have considered it. It's OBVIOUSLY the Ugaleilei's strongpoint. 7a: That was an interception. 7b: The rip-away fumble was mind blowing. It made me think that I can't believe we won that game without Burch. But we did. 7c: Ya know, the "royal" we. 8. This is a defensive team that has enough stars on offense to overcome other defensive teams. 9. Defenses win championships. This old cliche is nonetheless true. During the dominant SEC run it has been been true and is apparently true in this year's B1G. One stat I noticed today was Oregon's 17.something PPG was 9th (NINTH!!!) in the B1G. As bigly as our offense needs to be in the second half of the season, our defense has to be bigglier. 10. Ryan Day (who apparently pees sitting down according to Game Day signs) made the last mistake. Personally, I'd assign 50% of that blame to the OSU quarterback, but: Stellar, championship, awesome play by both sides of the ball by each teams. Easily the best two teams in the B1G this season. 11. As the celebratory inebriation takes over, this final thought: Game Day from Eugene is the best. I didn't rise till 7am and missed the Duck's "Fly" entrance during the 6am hour. But from 7am and the Sauphia Lanning cancer story through Kaitlin Olson picks recalling having her fake ID taken at Renny's and losing her virginity here, "Sorry dad." And the "oafy" (spot on, by the way) McAfee ripping off his shirt and leading the crowd in a rendition of Shout. The greatest Game Day Episode ever! Dang, I forgot to mention the seafood and the po'boys! The po'boys got Saban interested and I'm sure he's seen the best po'boys! IT'S A GREAT DAY TO BE A DUCK!!

But didn't kick one that would have made the Nuts score a touchdown at the end instead of being able to get a FG and made my angina throught the roof. But yeah, I'm nitpicking at this point. Monday morning quarterbacking. Hind-sighting. And, frankly, a bit drinky at this point...........