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...........

The reason I feel lucky that OBD won the game is because both teams played great. Both teams had self-inflicted mistakes (coaching and playing). Both teams had good and bad luck things happen to them (the interception that wasn't). We had a good neighborhood crowd in our tavern tonight. That might have meant there were twelve of us if you take into account today's crowd size bragging strategies. Someone said, with too much time on the clock for my comfort, "Maybe they'll make a mistake and the time will run out." My brain thankfully asked me not to call my good friend an idiot for their wishful thinking. Lo and behold that's exactly what happened. They had certainly been within field goal attempt range. But I don't mind throwing out all the luck stuff. That's hocus pocus, right? The amount of incredible play is what sticks out. What was laid out all over the field. By both teams. On the other hand, there's three things I've always felt had to happen for championship teams: Stellar play. Not being decimated by injuries, and.............well, a little luck.

Todd Blackledge has always been biased against the Ducks. He played for one of the "real" blue bloods (Penn St.). He's always considered Oregon, "New money". I wasn't very happy when the game started and he was "commentating". There's obviously a reason that he's not on ABC anymore. I can't believe it's because anyone else wants to hear him. He's as big a hack as Gary Danielson.

Darn!! Forgot about the part where I thought that in this crazy world we live in there has never been a better time to have benefactor such that as Uncle Phil. I might have one more point as well, but as I mentioned before I've been drinking. Basically, since that double OT loss to Creighton. Not only because I thought we would've had a decent chance against Tennessee (Texas bothered me), but who the heck wouldn't want to see Dante against that Purdue guy? Ok, that's it. I'm going to beddy bye........

It's been a hard divorce. Don't remember the movie much but it's been a Kramer v. Kramer. Once all intentions were announced, entrenchments were made and no one has moved. It's WWl all over again. But, whatyougonna do? Fuggetaboutit! Just trying to get all the dialects down amongst our now, nation-length conference brethren......... Seriously, we could've ended up a "trailer trash" custody battle between Fresno and Boise (sorry to use Fresno I actually like them). In the end, everyone involved has done what's best in their own interests. For years, the likes of Florida State were willing to let the Wake Forests of the world ride their coat tails, much like the bark rats and that other one was allowed to in the Pac. Because there was enough money to go around. Now that there's not it's everyone for themselves. Like all divorces we will now mostly co-habitat with our new step-brothers and sisters. At certain "holiday events" (March Madness and other celebrations) we will awkwardly interact with our exes, while maintaining complete decorum. After all, We're amongst the upper crust. We ain't "trailer trash". (disclaimer: This post is made with the utmost cynical humility possible. And even if it ain't, I may have been drinking at the time.)

I was rooting hard for Oakland. Potential Cinderellas dropped like flies today. We'll have to see if anyone wants to wear the glass slipper tomorrow.

Now is not the time for any season or career long evaluation of this team or it's players. To the Ducks credit they played two games very much in the moment and that's exactly what we asked them to do. Unfortunately, you can't beat a team like Creighton with one play and without Shelstead that's what we were down to. Once Creighton started to double team Couisnard and Dante had to handle the ball in the middle of the court things became disrupted. And we just had no counter for it. It's unfortunate that we had no production from others. Evans looked like a freshman. I would have liked to see Grigsby take some shots if only to loosen things up a bit and possibly get Dante some offensive boards. Although Dante did clean up some Couisnard misses. No one can question this team's heart. If couisnard's last shot falls we get some rest and get to do it all over again. I was super unhappy to see overtime and knew we were gassed for the double. And then Creighton attacked. We started to have slumped shoulders and dejected looks. For the most part Dana's plan worked. They're a high tempo, fast, high scoring team. And until overtime it was exactly the mid to lower scoring game that we needed. Unfortunately, we haven't won too many games where they score 80+ It was obvious that the tournament would be taxing for us. Our lack of depth was always going to be a problem. It's what killed us in this game. I'm going to miss N'faly Dante very much. When healthy and able to play he is a legendary Oregon player. The last two seasons he became my favorite big man since Arselan Kazemi (who was only our center because we didn't have a true BIG man. But boy could he play!) Dante was that true center that was our achilles heel for so many years. More than anything in this game I didn't want the Ducks to get blown out. You don't ever want the other team to be able to say, "See, you should have stayed here." Creighton's arena seats 17,000 and it's usually fuller and louder than MKA. I know Dana's been frustrated at times with the lack of crowd in Eugene. But I've really paid attention to crowd size in the non-Oregon games I've watched this season. It's not just a Eugene thing. Sure, there's a few places that have a big, loud crowd no matter what. But for the most part the MKA audience hasn't been an embarrassment in any way.

Oh come on! It's not like all the other games are against Furman..........Oh wait, all the other games are against "Furman".........Crap! But they are willing to play games against, say, Tulsa............You know, as long as the games are in Tuscaloosa...........

On the one hand, it mostly seems like this is basically just what Altman is capable of. And the magic comes when what he is capable of meets what his team is capable of. On the other, I'm just the biggest Dana Altman homer I know. He was my plan A when he was Oregon's plan D or F, or something. Izzo? The guy was born in northern Michigan, played at Northen Michigan and has been the coach at Michigan State since Noah was building a boat. Ok, only since '95. But I'm of an age that I think it was yesterday, instead of almost 30 years ago. But we were willing to give the guy our first born, the sun, the moon? I don't know. I do know that I think Uncle Phil wanted him pretty badly. Who else was on the short list? Kruger? I don't know. I can't remember. I've had a couple of cocktails this evening. But after firing Ernie Kent (who was awsome in his time) the Ducks seemed to need a "big name". As an aside, the best coaching job I've ever seen on the Oregon sideline belongs to Jerry Green against UCLA my first year. The Ducks had no business playing against a team like UCLA, but Green used time outs to strategically stop all Bruin runs and won the game by a point or two as I sat in the second section instead of the student section (I don't know why). Basically, I spent the final minute praying that the Pit didn't implode on top of me. But I digress.......... I just remember seeing Dana at the bottom of the "possibles". But I DEFINITELY knew about Creighton. I had seen them play. I knew they were kind of the Gonzaga of the mid-west. I'd like to expound more, but I need to go to bed. All I'm gonna say before I do is that if Dana Altman isn't inducted to the the next hall of fame ballot is that it's a conspiracy. The NFL is fixed. Rock 'n Roll, hall of fame, all of it is fixed. This man is as good as a basketball coach gets. You heard him last year. If he's not good enough for us he'll go somewhere else. He'll coach JC basketball if he has to. Somewhere out there are the "gym rats" that he needs to put together a winning team. Name me greater coaches in Oregon history............

Over the last two months I've already found myself more interested in B1G games as opposed to Pac games that didn't include OBD.

I said it before on another thread and I'll say it again. The committee seems to like "drama". Or at least, trying to create games that garner extra interest. How else could Dana Altman potentially face his former team, Creighton? Or Rick Barnes (Tennessee) face Texas? I'm not for conspiracy theories. Unlike some people out there, I don't think the NFL is fixed. But, there are too many discrepancies in the seedings to think that committee hasn't given some thought as to what would create the most interesting match-ups. It's also easy to go through the seedings throughout the last several (you decide how many) tournaments and see how the committee has manipulated the pairings to create good match-ups. Th (e beauty of it all, for the committee, is that the metrics give them wide latitude to decide what to do. Metrics (as in football) are so close that a tenth of a percent might mean the difference between being 10th in the country and being 32nd in any given category. Sure, Rick Pitino had a gripe, "We beat so and so". And then you could use metrics (and of course record, meaning bad losses) to shoot him down. Maybe the Ducks "stole" St. John's bid. Or any of the other four teams that weren't "supposed" to win their tournaments. But, the one undeniable thing about this year's March is that it's already had PLENTY of madness. Virginia scored 14 points in the first half of their game tonight. 14 POINTS!! And the committee had them a 10 seed (granted a play-in). WHOOPS!!! As for the Ducks in this tournament I'm hoping for: 1. No games that are total "stinkers". We all know what those look like. 2. No foul trouble for N'faly Dante especially in critical times. His maturity has been evident the last couple of game when he could have go into foul trouble, but managed not to. Also, it's imperative that he stay healthy. 3. Decent shooting percentages. See #1 above. 4. Jackson Shelstead to go off. I think the number one key for the Ducks will be how Shelstead conducts himself during the games. I've been dogging him all year because he has reminded me more of Will Richardson than Peyton Pritchard in the losses. I know people have thought that unfair. But, there are times when the point guard MUST be able to do certain things to ensure a win. Freshman or not, Shelstead certainly has the tools to will his team to a win. I want to see him do it. My dream scenario involves an eventual game against Purdue (provided they make it that far). Gee, wouldn't that announce our arrival to B1G basketball.