Posted March 20, 20241 yr Administrator When Dana Altman scratches his head and gives that little rueful smile of his it means he’s just as confused as the rest of us. And there was a lot of head scratching going on last weekend, like when I pulled Mr. FishDuck away from his fun at minimum deposit casino to share in our amazement of Our Beloved Ducks. ... Dana and His Ducks: What Just Happened? | FishDuck FISHDUCK.COM When Dana Altman scratches his head and gives that little rueful smile of his it means he’s just as confused as the rest of us. And there was a lot of head… Two Sites: FishDuck and the Our Beloved Ducks forum, The only "Forum with Decorum!" And All-Volunteer? What a wonderful community of Duck fans!
March 20, 20241 yr Administrator So fun to see another article from Duckster! Just in time for the NCAA Tournament... Mr. FishDuck
March 20, 20241 yr Great take and fine article, Duckster. Thank you. I do have one tiny issue with it, though. Dante "(remarkably) injury free"? Naw, the man is playing giant man basketball through lots of pain ... from his leg to his back. But, also, you're sure right about him. He, more than anyone on the team, has turned it on. Big man and a big reason the Ducks are surprising us all this month.
March 20, 20241 yr Moderator Thanks for the article. March Madness describes this team. Seems like Dana in tied for 11th among active players with NCAA wins. The article says 12 alone, but my way of thinking is that is he as the same as the two coaches ahead of him, then he is tied with them. NCAA Tournament: Ranking active coaches with most March Madness wins 247SPORTS.COM Many of college basketball's greatest coaches will appear in this week's NCAA Tournament.
March 20, 20241 yr Moderator Thanks, Duckster. And thanks also for posting the earlier article on Dana. Both are a most enjoyable read. 'House money' defines it perfectly. Now, how long can Puddles stay at the table? South Cackalacky played well in a deep conference. But was it good and deep or just deep? The Tournament will be the tell. In another post, Charles posted a comment showing Oregon State declined an NIT bid. Huh? One run a few years back that led to far too much sugar being poured on the Beavers coach means you don't take advantage of a chance to improve? I also was not happy about seeing UCLA, USC, and UW telling the NIT to get lost when Ohio State, Iowa, and Minnesota all accepted their invitation. Not a good look IMO for 3 of the 4 newbies. Thanks again. Pluck the Gamecocks!
March 20, 20241 yr It is almost like Altman must start every season just saying you might want to try this way of playing, in a very low voice to his players. The players don't listen, and he allows them to fail, trying their way. By the end of the season he says we must do this, the same thing he said earlier, in a more stern voice. Llike clockwork the players listen, because they know what they have been doing hasn't worked. The problem is he must be saying you have to make your free throws, but they don't listen and that takes practice, and a longterm commitment. Teams that don't shoot well from the charity line seldom go far in the NCAA. It was amazing they could miss late in the Pac-12 and still win. This team must know how to shoot free throws along, with shooting from behind the arc. If they miraculously start doing just that, who knows how far this group could go. The indicator will be the free throw line and three point percentage. If they shoot just 70% from the charity line and 12% from behind the arc like they did in the championship game against Colorado, tournament teams will destroy them. Our Ducks have to at least shoot like they did against Arizona. 80% from the free throw line, clutch at the end, and at least the 30% on threes as they did against the cats. My take, they start making threes and making clutch free throws. They are living the dream now, and in every kids dream they make those shots!
March 20, 20241 yr 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. 👍
March 20, 20241 yr Administrator If there was ever a team that could benefit from getting hot shooting the three-ball for another three games... Mr. FishDuck
March 20, 20241 yr Moderator An Honorable Mention for Dana. Which coaches historically out-perform expectations during the NCAA Tournament? SATURDAYTRADITION.COM A few college basketball coaches stand out amongst their peers when it comes to performance in the NCAA Tournament.
March 20, 20241 yr Thanks to all for the replies. Having Dante relatively healthy for a few games in a row is obviously essential for this team to compete. But in my mind the key to this game will be Couisnard. If he sets the tone defensively, rebounds and brings his intensity/ hustle on every possession the rest of the team will follow his lead. If he reverts to hero ball, hunts shots and tries to be an offensive force the Ducks are doomed. Can a leopard change his spots?
March 20, 20241 yr And it is my fervent hope that KJ takes no shot longer than 2 feet. But he's an adequate driver and should go that route against USC. GO DUCKS! 🦆 Rip the wings off those fighting roosters. 🤨
March 20, 20241 yr On 3/20/2024 at 5:00 PM, Duckster said: Thanks to all for the replies. Having Dante relatively healthy for a few games in a row is obviously essential for this team to compete. But in my mind the key to this game will be Couisnard. If he sets the tone defensively, rebounds and brings his intensity/ hustle on every possession the rest of the team will follow his lead. If he reverts to hero ball, hunts shots and tries to be an offensive force the Ducks are doomed. Can a leopard change his spots? Seams to me that Couisnard tries to be the it guy when the team is lagging and he has done that several time this year. The problem is that when it doesn't work out and no one else steps up he just keeps trying to score instead of creating for others. personally I think the key is Couisnard making the Three ball. When he's on it really forces the D to come out on him leaving more space for the others to operate. When Shelstad is operating at a high level this team is just about unstoppable. His pull up jumper is really hard to stop, his depth from 3 is huge and with his quickens to the rim a great creator off the dribble. Both these guys have been hot and cold in the second half of the season. Let's hope they both start shooting 3's like where earlier in the season. Edited March 20, 20241 yr by Dave23
March 21, 20241 yr Agree Mudslide and Dave 23 ... Shelstad could be the wildcard going forward. Love his overall game and his upside is enormous. Duck's shot selection another key. Focus on an inside - out ball rotation, where Dante or others touch the ball around the paint and kick it back out to the shooter, be it Shelstad or anyone. Guys can then step into their three's, feet set, shoulders squared. Couisnard has to be that facilitator... drive and dish. They can hit those shots! Good comments about free throw shooting Hayward. It's all about focus, repetition and confidence. No excuse for a team with as much talent as the Ducks to shoot below 70% from the line. SCOO Ducks! It's there for the taking ...
March 21, 20241 yr Moderator HIGHLIGHT OF THE DAY 2024 Oregon Men's Basketball - Pac-12 Tournament Championship Game Cinematic Recap
March 21, 20241 yr Moderator I liked it much better when the Ducks were the underdog. Don't want fodder for USC to use against us. 11-seed Ducks now favored over 6-seed Gamecocks in NCAA Tournament matchup NCAA Tournament: Oregon favored in first-round game vs. South Carolina DUCKSWIRE.USATODAY.COM The 11-seed Oregon Ducks are now favored to beat the 6-seed South Carolina Gamecocks in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. Oregon now betting favorites over South Carolina in opening round matchup The 11-seeded Oregon Ducks are now small betting favorites over No. 6 seed South Carolina for Thursday's NCAA Tournament opening round game. Oregon now betting favorites over South Carolina in opening round matchup 247SPORTS.COM The 11-seeded Oregon Ducks are now small betting favorites over No. 6 seed South Carolina for Thursday's NCAA Tournament opening round game.
March 21, 20241 yr On 3/20/2024 at 5:00 PM, Duckster said: But in my mind the key to this game will be Couisnard. If he sets the tone defensively, rebounds and brings his intensity/ hustle on every possession the rest of the team will follow his lead. If he reverts to hero ball, hunts shots and tries to be an offensive force the Ducks are doomed. Great call Cuisinart crushed it.
March 22, 20241 yr In the biggest game of his life, he played the game of a lifetime. Congratulations JC! ...and let's keep it rolling. Scooo' Ducks!
March 22, 20241 yr On 3/21/2024 at 3:36 PM, Dave23 said: Great call Cuisinart crushed it. Eh, that was a mixed prediction at best. The post indicated that Couisnard shouldn't try to hunt shots and be an offensive force. Needless to say, he did and was.
March 22, 20241 yr Hey Pato ... interesting take, since the overarching theme of the article was about a flawed team coalescing in a matter of days (they got waxed by 20 at Arizona only a few weeks ago) into a gritty DA type of Tournament team. Sure Couisnard hunted a few shots, but his overall game (by his standards especially) was pretty measured. Many of his points came off drives to the basket and many of his three's were taken in rhythm with clean looks and shoulders squared. He also rebounded, played hard nosed defense, had 6 assists, forced his way to the free throw line (7 for 7) and had only 1 turnover. Kid played a great game, involved his teammates and was the tone setter. Hopefully it's a sign of more good things to come. Point being, when you post an opinion before the actual event takes place rather than after, the vision is rarely 20-20. Cheers.
March 22, 20241 yr On 3/22/2024 at 8:22 AM, Duckster said: Hey Pato ... interesting take, since the overarching theme of the article was about a flawed team coalescing in a matter of days (they got waxed by 20 at Arizona only a few weeks ago) into a gritty DA type of Tournament team. But hey, whatever works. I didn't even realize you were the one that wrote the article, which goes to show my comments are never personal. I just thought it was funny someone would praise a post for being a "great call" on Couisnard when you were talking about the Ducks being "doomed" if he tries to be an offensive force, rather than simply facilitating everybody else. Obviously, hindsight is always 20-20. He could get those exact same looks next game and go 7-31 from the floor, rather than 19-31, and that likely would doom the Ducks. In this particular game, however, many of the comments turned out to be quite different than what actually took place.
March 22, 20241 yr Administrator Folks...let's just share our opinions, and that is it. Nothing about anyone else and their opinions or I start clicking on buttons. Mr. FishDuck
March 22, 20241 yr Moderator O’Gara: 10 key takeaways from Day 1 of the NCAA Tournament SATURDAYTRADITION.COM The NCAA Tournament never disappoints, and Thursday provided a reminder as to why. Upsets to unlikely stars, Day 1 had it all.
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