Oregon Ducks
Pac-12 (23-12, 10-8)
Oregon was extremely inconsistent during much of the 2018-2019 campaign. The injury to super recruit Bol Bol after just nine games certainly put the team on the back foot for a big chunk of the season. But after losing at UCLA on February 23rd, the Ducks have been the best team in the Pac-12. Since that game they have won eight straight contests, including two victories over both Arizona State and Washington.
Big Wins: 11/16 vs Syracuse (80-65), 3/19 at Washington (55-47), 3/15 vs Arizona State (79-75)
Bad Losses: 11/26 Texas Southern (84-89), 1/5 Oregon State (72-77), 2/21 at USC (49-66)
Coach: Dana Altman
Why They Can Surprise:
Oregon has played great defense during their late season surge. On the year the Ducks allow just 63.7 points per game and they have shut down some decent offenses over the last month. Kenny Wooten has turned into the shot blocking threat in the paint, averaging 2.0 per game on top his 6.2 points and 4.6 rebounds. Coach Dana Altman often starts four 6-9 forwards and that can be very difficult for any offense to maneuver against. Louis King and Paul White are the big men who have the athleticism to defend perimeter players. King and White are also decent outside shooters. The most prolific shooter on the team is Payton Pritchard, the only guard in the starting five. The point guard averages 12.7 points per game and is a superb leader on the floor.
Why They Can Disappoint:
Oregon can struggle offensively. Pritchard does a good job of getting his teammates involved, but his teammates are not always consistent. If the defense remains strong, this group will still be in the game, but sooner or later they are going to have to make a little offensive spurt in the NCAA Tournament in order to stay in the game. If they cannot do that, it will be a disappointingly short trip for a team that entered the 2018-2019 campaign with such high expectations.
Probable Starters:
Payton Pritchard, Junior, Guard, 12.7 ppg, 4.5 apg, 1.9 spg
Louis King, Freshman, Forward, 13.1 ppg, 5.7 rpg
Paul White, Senior, Forward, 10.6 ppg, 3.9 rpg
Kenny Wooten, Sophomore, Forward, 6.2 ppg, 4.6 rpg, 2.0 bpg
Francis Okoro, Freshman, Forward, 3.1 ppg, 3.4 rpg
Key Role Players:
Will Richardson, Freshman, Guard, 6.2 ppg, 2.5 apg
Ehab Amin, Senior, Guard, 5.8 ppg, 1.2 apg
Victor Bailey, Sophomore, Guard, 7.7 ppg, 1.0 apg
By the Numbers:
Scoring Offense: 70.0 (250th in nation, 11th in conference)
Scoring Defense: 63.7 (20, 1)
Field-Goal Percentage: 44.8 (159, 9)
Field-Goal Defense: 40.9 (40, 1)
Three-Point Field Goals Per Game: 7.6 (190, 5)
Three-Point Field-Goal Percentage: 34.1 (202, 7)
Free-Throw Percentage: 71.5 (147, 6)
Rebound Margin: 1.5 (136, 7)
Assists Per Game: 13.5 (168, 8)
Turnovers Per Game: 11.8 (75, 3)
Recent Postseason Appearances:
| 2018 | NIT | First Round win over Rider |
| 2018 | NIT | Second Round loss to Marquette |
| 2017 | NCAA | Round of 64 win over Iona |
| 2017 | NCAA | Round of 32 win over Rhode Island |
| 2017 | NCAA | Regional Semifinal win over Michigan |
| 2017 | NCAA | Regional Final win over Kansas |
| 2017 | NCAA | National Semifinal loss to North Carolina |
| 2016 | NCAA | Round of 64 win over Holy Cross |
| 2016 | NCAA | Round of 32 win over Saint Joseph's |
| 2016 | NCAA | Regional Semifinal win over Duke |
| 2016 | NCAA | Regional Final loss to Oklahoma |
| 2015 | NCAA | Round of 64 win over Oklahoma State |
| 2015 | NCAA | Round of 32 loss to Wisconsin |
| 2014 | NCAA | Round of 64 win over BYU |
| 2014 | NCAA | Round of 32 loss to Wisconsin |
| 2013 | NCAA | Round of 64 win over Oklahoma State |
| 2013 | NCAA | Round of 32 win over St. Louis |
| 2013 | NCAA | Regional Semifinal loss to Louisville |
| 2012 | NIT | First Round win over LSU |
| 2012 | NIT | Second Round win over Iowa |
| 2012 | NIT | Quarterfinal loss to Washington |
| 2011 | CBI | First Round win over Weber State |
| 2011 | CBI | Second Round win over Duquesne |
| 2011 | CBI | Semifinal win over Boise State |
| 2011 | CBI | Final loss to Creighton |
| 2008 | NCAA | Round of 64 loss to Mississippi State |
| 2007 | NCAA | Round of 64 win over Miami-Ohio |
| 2007 | NCAA | Round of 32 win over Winthrop |
| 2007 | NCAA | Regional Semifinal win over UNLV |
| 2007 | NCAA | Regional Final loss to Florida |
| 2004 | NIT | First Round win over Colorado |
| 2004 | NIT | Second Round win over George Mason |
| 2004 | NIT | Quarterfinal win over Notre Dame |
| 2004 | NIT | Semifinal loss to Michigan |
| 2003 | NCAA | Round of 64 loss to Utah |
*all team stats through 3/10
