The Oregon men’s basketball team is headed to this year’s NCAA tournament – at least according to Joseph Young. If the Ducks do, it will be the first time in program history that they’ve made it three consecutive years.
He made the following guarantee at Tuesday’s practice: “We’re making the tournament. I just want to get that out right now.”
Dana Altman on the other hand, wasn’t quite ready play along with his leading scorer.
Altman joked: “You talking conference tournament? I think we’re guaranteed that. That’s young and foolish. But I like his enthusiasm.”
With five games remaining and an all-important date with Utah on February 22, the Ducks are in a do-or-die postseason situation despite what Young had to say. The Ducks were recently projected as one of the “first four out” teams on CBS Sports’ bracketology – putting them on the ‘bubble’ – but they’ve also been projected to make the tournament by others.
Today’s practice cemented a couple key points: Oregon’s freshmen class, which includes Ahmaad Rorie, Casey Benson, Dillon Brooks and Jordan Bell, are all going to have to play beyond their age in the upcoming Pac-12 tournament and the entire team is going to have to buckle down for these final stretch of games. These were Oregon’s keys to success in the past two years of making the all-important tournament and it’s going to apply once more this season.
“We need them to do certain things here down the stretch,” Altman said about his freshmen. “That freshman class is important to us. They’ve got finish strong like the rest of the team.”
Simply put, the Ducks will be valuing every game hereon out – especially in the conference tournament – approaching them with a one-game-at-a-time mentality.
Team defense will be a focal point.
Young’s comment stood out because it encapsulated his team’s mentality moving forward. Regardless of the uncertainty and odds stacked against them at the moment – they have a current RPI standing of 62 and 8-5 record in Pac-12 play – the Ducks are fully aware that there is an NCAA tournament bid on the line. They also know the amount of work that it’s going to take to put themselves in the best possible position.
With Colorado coming to town tomorrow night, the Ducks will have that opportunity to help make their case. They’ll also have an opportunity to help keep Young’s guarantee in tact, at least for the time being.
Oregon hasn’t played Colorado since their 100-91 loss in January last season.
Follow Hayden Kim on Twitter @HayDayKim