**Editor’s Note: Each week during football season, we feature an essay from the opponent’s student newspaper on why Oregon will lose. This week’s edition, however is in a modified form, being that  Roberto Miguel Payne, the sports editor at the The Daily Wildcat, already predicted an Arizona victory when the two met in October. 

In October, Payne wrote, “Which is why Arizona won’t stress out if Mariota goes off.

You let him get his and instead key in on his weapons like Devon Allen and Royce Freeman. Limiting those guys will go a long way to an Arizona win.

You heard it here first: Arizona will upset Oregon 38-35 on a late fourth quarter field goal from UA kicker Casey Skowron on Thursday night. It’ll be the kind of signature, national television win the Wildcats desperately need to make this season memorable.”

With that said, Payne answered a roundtable of questions, offering insight about a team Oregon hasn’t seen for two months now.**

With the women’s basketball season just hours  away, staff reporters Jonathan Hawthorne and Christopher Keizur answered a roundtable of questions, predicting what’s in store for the Ducks under first-year coach Kelly Graves. 

What will be the biggest storyline for the Ducks in 2014-2015?

Keizur: The biggest storyline will be the arrival of head coach Kelly Graves — how could it not be? There is a lot of excitement surrounding the new hire, and the dedicated fans will be interested to see what direction he will take the team. Graves is a proven winner, with a ton of coaching experience. The athletic department is also pushing his relevance, airing a promotional ‘coming to Oregon’ video during games to remind the fans how fantastic he was with Gonzaga. An added bonus is that they play music from Friday Night Lights during the video, drawing comparisons to the greatest leader of all time, coach Taylor. Expect Graves to quickly turn into one of the most popular coaches here at Oregon.

Hawthorne: I agree with Keizur. Kelly Graves has completely changed the program and set a much different tone for his players. While he knows the transition will not come over night, he can expect his team to take a big step forward with regards to success. His engagement with the community is unparalleled—holding Twitter Q/A’s and having a fantasy camp for fans before the season starts. His presence alone will drive attendance numbers up, and expect wins to come along for the ride.

The Ducks were picked ninth in both the coaches and media polls, do you think they will finish better or worse than ninth in the conference?

Keizur: Expect this Duck team to finish somewhere around 8th in the Pac-12. Though expectations are high for Graves, we should not get too hasty. This team is going through the rigors of learning a completely new system, which will take time to perfect. Couple that with the fact that the Pac-12 is one of the strongest conferences for women’s basketball and everything points to a rebuilding year for Oregon. If everything goes as planned, and once Graves gets the chance to bring in some of his recruits, this team should project to be a contender in the conference in the coming years. Patience will be key.

Hawthorne: I think the Ducks have a legitimate shot to finish in the top six in the conference. Though definitely hindered by the departure of Chrishae Rowe, the Ducks have plenty of offensive weapons. There’s no doubt that the coaching staff is top-notch, it will just be a matter of getting everybody on the same page. With Jillian Alleyne’s leadership both on and off the court, the Ducks have a chance to make waves in the women’s basketball community. I think one of the biggest keys will be patience, both on offense and defense. It’s hard to completely change the mentality, but it can be done.

Who will be the breakout player for Kelly Graves and the Ducks this season?

Keizur: The player who will see her impact on the court jump the most will be senior Katelyn Loper. A score-first guard, Loper struggled with shot selection last season, too often settling for deep contested threes. This season things are projected to be different, at least going off what happened in the team’s exhibition victory over Westmont. In the second half of that game Loper began to drive the ball into the lane more, adding variance to her shot selections. That kept the defense on its toes and opened up the court for her. If she continues to transition more into being a scorer, rather than just a high-volume three point shooter, she could very well lead the team in scoring this season.

Hawthorne: I’m going to leapfrog on Jillian Alleyne’s prediction after the exhibition game and say Lexi Petersen. In her second season after an ACL surgery, Petersen is poised to make a big impact. This is her fourth year at Oregon due to a redshirt season and there’s no doubt that her experience will play a large role in the overall success this year. Petersen plays with a very high basketball IQ and understands the game well. She’s well-spoken and the perfect player to take this program to the next level.

It appears to be the last true test Oregon will face this regular season when it meets 20th-ranked Utah at Rice Eccles Stadium Saturday. It’s another clash of opposites as Utah’s physical prowess will try to stop Marcus Mariota and the Ducks. With that, Associate Sports Editors Joseph Hoyt and Hayden Kim answered a roundtable of questions, offering insights and predictions for a matchup that has all the ingredients to be either an upset or Oregon’s fifth consecutive win. 

Utah running back Devontae Booker has bursted on the scene over his last five games. He’s rushed for 811 yards in that span – an average of 162 yards per game. Does he get over, or under 162 yards against the Ducks?

Hoyt: Booker has been a stud for the Utes. He’s become Utah’s offensive bloodline. However, 162 yards against any team in college football is not an easy task. Booker should finish under the mark of 162 against Oregon. It wouldn’t hurt the Ducks defensive cause if Arik Armstead can start and finish the game for Oregon. He left the game against Stanford early and missed two of the last four games before that.

Kim: Devontate Booker is the type of back that the Oregon defense has struggled against in the past. Having said that, recording 162 yards against a defense that recently shut down Stanford to just 16 points may be a stretch. By no means is the Oregon defense fully confident in stopping Booker from achieving this stat, but it won’t be easy.

Utah has one of the best pass rushing duos in college football. Nate Orchard and Hunter Dimick have combined for 21 sacks this season. How many sacks do the Utes finish with against Oregon?

Hoyt: It’s been well-documented how monumental the return of Jake Fisher to the starting lineup has been for the Ducks. Oregon hasn’t avoided injuries on the Oregon offensive line, though. Right tackle Matt Pierson left last weekend’s game against Stanford with a knee injury. Regardless if it’s Pierson, or true freshmen Tyrell Crosby at right tackle, Oregon will have its hands full against Orchard and Dimick. I wouldn’t be surprised to see Utah get three sacks on Ducks quarterback Marcus Mariota.

Kim: I’m going to go with one or two. Since the return of Jake Fisher, the Oregon offensive line has continued to get better and I don’t see them giving up more than two sacks this game. Nate Orchard and Hunter Dimick may be proven, but it’s easier said than done against a mobile quarterback like Marcus Mariota.

Is Saturday’s game against No. 17 Utah a trap game for the Ducks? What’s your prediction for the game?

Hoyt: Post Stanford hangover? Not for Oregon. The Ducks erase their recent November struggles and come out of Rice-Eccles Stadium with a 35-21 victory. Marcus Mariota throws for over 300 yards as the Ducks cruise in the second half to a 14-point win.

Kim: Before the season began, Utah was among my few selective teams that I considered to be sleepers. And since that pick, the Utes have done almost everything they can to prove themselves. Fresh off their first real playoff projection by the committee, this matchup at Utah will be Oregon’s only real trap game of the season and I wouldn’t be surprised to see this game go down to the wire.

**Editor’s Note: Each week during football season, we feature an essay from the opponent’s student newspaper on why Oregon will lose. This week’s edition is from Beau Baily, a football reporter at the Daily Evergreen.**

First of all, you’re welcome.

“Why WSU will beat Oregon.” I bet that gave you a nice laugh. WSU hasn’t won more than six games in a season since 2003. And Oregon, well, you don’t need me to tell you about the recent success the Oregon football program has enjoyed in the last decade or so.

So why do I think the Cougs have a shot to knock off No.2 ranked Oregon this Saturday? I’ll start with an anecdote.

Two years ago, in Mike Leach’s first season, the team inexplicably blew a 14 point fourth quarter lead to one of the worst teams in the conference’s history — Colorado.

After ripping up my student I.D. card and coming within one click away from withdrawing from all my classes, never to step foot in Pullman again, I bet my roommate 100 dollars that we would beat Oregon the following week in Seattle.

At halftime, the Cougars were down just 23-19, with momentum and within striking distance. Now, everyone knows that Oregon went on to win 51-26, but the point is, throughout the last four years, WSU has played Oregon tougher than most.

The last time the Ducks came to Pullman was 2010. Pullman can be a tough place for visitors to play. Teams often must fly to Spokane, take an hour and a half bus ride south through some wheat fields and not much else, and then stay in a hotel 20 minutes outside the city limits.

With a capacity around 38,000, WSU’s Martin Stadium is far from the biggest in the conference—in fact, it’s the smallest. However, it’s one of the loudest when the team is good, and students make up a higher percentage of the crowd than any other school in the conference.

If the game is close, those students will even stay for the second half.

Last year in Eugene, Connor Halliday torched Oregon’s secondary for 557 yards. The Cougars’ offense is going to put up points, and hopefully the defense can force some turnovers like last year to keep the air raid within striking distance.

Since 2010, the Cougars have thrown for more yards, and in the long run scored more points each time they’ve faced Oregon.

Additionally, since 2010, the Ducks have never led the Cougs by more than 12 at the half. This means, that the Cougar players are un-intimidated by what has consistently been one of the best football teams in the nation. In 2011, the Cougars trailed by five points. In 2012, they trailed only four. The next test is putting two halves together.

I also like the matchup between Oregon’s running attack and WSU’s front seven, especially with the potential of four Duck linemen out. Last year, the Cougars sacked Marcus Mariota three times, and forced his first two fumbles of the season.

Finally, the rumor around campus is that the Cougars are going to come out in white helmets. The last time the Cougars wore white helmets The Beatles were still touring. Combine that with a sellout crowd and a late 7:30 start giving the fans plenty of time to tailgate, the Cougars could be the most fired up to play than they’ve been in quite some time.

The story of the WSU vs. Oregon series the last four seasons has been the Cougars playing well for a half and then tailing away in the second, leading to a lopsided score. If this can be the year that the Cougars put two halves together, they win the game and Mike Leach gets his first marquee win in Pullman.

**Editor’s Note: Each week during football season, we feature an essay from the opponent’s student newspaper on why Oregon will lose. This week’s edition is from Matthew Fabian, a football reporter at the the Branding Iron.**

Quack, quack mofos. I hope the Ducks are ready for the Wyoming Cowboys to roll into Eugene on Saturday. Could I get an order of the upset special, PLEASE? Sure, the spread is 43.5 points in the Ducks favor, but throw it out the window! Autzen Stadium will be left stunned after the Cowboys pull out a 28-20 win. Duck fans will return home and smoke their skunk-weed to get over that “toothache” and the pain left by the running back duo Shaun Wick and D.J. May, otherwise known as the “Cowboy Ambush.” Why am I so confident? Here’s why!

1.) Every Oregon football player was suspended for one game after AD Rob Mullens discovered a strange underground ferret fighting club going on in the training facility. The Ducks are now forced to turn to the reigning intramural flag football champions “Boatz-n-Hoes” to play this Saturday. Only kidding, but that would be awesome.

2.) Wyoming has the superior coaching staff. Time to be serious, but it’s true Oregon. Wyoming head coach Craig Bohl is not only coming from three straight FCS National Titles, but he has also completely rebuilt the Cowboy football program. The team seems to have bought in after nine months of working under the coach and the results have shown. Wyoming is 2-0, winning two tight games and remaining mentally tough. Mark Helfrich, prepare to be outcoached!

3.) This is a classic trap-game coming from the best performance of any college football team this season vs. Michigan State, Oregon is going to play uninspired football against the Cowboys. The Ducks will saunter out and expect to win simply by showing up. HA! I remember the last time that happened a little guy named Rocky was fighting the monster Apollo Creed. (Thinking….) CRAP, you’re right Creed did win. But only by decision. Besides I’m sure Rocky won at some point in Rocky II, Rocky III, Rocky IV, Rocky V, Rock… what the hell, how many of those did they make?

4.) Wyoming’s defense is better trained and has the better stamina. Practicing and training at 7220 feet can do wonders just ask the Olympic athletes that train in Colorado Springs at a similar elevation. When Oregon attempts to pick up the pace and run down the Cowboys, it won’t work. Wyoming can keep up even for over 100 plays and Marcus Mariota might be surprised at how quickly the defense can get into the backfield. If Wyoming can sustain pressure all day, there might be a real chance the Cowboys escape Oregon at 3-0.

Also, the Cowboys defense, and offense for that matter, will not beat themselves. Wyoming has committed three penalties in the first two games of the season. THREE. Goes to show how Bohl has cemented his ways in the program. If Oregon plans on winning, they will have to make plays. They can’t rely on the Cowboys breaking down mentally or physically.

If you put a gun to my head, I would probably say that Wyoming won’t even cover the 43.5 point spread. If the Cowboys do win the game, expect Laramie to wipe itself off the map with flowing streets of beer and gun shots going off every .35 seconds.

During Oregon baseball season, our sports staff will discuss various topics surrounding an upcoming series. Today, Emerald associate sports editor Victor Flores and sports reporters Andrew Bantly and Madison Guernsey reflect on Oregon’s regular season and preview the Ducks’ games in the Nashville Regional.

1) Grade Oregon’s regular season and give a reason for that grade?

Flores — A-. The Ducks lost several key players over the offseason, mainly Ryon Healy, Brett Thomas, J.J. Altobelli and Jimmie Sherfy. They also lost starting pitcher Cole Irvin for the entire season, Scott Heineman for almost all 0f it and Matt Krook for half of it. Through all this adversity, Oregon won three less regular season games than last season. The Ducks were able to replace these players with freshman and other unproven players, a sign of good recruiting. The Ducks certainly weren’t perfect but every area was solid. They overachieved.

Bantly — I think the Ducks have exceeded expectations after Heineman, Irvin and Krook all went down, to say nothing of the star players that moved on. I think they deserve a B+ because any higher grade would be for a team that is hosting Regionals. Though they were very close, they still missed the opportunity to play in front of their home fans at PK Park — a place where they won 24 out of 32 games.

Guernsey — B+. Given the injury circumstances, Oregon played well and won most of the games they should have. However, they came up short against better competition such as Cal State Fullerton, Washington and Oregon State. Oregon teams of the past played up to their competition and this year’s Ducks did not. Several young players were forced to fill in for injured and departed veterans, which will benefit the team in the long run, but that was obviously disadvantageous at times this year.

2) Which player surprised you the most, in a good or bad way?

Flores — As much as I want to say Mark Karaviotis or Jeff Gold, it has to be Shaun Chase. The catcher hit .207 last season and split time behind the plate with Jack Kruger and Josh Graham. Now, he owns the catching job and leads the Pac-12 with 12 home runs. Plus, he’s hitting .281 with decent defense. He’s turned into one of Oregon’s best players, a sentence I — like most people — didn’t expect to read when the season began.

Bantly — Entering the season, I asked head coach George Horton a question that was commonly asked the year before: What’s the catching situation going to be like? At the time, Horton said he would give time to the player who had the hot hand, which basically meant they would all share time until Horton saw someone step up. Chase stepped up. Chase has made himself an everyday catcher now, which is something not many colleges have. It wasn’t just his 12 home runs and his .281 average, it was when he hit his home runs and eight doubles. He was possibly the most clutch player on this Oregon team during the regular season.

Guernsey — Without a doubt, Chase. The catcher depth was muddled at the beginning of the season, but at some point something clicked, and Chase elevated himself to the top of the depth chart and became indispensable. Coming into this year, Chase was a career .194 hitter and had more strikeouts than runs, hits and walks combined. Fast forward a few short months and the junior backstop leads the Pac-12 in home runs and is a consistent bat in the middle of Oregon’s lineup.

3) Who has been Oregon’s most valuable player?

Flores — Mitchell Tolman. He’s been the cleanup-hitter all season, with a slash line of .315/.441/.458. He’s also had to move between third base and first after Heineman was lost for the year, and his defense wasn’t bad at either position. He’s Oregon’s best, most consistent hitter and versatile, a trait not even Chase owns.

Bantly — To me, it’s clear: Gold. Without Gold, this team would have tanked. There is absolutely no way Thorpe is able to carry this pitching staff when he can only pitch one game a week, and that’s assuming he wins every game. Gold has been the glue to this pitching staff for a team that is led by, you guessed it, pitching. Gold changed from a midweek starter, who would give this Oregon team five or six solid innings to a weaker team, to a guy who had to be a shut-down Saturday starter.

Guernsey — My vote goes to Tommy Thorpe. Injuries to Irvin and Krook really put the starting pitching rotation in shambles, but Thorpe stepped up and pitched like an ace. He led the pitching staff in innings pitched, strikeouts and ERA (2.20) and was tied for the lead in wins (10). Without Thorpe pitching the way he did, the Ducks would have been out of a lot more ball games and wouldn’t have been such a lock for the postseason. My offensive MVP is Tolman, and my defensive MVP is Karaviotis.

4) How far does Oregon have to go for this season to be deemed successful?

Flores — The Ducks have already had a successful season. Even if they’re horrible in Regionals, they’ve gotten through so much to get here, anything more would be gravy.

Bantly — Oregon’s had a successful season already. The offense really came together this year because up and down this lineup are tough outs. But their realistic expectations were no doubt lowered when Krook went down. That was the final straw. Earlier in the season, I would have said it wouldn’t be a successful season if the Ducks didn’t go to Omaha and I’m sure Horton and the players would agree with me. But now, it just doesn’t seem realistic.

Guernsey — Super Regionals. Sure, Oregon’s season is already successful in terms of total wins and making the postseason, but weren’t they expected to do those things anyway? The Ducks also lost three more games than last season and underachieved against Pac-12 foes. The Ducks still have the talent to play deep into the postseason even given the injuries, but it will really depend how much heart this team shows.

5) How will the Ducks fare in Regionals?

Flores — The Ducks will play Vanderbilt — the top seed in the Nashville Regional — with a chance to advance to Super Regionals, but they’ll fall short. The Ducks are too banged up and Vanderbilt is too good.

Bantly — The Ducks take Vanderbilt to the finals but fall and fly back to Eugene. Their pitching staff is just too wounded to beat a team like Vanderbilt multiple times — which is what they would need to do.

Guernsey — Oregon drew a tough Regional, pooled with Vanderbilt, Clemson and Xavier. The only sure thing Oregon has in terms of starting pitching is Thorpe, as Gold and Brando Tessar have been sub-par lately, Tessar to the point that Horton may remove him from a starting role. I think Oregon loses its first game to Clemson, then beats Xavier to draw Clemson again. The Ducks beat Clemson to force a deciding game with Vanderbilt and fall short.

Follow Victor Flores on Twitter @vflores415
Follow Andrew Bantly on Twitter @abant3
Follow Madison Guernsey on Twitter @guernseymd

During Oregon softball season, our sports staff will discuss various topics surrounding an upcoming series. Today, Emerald sports reporters Hayden Kim, Ryan Kostecka and Jonathan Hawthorne discuss Oregon’s Super Regionals sweep of Minnesota and look ahead to the Women’s College World Series. The No. 1-seeded Ducks will play No. 8 seed Florida State Thursday at 11:30 a.m. PST.

1) What is one positive and one negative the Ducks can take away from their Super Regional win over Minnesota?

Kostecka — The positive and negative can best be summed up as a double-edged sword. On one end, the negative impact can be complacency. Oregon has advanced farther than last year and that in itself is a goal accomplished, but the feeling of already accomplishing that goal can lead to complacency. The other edge of the sword is confidence. Oregon knows it can beat any team in the country on any field and since the Ducks are peaking at the right time, all the confidence is with them.

Kim — The biggest positive that the Ducks can take away from their Super Regional is the confidence in their batting. After falling to Nebraska last season due to their deficiencies on the offensive end, the Ducks will carry a level of momentum that they didn’t have last season. The one negative for the Ducks is the ambiguity of how their pitching staff will fare against tougher competition. Considering Minnesota was a relatively inferior opponent in regards to their batting, it will be hard to judge how the Ducks will do against a superior opponent like Florida State.

Hawthorne — For the Ducks, the biggest positive coming out of the Super Regional weekend has to be the offensive surge that powered the Ducks to a sweep. They have to feel good about where they are right now in regards to their ability to score runs when need be. Courtney Ceo and Janie Takeda are hitting their strides at the right time. For the Ducks, the biggest area of concern is continuing to move forward and win in the biggest spotlight. They’ve proven they can do it at home, but the lights will shine brightest in Oklahoma City.

2) What is the number one key to Oregon making a run at the Women’s College World Series?

Kostecka — Depth at pitching. Unless the Ducks run-rule every opponent they face, they will need to dig deep into their bullpen and use the arms of Karissa Hovinga and Jasmine Smithson-Willett to win it all. To be a national champion, the Ducks will have to win a minimum of five games in six days so all the pitching help Hovinga/Smithson-Willett can provide will be the true test for the potential champions.

Kim — The key will be the play of Cheridan Hawkins and Hovinga. As the postseason progresses, the importance of the pitchers increases. Dominant pitching, more often than not, outperforms good batting. Having said that, Oregon’s pitching rotation will be as important as it’s ever been because they will also be facing stiffer competition.

Hawthorne — Most definitely the pitching is what fuels Oregon’s success. The trio of Hawkins, Smithson-Willett and Hovinga allow the Ducks time to get on the board offensively without having to worry about climbing out of a large batting hole.

3) Apart from the Ducks, who will be the biggest threat to take home the national championship trophy at the end of the season?

Kostecka — No. 5 seed Florida and No. 7 seed Oklahoma will provide the stiffest competition to Oregon bringing home the national championship. Once at the WCWS, it’s any teams’ trophy to take. Since the Gators have already beat the Ducks earlier in the year and Oklahoma is the reigning national champion with a load of experience, the early edge goes to them over the Ducks.

Kim — No. 5 Florida will be the biggest threat to take home the national championship trophy simply for the reason that the Ducks lost to the Gators earlier this season. The Ducks have improved since playing them, but they will still be facing a team they have yet to beat. The other threat will be No. 7 seed Oklahoma, who is coming off a title year.

Hawthorne — I agree that No. 5 Florida and No. 7 Oklahoma pose the biggest threats to Oregon’s national championship title hopes. However, it’s important for the Ducks to remember that once the WCWS field is set, the seeds become less important while experience and game-time performance becomes more important.

4) Who has been the MVP of the postseason so far for the Ducks?

Kostecka — The easy answer is Hawkins since she has gone 4-0 and has been nearly unhittable but I’m going with Takeda. After struggling to live up to lofty preseason expectations, the former All-American Takeda has been on fire at the plate in the postseason (9-for-17, eight runs and eight RBIs) in five games and served as a great compliment to Ceo, holder of the nation’s second-best batting average. Takeda’s hot streak has provided opponents with a series scare and protected Ceo in the lineup.

Kim — Takeda. After struggling to play at her highest level throughout the season, the former all-American has significantly raised her game, becoming Oregon’s most consistent hitter. Oregon lives off runs, and Takeda has been the team’s most recent bright spot.

Hawthorne — Hawkins. It’s not easy being the first player that sets the tempo for the game, but Hawkins has proven that she doesn’t waver in the spotlight. With a 4-0 record in the postseason already, Hawkins is sure to improve her 33-4 record in the WCWS. There are no sure bets in the game of softball, but Hawkins is as close to a sure bet as there is.

5) How will the Ducks fare in the WCWS and why?

Kostecka — Once the WCWS ends, Oregon will be the team holding up the national championship trophy. The Ducks have too much balance between hitting, pitching and fielding for teams to find a true weakness. Apart from possessing one of the top hitters and top pitchers in college softball, the Ducks can add depth at each position, something no team can do. While a few teams have great pitching or great hitting, the Ducks possess both. Combined with a hungry team and an experienced coaching staff, Oregon will be the last team to walk off the field in Oklahoma City.

Kim — Oregon is one of the most complete teams in the Women’s College World Series and with a confident Hawkins on the mound, the Ducks will be the team to beat in the tournament. Adding the fact that the Ducks have been performing well offensively, they will be that much harder to beat. I expect the Ducks to make the title game.

Hawthorne — The Ducks are peaking at just the right moment and will have a legitimate chance to contend for the trophy when it’s all said and done. Stars like Hawkins and Ceo will garner the most attention in OKC, but expect players like Takeda, Janelle Lindvall and Kailee Cuico to provide necessary offensive support for a WCWS national championship trophy.

Follow Hayden Kim on Twitter @HayDayKim
Follow Ryan Kostecka on Twitter @Ryan_Kostecka
Follow Jonathan Hawthorne on Twitter @Jon_Hawthorne

During Oregon baseball season, our sports staff will discuss various topics surrounding an upcoming series. Today, Emerald digital sports editor Victor Flores and sports reporters Madison Guernsey and Andrew Bantly discuss Oregon’s last five games and preview the weekend series against between the Ducks (34-14, 13-8 Pac-12) and Arizona State (24-20, 12-9 Pac-12).

1) How would you grade Oregon’s performance in the five games since being swept by Oregon State (and learning Matt Krook would be lost for the year)?

Flores — Oregon’s grade is a B since the Oregon State sweep. Going 4-1 with the one loss coming in 12 innings to the Beavers. The Ducks responded well in their first game against Arizona after starting off shaky, they had an amazing comeback in the second game and held off the Wildcats in a tight game three. The one issue with these past five games is that every contest has been close, and only one of those games came against a top-tier opponent. So Oregon gets points taken off for that, but their power surge and late-game execution have been bright spots.

Guernsey — Since the announcement was made that Krook would miss the season, Oregon’s grade is a C. The Ducks swept Arizona, as expected, but dropped all four against Oregon State. The final scores have been close, but Oregon really needed to assert themselves as a legitimate top-tier team and failed to do so. Perhaps they would have with Krook, but to have won without him would have made a much louder statement.

Bantly — I’m going to give them a B+. Oregon’s lone loss came to Oregon State in extra innings. Besides being at home and against their rivals, Oregon really shouldn’t think much of that loss — it didn’t even count as a conference game. But the bounce-back sweep of Arizona was huge. Each game, I think, woke up different aspects of Oregon’s game that might have been quieted in Corvallis.

2) Did Brando Tessar seal the Sunday starter slot with his last performance or does Trent Paddon (or someone else) still have a shot?

Flores — I don’t see how he couldn’t be. In Tessar’s 22.1-inning scoreless streak, he has struck out 20 and walked four. Each of his three starts in that span went exactly 7.0 innings. It doesn’t matter how poor his competition has been; only fellow weekend starters Tommy Thorpe and Jeff Gold have shown this level of effectiveness and longevity. He should and will be the third starter in Oregon’s next three series and playoffs.

Guernsey — Tessar locked it up. He’s thrown 22.1 straight scoreless innings. The Ducks are 6-0 in games he’s started. He further validated himself against Arizona, the first Pac-12 team he started against, when he tossed seven scoreless innings to lower his ERA to 2.13. Tessar has the experience and his confidence is growing with every strong start.

Bantly — Of course. Tessar was masterful on Sunday and dominated the Wildcats. The Ducks don’t need Tessar to pitch shutouts every outing, they just need him to be good enough to win. His start on Sunday showed that, if he can throw seven shutout innings against Arizona, he can compete with the rest of the Pac-12.

3) How impressed have you been with Shaun Chase?

Flores — George Horton said he and the coaching staff don’t like to call Chase by his nickname “Whammer” because it doesn’t give him credit for his progression as a hitter. Horton wasn’t just being nice. Chase has been unbelievable this season, with a batting average (.318) that leaves him behind just one Duck— Mitchell Tolman. His “Whammer” characteristics haven’t disappeared, either, as he leads the Pac-12 in home runs (8). He’s also handled the pitching staff well. Not many catchers can do everything Chase does so effectively.

Guernsey — As impressed as I would be if a mediocre catcher developed into a team leader and feared hitter. Shaun Chase’s progression is unparalleled, and not just as a hitter. Horton constantly raves about his rapport with the pitching staff. But speaking of Chase’s hitting, he had a career average of .194 before this season and had twice as many strikeouts as hits. This year, Chase has gotten hotter as the season has worn on and is now Oregon’s most reliable hitter. His slugging percentage is an absurd .670.

Bantly — The past couple of seasons, the catching position has been up in the air. Last year Chase shared time with Josh Graham and this year Jack Kruger was added to the mix. But unlike last year, someone actually stepped up like Horton wanted. What’s so impressive is the way Chase has taken control of the starting job. He doesn’t have to hit .318 with 8 home runs and 20 RBIs to be the starting catcher, but he is. And now Horton can’t take him out of the lineup. This kind of production from a “defensive position” is massive. Not to mention, he has been solid defensively.

4) Who will win this weekend’s series between the Ducks and Arizona State?

Flores — Oregon will play another tight series and win two out of three. Arizona State is 24-20 overall and 12-10 in Pac-12 play, so they haven’t acquitted themselves as an overall good team like the Ducks, who are only a game and a half up on the Sun Devils in the Pac-12 standings. Although Oregon has played tight games over the past week, almost every area has performed well. Expect that to continue this weekend.

Guernsey — Oregon wins two out of three. This is a huge series in terms of Pac-12 standings, and the Ducks will be up for the challenge after a disappointing loss at home to Oregon State. Oregon’s bullpen will have had a chance to rest and starting shortstop Mark Karaviotis should be healthy. The Ducks have more talent than the Sun Devils, but ASU will steal one away this weekend.

Bantly — Arizona State isn’t playing exceptionally well at Packard Stadium this season (13-10). I don’t see Oregon leaving Tempe without a couple wins at least. The Ducks’ pitching will lead them in this series because once they get a lead they will, likely, be able to maintain it. ASU isn’t a great pitching team so runs shouldn’t be difficult to come by and add to for the Ducks.

Follow Victor Flores on Twitter @vflores415
Follow Andrew Bantly on Twitter @abant3
Follow Madison Guernsey on Twitter @guernseymd

As the PNCLL championship was still fresh in its mind, Oregon men’s club lacrosse (6-2, 7-6) lost 12-9 at the hands of Oregon State (7-1, 1-4) yesterday afternoon in Lake Oswego, Oregon.

The contest was the first time the teams played since the Beavers denied the Ducks of their fourth-straight league title in a 10-9 championship thriller last season. Sitting at 6-1, both squads entered the game looking to secure the second seed before playing each other in the PNCLL playoffs next weekend.

“This was a good little test for us to see where we’re at,” said Oregon head coach Justin Eckenroad. “I feel like we’re putting our pieces into place and we’ll be ready for next week.”

Oregon State’s Kevin Cathcart scored his team’s first three goals as the Beavers jumped out to an early 3-1 lead. Cathcart also scored three of the Beavers’ final four goals to put away what had been an extremely close contest throughout.

“He’s just a really big body,” Eckenroad said. “It’s hard to keep your hands on them when they’re that big.”

Oregon initially made the necessary adjustments to contain Cathcart, which allowed the Ducks to take a 4-3 lead early in the second quarter. However, a 4-1 run by Oregon State gave the Beavers a 7-5 lead at halftime.

“They did some different defensive formations and techniques that forced us to move the ball to other people,” Oregon State head coach Chad Stelling said of Oregon’s response to Cathcart’s run. “We had to find ways to relieve that pressure.”

While the Ducks limited Cathcart to one goal in the second and third quarters, the freshman proved that he and the Beavers were too much to handle.

“I think we just wanted it more,” Cathcart said. “They beat us in the Civil War so many times. I think that was our biggest advantage.”

Though Oregon State may have had more motivation to win on Saturday, both teams played with a playoff-like intensity. With 10:57 remaining in the game, a fight between two players on the field cleared the benches and resulted in unsportsmanlike conduct penalties for each side. Oregon totaled five penalties, all in the fourth quarter, while the Beavers accumulated four.

“Everyone knew it was going to happen,” Cathcart said. “I guess no one really wanted it to happen but it’s the Civil War. It’s not that civil.”

In order to turn the tide of the war next weekend, Oregon will need to adjust quickly to what it learned on Saturday.

“It’s all just the little small things: hustle a little more, defense, picking up the ground balls that are at our feet,” Eckenroad said.

Oregon will look to win a much bigger battle over Oregon State in the first round of the PNCLL playoffs next Saturday in Washington.

This story was contributed by freelance reporter Jack Heffernan. 

Every week during men’s basketball season, our sports staff will discuss different topics surrounding an upcoming game(s). Today, sports reporters Hayden Kim, Madison Guernsey and Ryan Kostecka discuss the NCAA tournament. Oregon’s first game comes on Thursday at 12:10 p.m. PST against BYU.

1) Was Oregon’s seven seed higher (move favorable), lower or about what you expected?

Kim — It was a little higher than expected. But considering the Ducks finished the season on an eight-game winning streak, I wasn’t necessarily surprised to see Oregon receive a relatively high seed. In many ways, their top-10 ranking earlier in the season has come full circle.

Guernsey — A little higher. Late-season wins over UCLA and Arizona really helped, but I still thought the Ducks were locked into a 10 seed, partly due to the fact that they won the Pac-12 tournament last year and received a 12 seed. However, their better seed makes sense given their strong RPI (28th), strength of schedule (18th), non-conference RPI (6th) and BPI (20th), all of which are much better than last season.

Kostecka — It was higher than expected. I was pretty convinced the Ducks were an 8-9 seed, which wouldn’t be a problem except for the fact that they would probably be playing the No. 1 seed in the third round. Being awarded the No. 7 seed was huge because not only do they get a No. 10 seed, they get the opportunity to face a No. 2 seed (or 15 seed) in the third round. Wins over UCLA, ASU and Arizona (previously No. 1 in RPI) were apparently huge for the Ducks. Altogether, it’s a great seed and the one of the best possible outcomes for Oregon.

2) Are the Ducks peaking at the right time?

Kim — I do believe that the Ducks are hitting their stride at the right time. The postseason is what matters most and although the Ducks lost their game against UCLA, their season-ending streak has proven they can play with the best in the country. And with their projected NCAA tournament schedule, the Ducks have a good chance to be a sleeper this year.

Guernsey — Definitely, and they may have lost at the right time. Hot streaks have to end at some point (usually) so losing right before the Big Dance gave Oregon time to rest, make adjustments and get ready to go on another run. If they play the way they did over their seven-game winning streak, the Ducks will surprise a lot of people and bust plenty of brackets.

Kostecka — Of course they are. I think this season has gone extremely well for Oregon in the grand scheme of things. They started out knowing how to win and take care of inferior opponents but then they hit an extremely rough patch. Sure that rough patch almost cost them a shot at the NCAA tournament but since the Ducks were able to turn it around, they learned so much about themselves. They’re one of the most battle-tested teams in the tournament who have learned to close games out, which is huge for them. I’m not saying they’ll win the championship, but they remind me of a certain UConn team from a few years back who got hot at the end and was led by a dynamic offensive guard.

3) What are your thoughts on Oregon’s first opponent, BYU?

Kim — The last meeting between these two teams ended in a 100-96 OT finish in favor of Oregon. But without guard Kyle Collinsworth, BYU will not have enough playmakers to win the game. The Cougars still have a roster that is capable of scoring the ball, but the matchups will definitely favor the Ducks.

Guernsey — They’re a bit of a mystery. Similar to Oregon, BYU relies on scoring a ton and has an up-tempo offense. The Cougars are without a signature win but did beat Texas, Stanford and Gonzaga. Though they generally beat teams they were supposed to, they suffered ugly losses to Portland, Pacific and Pepperdine. They were terrific at home (15-1), bad on the road (5-7) and played solidly at neutral sites (4-3). BYU’s play mirrors Oregon’s and the Cougars actually outscored the Ducks this season, ranking third in the nation in points with 84.2 per game. The one clear advantage BYU has over Oregon is rebounding. The Cougars out-rebound the Ducks by nearly seven boards per game but just lost leading rebounder Collinsworth for the season.

Kostecka — A talented team who hit a stroke of bad luck. Losing Collinsworth is going to hurt the Cougars very badly and it couldn’t have come at a worse time. Not only did they lose their best overall player, in my opinion, they haven’t had any time to adjust to life without Collinsworth since he tore his ACL a week ago. It’s hard to have thoughts because it’s a vastly different team now. Who knows how things are going to turn out for BYU?

4) Who will win the Oregon-BYU game and what kind of game will it be (close, blowout, in between)?

Kim — I think the Ducks will win this game steadily. Without Collinsworth, the Ducks will have one less playmaker to worry about and can focus more on producing a consistent level of offense. The only worry for the Ducks will be whether or not they can produce enough offense to keep up with BYU.

Guernsey — Oregon wins by 10. The Ducks, as they’ve done lately, will barely trail at halftime and come out shooting in the second half. Both teams will get their points and the difference will be Oregon taking advantage of the loss of Collinsworth. The sophomore led the team in rebounds and assists and shot nearly 50 percent from the field and BYU hasn’t played without him all season. Mike Moser will have a big game on the boards and Joseph Young and Jason Calliste will knock down their jumpers, helping Oregon survive and advance.

Kostecka — Oregon will handle BYU by 13-17 points. It’ll be a pretty good game for Oregon since the Cougars struggle on defense and everyone knows how good Oregon is on offense. I really think BYU will struggle without Collinsworth and that’ll put to much extra pressure on Tyler Haws to produce more than his 23.4 points per game. The Ducks have proven that they can play defense, as evidenced by the last four weeks of the season, so look for that trend to continue. Also, watch to see how the Oregon reserves play. If they can log valuable minutes, it just makes the starters that much fresher for a possible showdown with Wisconsin.

5) If you think the Ducks will beat BYU, how much farther do you think they’ll go in the tournament?

Kim — If the Ducks can manage to beat BYU, the Ducks have as good a chance as any to advance to the Sweet Sixteen where they will likely meet No. 3 Creighton. There are some analysts that project the Ducks to make it to the Elite Eight and the only thing standing in their way is No. 2 Wisconsin. The problem however is the matchup in the post against the Badgers assuming they can get past BYU.

Guernsey — Assuming Wisconsin beats American, the Badgers end Oregon’s season. Wisconsin is an awful matchup for the Ducks. Frank Kaminsky is a load at seven feet and can consistently knock down outside jumpers. Bo Ryan’s offense is slow and will lull Oregon to sleep, completely disrupting its style of play. Wisconsin is a very good team that beat Florida, Michigan, Michigan State, Virginia, Saint Louis and Iowa twice during the regular season and has a real shot at making a deep run in the tournament.

Kostecka — This is a really tough question. There’s no doubt the Ducks have the offense that can reach the Elite Eight but what about their defense? Assuming the top seeds win out, Oregon will face No. 2 Wisconsin in the round of 32 and No. 3 Creighton in the Sweet 16. It’s a tough road ahead since both teams are stellar on offense and have a way of making their opponents play their styles. If the Ducks can get out and run on offense, really push the tempo, they can take down Wisconsin and Creighton. I think Oregon pulls the big upset and gets by Wisconsin but will end up losing a high-scoring affair to Creighton in the Sweet 16.

Follow Hayden Kim on Twitter @HayDayKim
Follow Madison Guernsey on Twitter @guernseymd
Follow Ryan Kostecka on Twitter @Ryan_Kostecka