Heading into Saturday’s showdown against Arizona State, Oregon football players find themselves in a spot none of them have been in before at Oregon.

The Ducks sit at the bottom of the Pac-12 standings with a 2-5 overall record and 0-4 in conference play. When the Ducks host the Sun Devils in Eugene at 2 p.m., the game will serve as chance to break out of the current slump.

“Obviously this season hasn’t produced in the number of wins we’ve wanted but we have grown and gotten better,” Oregon offensive line coach Steve Greatwood said. “This is a big game for us this week and our guys have been practicing that way — we’ll be ready to go on Saturday.”

One of the biggest concerns the Ducks have against Arizona State this weekend is finding a way to slow down the Sun Devils’ vaunted pass rush.

Arizona State ranks No. 8 nationally with 61 tackles for loss and No. 15 in the nation with 23 sacks. Linebacker Koron Crump is a load to handle for any offensive line. He has eight sacks on the year, good enough for third in the nation. DJ Calhoun is Crump’s running mate, not allowing teams to double team Crump with the threat of Calhoun on the other edge.

So how is Oregon going to counteract this dynamic duo? With the ever-improving offensive line.

“They (offensive line) have improved week-in and week-out based on how hard they’ve worked,” Greatwood said. “Obviously they’re still young, but they’re at the point where they are looked upon as veterans and leaders. They need to keep improving if we are going to change things around.”

For most of the season, the Ducks’ front five has consisted of four redshirt freshmen and one senior. Redshirt freshman center Jake Hanson must ensure that the Ducks have the correct pass protection to giving quarterback Justin Herbert enough time to get the ball out to his playmakers.

Against a defensive line this talented, communication and pre-snap awareness will be vital to Oregon’s success. In practice this week, the Ducks offensive line has worked on identifying where the pressure will come from. They’ve also worked towards increasing the offense’s overall tempo.

“We know that Arizona State likes to blitz and bring the pressure … and they’ve shown that they’re good at it,” Hanson said. “For us, it’s about being on the same page and working together as one unit. We’ve really worked on our communication this week and getting ourselves as ready as possible.”

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Oregon and Arizona State have a lot to live up to if they hope to top last year’s thrilling 61-55 triple overtime game in Tempe.

Exactly 364 days later, the Ducks and Sun Devils will battle it out again, this time in Eugene. The Ducks are looking to snap their five-game losing streak while Arizona State hopes to end its two-game losing streak.

Here is a match up and players to watch:

Oregon offensive line vs. Arizona State front seven: This battle in the trenches will likely be the deciding factor in the game. On one hand, the Oregon offensive line is a young group that has steadily improved throughout the year. The Ducks will go up against one of the best front sevens in the Pac-12 in Arizona State.

With a young quarterback behind him, center Jake Hanson will take on much of the responsibility when it comes to recognizing blitzes and calling out blocking schemes. Arizona State will try to bottle up Oregon’s running game and pressure Justin Hebert into quick decisions, something he might not be comfortable with. Either way, the physical unit could decide which team ends its losing streak.

OREGON

Royce Freeman, running back: After entering the year with hopes of breaking LaMichael James’ career rushing record, it’s no secret that Freeman has struggled. In six games, Freeman has rushed for over 100 yards in two of the games and scored in just three of them. After last week’s loss to Cal (10 yards on 15 carries), Freeman said he remains healthy. Before injuries, Freeman was one of the best running backs in the nation. If he returns to his usual dominant self, Oregon will be in much better hands the rest of the year.

Jimmie Swain, linebacker: With injuries to Johnny Ragin and AJ Hotchkins, Swain has been called upon to help steady the revolving door of linebackers on Oregon’s defense. Over the past two weeks, Swain has tallied 19 tackles with two passes defended. Against Arizona State and its powerful running game, Swain will be called upon to play a bigger role. He will either have to meet the massive Kalen Ballage at the line of scrimmage or run sideline-to-sideline to keep up with ASU’s Demario Richard. Either way, Swain will be key in Oregon’s attempt to slow down the Sun Devils’ offense and limit the unit to field goals rather than touchdowns.

ARIZONA STATE

Kalen Ballage, running back: Ballage had the game of a lifetime when he scored eight touchdowns, including seven rushing, against Texas Tech in the second game of the year. Since then, opponents have held Ballage scoreless until he found the end zone last week on a 52-yard score against Washington State.

At 6-foot-3 and 230 pounds, Ballage is a load to handle, so his ability to run between tackles and tiring out Oregon’s defense from an incessant pounding will be vital for Arizona State’s success. If Ballage becomes a threat running through the Oregon defense, it should help open up the Sun Devils’ passing game and lead to a balanced attack.

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When Oregon faces Arizona State this weekend, it will be a battle of two teams with similar skill sets. Both offenses have no problem putting the ball in the end zone, yet struggle to keep their opponents out of it.

The Ducks (2-5, 0-4 Pac-12) are looking to break their five-game losing streak while also getting freshman quarterback Justin Herbert his first career win. Likewise, the Sun Devils (5-3, 2-3 Pac-12) want revenge after losing in heartbreaking fashion to the Ducks in triple overtime last year.

Here’s how both squads stack up:

OFFENSE

Oregon: The Ducks averaged 48.5 points a game in their two wins while putting up 34.6 points a game in the five losses. It’s clear that the offense has struggled lately, but it seems to be back on track after last week’s 49-point performance against California. Herbert threw six touchdown passes to five different receivers in the loss while Tony Brooks-James added 15 carries for 109 yards and a score on the ground.

Royce Freeman is perhaps the offense’s biggest question mark. He entered the season as a legitimate Heisman Trophy candidate but suffered injuries against Nebraska and Washington. Freeman entered the Cal game healthy, yet rushed for 10 yards on 15 carries. Freeman needs to get back on track if Oregon wants a shot at reaching a bowl game. A positive after last week’s three-point loss to Cal was the emergence of Charles Nelson. Nelson caught seven passes for 84 yards and two scores, by far his best output of the season.

Arizona State: The Sun Devils — much like Oregon — have struggled as of late on offense. Arizona State averaged 48.75 points in its 5-0 start, but has averaged 22.75 points in its last four games. Arizona State is led by two-headed monster Demario Richard and Kalen Ballage on the ground. Richard is the workhorse, leading the team with 532 yards rushing on 134 carries. Ballage is the power, scoring 10 touchdowns on the season, good for an average of one score every eight carries.

ASU’s quarterback situation is currently in flux as Dillon Sterling-Cole threw for 86 yards on a 7-for-16 performance last week against Washington State. The receiving corps isn’t an issue for the Sun Devils as the top four receivers average over 10 yards per catch, thus making the quarterback struggles the main reason for concern.

Advantage: Oregon

DEFENSE

Oregon: Defensively, Oregon is among one of the worst units in the nation. It ranks among bottom 10 teams in points allowed (43.3, third), rushing yards allowed (248.43, eighth), passing yards allowed (290, 10th) and total defense (538.6, worst). Still, freshmen Troy Dye and Brendan Schooler have been the bright spots. Dye leads the team in tackles (44), tackles for loss (7.5) and sacks (3). His mark of tackles for loss is the third best mark in the nation among freshmen. Schooler is second on the team with 40 tackles while leading the Ducks with two interceptions. He has secured the free safety spot and has emerged as one of the leaders on defense.

Arizona State: The one thing the Sun Devils do well on defense is putting pressure on the quarterback and playing behind the line of scrimmage. On the year, Arizona State has 61 tackles for loss and 23 sacks — ranking No. 8 and No. 15 nationally. Koron Crump and DJ Calhoun are the anchors for the defense, totaling 17.5 tackles for loss and 12.5 sacks. Crump is tied for third in the nation with eight sacks. Where the Sun Devils struggle most is in passing defense, surrendering a nation’s worst mark of 386.1 yards per game.

Advantage: Arizona State

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When Oregon kicks off against California on Friday night, the stakes will be high, but a different high than in seasons past.

Both teams are looking for a win to improve their chances at a bowl game. Cal is 3-3, and Oregon sits at 2-4. The Ducks must win four of their next six games to be bowl eligible.

Here are the matchups and players to watch for Friday night’s game against Cal:

Oregon

Royce Freeman, RB: 

Two weeks ago against Washington, Freeman started the game but didn’t return for the second half with the Ducks trailing 35-7. No reason was given for his absence, but it created a major void in the offense. This week, Oregon’s junior running back will have the chance to return to the field against Cal’s porous run defense, which ranks 127th against the rush.

Freeman is averaging 7.7 yards per carry and 102.6 yards per game with seven touchdowns on the year. With freshman Justin Herbert at quarterback, it will be up to Freeman to take the pressure off the passing attack and establish a dominant run game.

Troy Dye, LB: 

Cal’s offense has been formidable this year, averaging 377 yards and 3.7 touchdowns through the air. One of the best ways to counter Cal’s attack with a weak secondary is to get a great pass rush — that’s where Dye comes into play. He’s been Oregon’s most dominant and consistent pass rusher in 2016 with 7.5 tackles for loss and 3 sacks. Dye must get into the Cal backfield to disrupt the timing between quarterback Davis Webb and his dangerous receivers.

Cal

Vic Enwere, RB: 

Enwere, a big bruising running back who does not easily go down on first contact, is an ideal complement to Cal’s fast-paced attack. Enwere, who averages 5.5 yards per carry and two touchdowns per game, has the ability to take advantage of Oregon’s undersized linebackers and overall poor tackling. Enwere provides the necessary physical punch to put Oregon’s defense on its heels.

Cal wide receivers: 

Cal has an outstanding group of wide receivers to counter Oregon’s struggling defensive backs. Cornerbacks Arrion Springs and Tyree Robinson will likely be matched up with wide receivers Chad Hansen and Demetris Robertson, while safety Brenden Schooler will provide over-the-top help. Teams have had success against Oregon recently through the air, and Cal’s “Bear Raid” attack could sink Oregon into a deeper depression.

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Entering this season, expectations were high in Eugene.

The Ducks hired a new defensive coordinator in Brady Hoke and had transfer quarterback Dakota Prukop on campus since January. All-American running back Royce Freeman returned along with big-play wide receiver Darren Carrington. Former All-Pac-12 tight end Pharaoh Brown bounced back from injury. Those offensive pieces, coupled with a year for the struggling young defense to mature, had coaches, players and fans optimistic about what the 2016 season could bring.

The optimism in the first half of the season, however, has since become a pessimistic outlook for the second half.

Oregon (2-4, 0-3 Pac-12) is a team in turmoil as it embarks on the final part of its season.

The defense has yet to gel in Hoke’s new defensive scheme. Freshman Justin Herbert overtook Prukop as the starting quarterback. Freeman has had big games but also missed time to injuries.

Fans have scrutinized head coach Mark Helfrich for the poor start to the season. He apologized for the score after a 70-21 loss to Washington Saturday. He took the blame for going 1-5 in two-point conversion attempts against Nebraska, which resulted in a three-point loss and a players-only meeting at the next practice.

Some players have suggested others haven’t taken practice and game preparation seriously.

Tyree Robinson spoke out against the younger players on the team after a 41-38 loss to Colorado, saying, “You didn’t come to Oregon to put on a magic jersey and play good — no, you have to go out there and put in the work.”

Freshman safety Brenden Schooler called out teammates after the loss to No. 5 Washington.

“They seem like they just don’t care,”  Schooler said. “We’ve told them if you don’t want to be here then leave, but no one leaves so I hope everyone wants to be here. If you’re not here to compete, why are you here?”

“That entitlement, that whatever, cannot exist,” Helfrich said.

Oregon is no longer a fear for opponents on the schedule. And it begins with the defense.

The unit gives up 41.8 points a game, which ranks 125th out of 128 teams in the nation. Opponents have converted touchdowns on 26-of-32 opportunities in the red zone, worst in the nation. The passing defense ranks 112th and the rushing defense ranks 117th. The unit, which has struggled to tackle and fill gaps, has allowed more than 590 yards of offense in each of the last three games.

Offensively, the Ducks average 36.8 ppg but have turned to Herbert to be the savior. Starting Herbert last week against Washington seemed to be Oregon’s way of throwing in the towel for the season to prepare for next year. But Herbert played well, thus giving the team and fans hope for the second half of the season

Some fans have called for Helfrich’s firing and even donated money toward the buyout of his contract. Oregon athletic director Rob Mullens said he has faith in Helfrich and asked fans to continue supporting the Ducks.

If the Ducks don’t make a bowl game for the first time since 2004, though, things could change.

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Oh, the difference a half-season makes.

Entering the 2016 season, fans and analysts expected three-team races in both the Pac-12 North and South divisions.

Washington, Oregon and Stanford were expected to exchange heavy blows for the North crown while USC, UCLA and Utah were supposed to fight to the end for a South championship.

Those expectations certainly haven’t panned out.

Oregon remains winless in Pac-12 play while Stanford was outscored by a combined 64 points in back-to-back losses to Washington and Washington State. No. 5 Washington has established itself as the Pac-12’s potential representative in the College Football Playoff.

In the South, there’s a three-way tie between upstarts Colorado and Arizona State and the Utes at 2-1 in conference play. USC seems to have found its footing after stumbling out of the gate with back-to-back wins over the Buffaloes and Sun Devils, while UCLA is underachieving at 1-2.

Here are the top storylines at the Pac-12 season’s midway point:

1) Colorado and Arizona State in the running

The Buffaloes and Sun Devils were picked to finish in the final two spots in the Pac-12 South division. Colorado’s win over Oregon isn’t surprising, considering how poorly the Ducks have played, but a thrashing of Oregon State gave the Buffaloes their first national ranking in years. Meanwhile, the Sun Devils are averaging 39.7 ppg and have defeated UCLA and Cal already. Back-to-back games against Utah and Washington in November will determine whether they’re for real.

2) What happened to Oregon and Stanford? 

The two most dominant Pac-12 programs since 2010 have mightily underachieved this year. Oregon looks to be in a complete downward tailspin from its former dominance, prompting questions about a complete rehaul of the coaching staff. Oregon players have thrown around words like “entitlement,” and that’s never a good thing. Stanford was the predicted Pac-12 champion, but after repeat blowout losses, the Cardinal are searching for an identity.

3) Heisman who? 

Stanford’s Christian McCaffrey and Oregon’s Royce Freeman were regarded as two of the nation’s top running backs. With that honor came realistic Heisman aspirations. McCaffrey has struggled with defenses prepared to stop him after his performance last season. Freeman has played well, but injuries and Oregon’s record has dropped his name from discussion. On the other hand, Washington quarterback Jake Browning has ridden the Huskies’ hot start to the top of Heisman charts. He leads the nation in quarterback efficiency and decimated Oregon’s defense last week.

4) Pac-12 underachieving as a whole 

The conference of champions looks like anything but that. The Pac-12 began the season with five teams in the AP Top 25, but only No. 5 Washington and No. 21 Utah remain ranked in the national poll. Oregon, Oregon State and Arizona are reaches to make a bowl game. Only Washington, Utah, Colorado and Arizona State seem in good position to be bowl-eligible.

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The talk around Oregon’s upcoming game against No. 5 Washington took a twist on Tuesday.

Multiple reports on Tuesday afternoon indicated that Oregon is preparing to start true freshman Justin Herbert at quarterback. If it pans out to be true, it will likely change how both teams scheme for each other during the game. Nonetheless, players such as Royce Freeman and Budda Baker will prove to be crucial pieces toward each team’s offensive and defensive arsenals.

Players To Watch:

OREGON
Royce Freeman, RB: If Justin Herbert does indeed start on Saturday, his best friend on offense will be his All-American running back, Freeman. It will be up to Freeman to take a significant amount of load off Herbert and apply some pressure to the Washington defense. Freeman is more than capable of controlling the game for Oregon as he averages 116 yards per game and 8.3 yards per carry with seven touchdowns this season. A big game from Freeman will allow Herbert to relax and make the Ducks multidimensional, something Washington has yet to see in an offense.

Troy Dye, LB: Washington quarterback Jake Browning looked mighty comfortable last week against Stanford. He rarely felt pressure in the pocket and delivered balls to all receivers. Dye is Oregon’s best and most consistent pass rusher on the season. After missing two of the last three games, Dye is healthy and ready to play. He leads the Ducks with 5.5 tackles for loss and two sacks. He has plenty of length at 6-foot-4 and uses his athletic ability — along with his natural instincts — to put pressure on opposing quarterbacks. If Dye can supply pressure and disrupt the Washington offense, Oregon might have a chance.

WASHINGTON
John Ross, WR: For how good Browning has been this year, Ross has been more impressive. Coming off an injury, Ross seems to have gotten bigger, faster and more explosive, which is a very dangerous thing for opponents. He leads the Huskies with eight total touchdowns (six receiving, one rushing and one on kick return) and instead of just being a fast deep threat, Ross has polished his route running, making him a complete receiver.

Budda Baker, S: Baker is the heart and soul of the talented Washington defense. He’s in charge of the Washington secondary and provides a spark whenever lays a big hit on opposing offensive players. He’s not afraid of contact and has the unique skill set to matchup with smaller or bigger players in the slot. Oregon will try to increase the tempo against the Huskies, so Baker making sure his teammates are on the same page will be vital to the success.

Matchup To Watch:

Oregon offensive line vs. Washington front seven: People say most games are won in the trenches an this week’s matchup will be no different. Last week, Washington rarely brought pressure against Stanford and was still able to dominate the line of scrimmage. The Huskies have one of the best front sevens in the nation while Oregon’s offensive line is extremely young and just now gaining experience. If Oregon can win the battle at the line of scrimmage and run the ball at will, it will make Washington bring pressure and thus open up the big-play potential. Likewise, if the Huskies control the line of scrimmage, they’ll drop back seven in coverage and make life rough for Herbert. Winner of this battle will be the winner of the game, simple as that.

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The first installment of rivalry week has arrived for the Ducks.

Apart from playing in-state rival Oregon State later in the year, this week’s game against Washington features Oregon’s most hated rival.

Saturday will mark the 110th meeting between the two squads. Oregon, which currently owns a 12-game win streak in the series, will be the obvious underdog for the first time since the win streak began. Washington will be looking to prove that last week’s 38-point victory over Stanford was no fluke.

Here’s how the teams stack up:

OFFENSE
Oregon: Last week was proof that no matter how All-American running back Royce Freeman plays, the outcome of the game will not be decided by his efforts alone. Freeman is the focal point of Oregon’s offense, averaging 116 yards a game this season. The offense falls on back-up quarterback Justin Herbert’s shoulders. It will be Herbert’s first career start.

For Herbert to be successful, he needs to take care of the ball, avoid interceptions and be a threat running. The offensive line will face a fierce and talented pass rush, so the unit must continue to evolve and bring the fight against the Huskies. Simply, Oregon will need to be creative with its play-calling by getting the ball to playmakers Darren Carrington, Charles Nelson, Pharaoh Brown and T0ny Brooks-James in space.

Washington: Quarterback Jake Browning is quietly emerging as a potential Heisman Trophy candidate with his efforts so far this season. He’s thrown for 17 touchdowns and has a passer rating of 196.3. He’ll have the chance to build his stats against Oregon’s ever-struggling defense. His top-three targets — Chico McClatcher, John Ross and Dante Pettis — all have four touchdowns or more on the year.

McClatcher leads the team with 313 yards, Ross leads with six touchdowns and Pettis was Browning’s main target last week against Stanford. When running the ball, Myles Gaskin and Lavon Coleman provide a great 1-2 punch. Gaskin is the primary back, being smaller and shiftier, while Coleman is a big power back. All offensive pieces benefit from a veteran offensive line.

Advantage: Washington

DEFENSE
Oregon: There haven’t been many bright spots for the Ducks on defense this year. Oregon could perhaps get freshman-sensation Troy Dye back for this week against the Huskies, but linebacker Johnny Ragin is done for the season due to injury. To stop the Washington attack, the defense must become more physical.

The defensive line will have to chuck off blocks and fill gaps. The linebackers will have to get pressure on Browning and wrap up while the secondary will have to prevent big plays. Cornerbacks Arrion Springs and Tyree Robinson will have to keep UW’s receivers at bay while applying pressure on Browning to give the Ducks a chance.

Washington: For the first time since the win streak began, Washington has athletes that can keep up with Oregon. The front four controlled the trenches against Stanford, which allowed the Huskies to drop seven in coverage every time. The secondary is among the nation’s best and led by All-American safety Budda Baker, the heart and soul of the defense. There are very few flaws in UW’s defense. Collectively, it has allowed 12.8 points per game this year.

Advantage: Washington 

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When Oregon and Washington State meet on Saturday in Pullman, it will be the tale of two teams heading in the wrong direction.

When the game ends, one team will have begun to right the ship while the other will continue its downward spiral.

Oregon began the season with high expectations and a legitimate shot at winning the Pac-12. With new quarterback Dakota Prukop and all-American running back Royce Freeman leading the offense and new defensive coordinator Brady Hoke tightening up the defense, expectations were high in Eugene.

The same can be said for the Cougars. After last year’s breakthrough season, in which it went 9-4 and defeated Miami in the Sun Bowl, Washington State was ready to take the next step and compete for a Pac-12 North title. With the return of quarterback Luke Falk and wide receiver Gabe Marks and an ever-improving defense, the Cougars had all signs pointing towards their movement up the Pac-12 pecking order.

One third of the way through the season, it’s safe to say both teams are underachieving well below their desired expectations.

Oregon’s new defense isn’t improving at the rate it hoped to. The Ducks have been plagued by terrible tackling and gap management along their front seven. Oregon is giving up 32.5 points per game and has struggled mightily in the second half of games.

The Ducks (2-2) limp into Pullman on a two-game losing streak, their first since 2007. Likewise, the Cougars (1-2) have losses to Eastern Washington and Boise State.

The pressure is on Oregon to win. The Ducks are held to high expectations, and a loss to Washington State the week after a home loss to Colorado would put the Oregon program in panic mode.

Fans are already asking questions about head coach Mark Helfrich’s ability to lead the program, as well as whether Hoke was the right hire.

The Ducks have a difficult remaining schedule. They will likely be favored against  Washington State, Arizona State and Oregon State and underdogs against the other opponents. Oregon could hypothetically finish 5-7 and miss out on a bowl game for the first time since 2004.

But if Oregon can get back on track with a big win over the Cougars, it could be the turning point the program needs. Not only would the win relieve some pressure, it would give Oregon some much needed momentum heading into next week’s rivalry game with Washington.

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On Monday, Nov. 7, the 2016 Oregon men’s basketball season will officially be underway.

The opponent, Northwest Christian University, should be a walk in the park for the Ducks, but the game will signify something much greater than a typical season opener.

The Ducks are ranked in the top 10 of five different preseason polls, reaching as high as No. 1 in Lindy’s Sports’ college basketball rankings and No. 2 in Chris Dortch’s rankings. Oregon also checks in at No. 4 in USA TODAY and Bleacher Report’s rankings and No. 8 in the CBS Sports poll.

The Ducks return six of their top eight players from last year’s Elite Eight squad that went 31-7 overall en route to winning the Pac-12 regular season and tournament championships.

Although Oregon lost senior leader Elgin Cook and versatile forward Dwayne Benjamin, the Ducks should be just fine with the return of the three-headed offensive monster: Dillon Brooks, Tyler Dorsey and Chris Boucher. Add in Jordan Bell, Casey Benson, Dylan Ennis and four-start recruit Payton Pritchard, and the Ducks should be deeper and more athletic than last year’s squad.

With two-time reigning Pac-12 Coach of the Year Dana Altman at the helm, the Ducks look to have their best shot in years at an NCAA Championship in April.

But even with a stacked roster and renowned head coach, is Oregon’s hype truly justified? Or is it just as it reads, preseason hype?

There’s no doubt Oregon will have an array of offensive weapons at its disposal, but with any Altman-coached team, defense will be the primary focus. That’s where the loss of Cook and Benjamin could hurt the Ducks.

Both players were rangy 6-foot-7 defenders who had the quickness to defend guards and strength to defend posts, a necessity in today’s game. Besides Brooks, the Ducks could have trouble finding bodies on the roster who can do what Cook and Benjamin did for the defense.

Oregon may also find trouble balancing the depth at the point guard position. Benson returns as the floor leader after leading the NCAA in assist-to-turnover ratio last year (4.88) and playing in Altman’s system for three years. Ennis is coming off a foot injury, but provides the scoring punch Benson lacks. Incoming freshman Payton Pritchard is Oregon’s highest-rated recruit and should see the court right away based on pure talent and ability. Add in Dorsey, Oregon’s biggest and most NBA-ready guard, and the Ducks have a logjam at that position. Altman could have a tough time finding time for each of them to shine.

Brooks, who is widely considered a contender for national player of the year, will begin the season on the bench. He is nursing a foot injury and will miss some time after not playing all summer. It could be awhile before he returns and might take extra time to get back to form.

Oregon does have a favorable schedule, including Arizona visiting Matthew Knight Arena, but the ultimate success of the team will depend on how Altman and the Ducks sort out the pending questions. The Ducks have the potential to play deep into March, but given the hype, anything short of that could be considered a disappointment.

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