As Elgin Cook said at Oregon’s practice Monday, it’s a new season. The Ducks, winners of the Pac-12 regular season title for the first time since 2002, head into the postseason riding a five-game winning streak. With the Pac-12 Tournament beginning March 9, associate sports editor Hayden Kim and staff reporter Ryan Kostecka break down Oregon’s outlook heading into March.
What’s the ceiling for Oregon heading into the postseason?
RK: Is there any singularly dominant team in college basketball this year or are there multiple very good teams who could take it all? I’m going with the latter and throwing Oregon into that mix as a very good team. In a crazy season of college basketball thus far, there’s no reason why Oregon, with its talent and defense, can’t be the last team standing. Do I think it will happen? No — but I wouldn’t be shocked if it did.
HK: Top-10 ranking aside, this Oregon team can compete with any team in the country and it has proven that sentiment this season as Pac-12 regular season champs. March is always dependent on matchups, but barring any big mishap in the Pac-12 Tournament, Oregon will presumably lock up a second or third seed in the NCAA Tournament. With that in mind, the Sweet Sixteen and further really isn’t far-fetched.
Looking back at Oregon’s most successful regular season since 2002, what stands out above all else?
RK: Dana Altman and the stellar things he gets out of transfers. First off, Altman is one of the best coaches, if not the most underrated coach, in the nation. His ability to gameplan for opposing teams combined with the way he gets his players to buy into the team concept is beyond baffling and extremely impressive. Secondly, Chris Boucher has been nothing short of phenomenal as a shot-blocking, corner-three making, game-changing transfer while Dylan Ennis has barely seen the court due to injury but has been the unquestionable emotional leader of this team.
HK: Look no further than the job that Dana Altman has done in his sixth season as Oregon’s head coach. Despite losing one of the most anticipated graduate transfer additions in Dylan Ennis to a season ending foot injury, Altman has managed to put together his best effort since getting hired back in 2010. Announced on Monday, Altman won the Pac-12 coach of the year award, making it back-to-back years he’s received the award and three of the last four.
With half the conference projected to make the NCAA Tournament, how do you think the Pac-12 will fare?
RK: I think the Pac-12 occupies at least three of the Sweet-16 spots but I wouldn’t be surprised if it controls one-fourth of the occupants. Oregon, Utah and Arizona are all but locks to make the Sweet-16, which leaves Cal, USC, Washington and Oregon State as the final teams remaining. While all teams are capable of making the Sweet-16, I think Cal will be the final Pac-12 team to make the second weekend of the NCAA Tournament.
HK: I wouldn’t be the least bit surprised if the Pac-12 ultimately sends at least two teams to the Sweet Sixteen. All top four teams from the conference — Oregon, Utah, California and Arizona — have proven they contain the talent, veteran leadership and coaches to make a splash at the dance, especially during a season that hasn’t seen too much disparity among the top-tier teams across the country.
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