Boucher wins petition, men’s basketball opens NCAA tourney vs. Holy Cross

Originally Posted on Emerald Media via UWIRE

– After receiving its first one-seed in program history on Sunday, the men’s basketball team received more good news on Wednesday: Center Chris Boucher will return next season. Boucher’s last year of eligibility was under scrutiny because he attended a prep school before transferring to junior college. The nation’s leading shot blocker is the only player in Pac-12 history to record more than 100 blocks and 35 3-pointers in a season.

– Men’s basketball opens the NCAA Tournament Round of 64 against 16th seed Holy Cross in Spokane. Oregon, the one-seed in the West region, got there by stomping Arizona 88-57 in the Pac-12 Championship game. The Ducks will need to rely on the hot shooting of freshman Tyler Dorsey and senior leader Elgin Cook, who was named MVP of the Pac-12 Tournament. Since the founding of the NCAA Tournament in 1939, never has a 16 seed upended a one-seed.

– The West region of the NCAA Tournament features some formidable opponents. National Player of the Year candidate Buddy Hield and Oklahoma are the two-seed, and Texas A&M is the three. Duke or Baylor could be waiting in the third round if Oregon can first get by Holy Cross, then the winner of St. Joes vs. Cincinnati. Oregon State matches up with VCU in the bottom half of the bracket, along with Shaka Smart-led Texas and upset-prone Northern Iowa. In total, the West features four teams ranked in the AP Top 25.

– Coming off a disappointing end to it’s season, women’s basketball looks to the end the season on a high note in the WNIT, starting with Long Beach State on Thursday. The Ducks lost All-American Jillian Alleyne to a season ending knee injury then got bounced in the first round of the Pac-12 Championship.

– Coming off a three game sweep at the hands of Mississippi State, the baseball team is looking to bounce back as it heads into Pac-12 play. The Ducks have compiled an 8-5 record, but posted a conference-low .206 batting average. The Ducks open league play with a three game series against Utah on Friday at PK park.

Follow Gus Morris on Twitter @JustGusMorris

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