— As Oregon’s highest scorer during individual play, Sulman Raza knew he was going to have to step his game up when the Ducks began match play. He did just that. Raza defeated the top players from both LSU and Illinois in match play on Tuesday, helping send the Ducks to the final round of the NCAA Championship, where they’ll face No. 1 seeded Texas today.
Oregon began yesterday as the No. 6 seed and defeated No. 3 seed and reigning national champion LSU 3-1-1 in the morning, before Raza’s clutch putt defeated Illinois 3-2 in the afternoon.
— Not only is did Oregon make history yesterday in advancing to its first ever NCAA Golf championship round, sophomore Aaron Wise helped make history the day before for the Ducks. Wise shot a four-rout total 275 (five under) to give Oregon’s its first ever individual golf national champion. Wise, who defeated USC’s Rico Hoey to win by two strokes, is playing in his last collegiate tournament before turning professional.
— With the return of Dillon Brooks and Tyler Dorsey teaming up with Chris Boucher and incoming freshman Payton Pritchard, Oregon is in prime position to repeat as Pac-12 champions, according to multiple reports.
After the Ducks’ season ended in the Elite Eight to national runner-up Oklahoma, Brooks and Dorsey declared for the draft but didn’t hire agents. On the last day to withdraw their names from the draft to be eligible for college basketball this upcoming season, Brooks and Dorsey both announced their intent to return to college for at least one more year.
Brooks is already being declared the best player in the Pac-12, while multiple news outlets have Oregon ranked in the top-10 already.
— Yesterday, the Pac-12 announced its All-Century track and field team. As to be expected, a number of Ducks were chosen for the honor. Oregon’s 8 athletes chosen for the team were: Joaquim Cruz (1983-84), Dyrol Burleson (1959-62), Matthew Centrowitz (2008-11), Edward Cheserek (2014-Present), Steve Prefontaine (1970-73), Galen Rupp (2005-09), Mac Wilkins (1972-73) and Ashton Eaton (2007-10).
The athletes have a combined six Olympic medals between them, and Cheserek has the most NCAA Championships with 10 and counting.
Follow Ryan Kostecka on Twitter @Ryan_Kostecka