March 2007 Archives
1:01 PM Tue, Mar 27, 2007 | Permalink
Joe Becker
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By Joe Becker
Only one team will finish the season winning it's final game...and that will be the National Champion. Everyone else, no matter how great the season was, will be left somewhat dissapointed.
It was truly a special season for the Ducks. They won 29 games, tying the 1939 Tall Firs for second most in school history, and reached the elite 8 for the second time in six seasons. They beat every team seeded higher than ...
11:51 PM Fri, Mar 23, 2007 | Permalink
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From the response we got while covering the Regionals in Spokane....the live blogging during the NCAA tourney, for the most part, worked out well.
Joe Becker is at the Sweet 16 in his hometown of St. Louis....and brought the laptop with him.....but he has a computer that seems to have a mind of his own.
He is going to attempt it tomorrow as the Ducks prepare for the defending champion Florida Gators.
As for the Duck...
1:38 PM Sun, Mar 18, 2007 | Permalink
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...the Ducks are on their way to the Sweet 16.
Oregon has their largest lead of the day at 18 points with just over 4 minutes to play.
Time for me to exit stage right.....and get my stories started for the newscast tonight.
We will have a ton of coverage from Spokane throughout the night.....including extensive coverage on Sports Sunday.
Tune in then.....the Ducks dance continues on!!!
Now up 19 with 3:24 left....
1:25 PM Sun, Mar 18, 2007 | Permalink
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now at 15 points. Although they are 8 minutes to play, the Ducks look like they can punch their ticket to the Gateway City. I believe that's what St. Louis is called!
McCullough just posterized Brooks on a serious tomahawk throwdown. That's Winthrop's only highlight of the second half. The Ducks lead 59-44 with just a shade under 8 minutes to play.
Brooks has 20...as the Ducks have connected on 11 of 21 from beyond the arc....
1:06 PM Sun, Mar 18, 2007 | Permalink
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Oregon's trio of guards (sometimes quartet) are bringing it....none moreso than Porter who has hit three deep shots....and has 11 of his 14 in the opening 5 minutes.
The Ducks now lead the Eagles by 11 on the strenth of Porter and Leunen.
It's 48-37 with 15 minutes to play.....
Can they keep on keepin' on?? St. Louis is in their sights...and they are playing like they want to be there!!
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12:57 PM Sun, Mar 18, 2007 | Permalink
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Oregon is getting production from the pint-sized Tajuan Porter.....who just hit back-to-back 3's. Actually the later of the two is being reviewed now.
Nonetheless, the Ducks appear to be firing on all cylinders. Defensively, they are pressuring Winthrop...and they are knocking down from the perimeter.
Porter's foot was on line.....so Ducks lead 38-31.
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12:35 PM Sun, Mar 18, 2007 | Permalink
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...until DeAndre Adams hits a runner in the lane at the first half buzzer.
Oregon is disrupting Winthrop on the defensive end....causing the eagles to fumble it away on numerous trips at the tail end of the half.
Here at halftime...the Ducks lead it by 4...33-29.
If the Ducks can maintain the same intensity....and not force up shots they should be in good business. The old cliche holds true...this is a marathon, not a spri...
12:31 PM Sun, Mar 18, 2007 | Permalink
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The Ducks are getting hot....while the Golden Eagles are having a little cold spell.
Aaron Brooks is keeping Oregon in this.....they lead 29-27. AB has game high 14.
Hairston scores inside....Oregon up 4.
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12:15 PM Sun, Mar 18, 2007 | Permalink
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The Golden Eagles are amidst a 6-oh run....thanks to a Taj McCullough jam.
Winthrop has the momentum and the attitude....they also lead it 23-17 right now with just over 7 minutes to play...
Hairston 3 just cut Oregon's deficit to 3......strap yourselves in for this track meet.
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12:07 PM Sun, Mar 18, 2007 | Permalink
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Thus far, it's exactly what we thought coming in.
Both teams want to run....and both teams have shooters.
The Duck band is playing "Hip to be Square"....and we are just that at the 10:57 mark of the first half.
Oregon and Winthrop tied at 17.
More as it develops....
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11:54 AM Sun, Mar 18, 2007 | Permalink
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I back-up my previous blog with the first 3.5 minutes of the first half.
Defensively, this Winthrop team is impressive....and fast. Leunen just picked up his first foul of the day. The Golden Eagles have the adrenaline pumping right now as they lead it 6-4 early. I'm still concerned about the focus that Oregon has. They know Winthrop's story pretty well....now they are seeing it.
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10:15 AM Sun, Mar 18, 2007 | Permalink
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We are about 2.5 hours from tip-off over at the Spokane Arena....and, the more I think about it, I'm really not too hot on Oregon's chances today. It's a feeling that I've had for the past 24 hours or so. Winthrop is the 11-seed....with it's only losses this season coming to tournament teams N.Carolina, Maryland, Texas A&M, and Wisconsin. Those are a 1, 2, 3 and 4 seed (not in that order).
Ironically, as I'm typing this, Clark Kello...
12:58 PM Sat, Mar 17, 2007 | Permalink
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No, Allen Iverson isn't here....but the Oregon Ducks are about two hours away from their most crucial practice of the season. We just arrived to the Spokane Arena, where it is very quiet. Understandable, given that there are no games here today.
Tomorrow's opponent (Winthrop) is on the floor now....which is closed to the public and media. However, I did just take a peek in there.....and the Golden Eagles are as serious as ever. D...
3:34 PM Fri, Mar 16, 2007 | Permalink
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Here comes Ducks junior Bryce Taylor....two big 3's has the Ducks up 54-46.
Taylor--as you may recall--made all 11 of his shots in their last game vs. USC.
Just under 4 minutes to play....timeout on the floor.....Ducks lead it by 8.
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3:24 PM Fri, Mar 16, 2007 | Permalink
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Ernie Kent is using a 7-man rotation...so his guys may seem a little spent right now.
Adam Zahn has come in to put a body on the Pollitz twins....and he quickly picked up 3 fouls. However, it's working....as the Ducks have stretched their lead to 8 with 7:37 to play.
Side note: Nobody can seem to keep their eyes off the Duck cheerleaders. I will agree, they are very easy on the eyes. :)
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3:17 PM Fri, Mar 16, 2007 | Permalink
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Basketball is a game of runs....but Miami doesn't want to go away anytime soon.
Oregon leads 44-38 with 10:15 left in the game. The fans are just now starting to get into it with the Duck band playing the school fight song -- Mighty Oregon.
Strap yourselves in....this could be a down to the wire. Doug Penno looks rested too--but let's not go there right now.
More later...
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2:42 PM Fri, Mar 16, 2007 | Permalink
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We have reached halftime here in Spokane....as the Ducks lead it 25-22.
Oregon seemed to relax a little after their massive 20-0 run....and the Redhawks capitalized thanks to Micheal Bramos' hot hand from outside. He hit three of 'em from beyond the arc.
The Ducks must bring the energy back on the defensive end....I thought they got a little soft and less aggressive. A very important half of basketball looms ahead. Good energ...
2:19 PM Fri, Mar 16, 2007 | Permalink
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I said a game of runs....the Ducks are on a 17-nothing run....courtesy of a monster jam by the pride of Redmond, Maarty Leunen. Malik Hairston just tacked on a free-throw...18-oh run....and yes, the Ducks are in serious rythym now. It is on!! Bryyce Taylor just scored....Oregon looks to be picking up where they left off in the Pac-10 tourney.
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2:10 PM Fri, Mar 16, 2007 | Permalink
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Miami starts on a 9-0 run....and now it's Oregon's turn.
Aaron Brooks is getting into the groove.....having scored last 5 points. The later coming on a nice pull up jumper. A new game all over again. By the way...Winthrops head coach is sitting right in front of me. He's the star of press row!
More later....
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2:07 PM Fri, Mar 16, 2007 | Permalink
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The Ducks cheerleaders run out onto floor during timeout....only to see representitive from NCAA run like a mad woman out onto floor screaming "NO, OREGON....NO".
They had to scramble back....it wasn't their turn! Classic....one of those "had to be there moments".
Just mentioned on PA that Tennessee put up 121 points on Long Beach State....WOW!
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1:59 PM Fri, Mar 16, 2007 | Permalink
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...aren't matching the intensity whatsoever that Miami, OH is. I guess there is something to say for seeing an opponent first. The Ducks trail early, 9-zip....and have yet to find a rythym anywhere on the floor. Good thing is....there is 17:34 left in opening half!
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1:28 PM Fri, Mar 16, 2007 | Permalink
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It's over...and Winthrop is into the second round. A thrilling last 2 minutes provided of excitement.....but the Irish fold under the fast-paced Eagles, 74-64.
Barely 60 seconds had passed....and the Oregon Ducks were taking the floor.
New AD Pat Kilkenny is in the house....seated right alongside Phil Knightj--shocking revelation, I know. When the Ducks came out...they were greeted by cheers and boo's....don't know what that's ...
12:58 PM Fri, Mar 16, 2007 | Permalink
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It appears the "luck of the Irish" has run out. The Golden Eagles are up by 14 with 9:33 left....and are on their way to their 19th consecutive victory. A strong contingent of Duck fans are already in the house here in Spokane ready for the days second game.
A couple observations on Winthrop....they are fast and aggressive. It's a style that is similar to Oregon's....plus, they also play well on the defensive end.
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7:56 PM Thu, Mar 15, 2007 | Permalink
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Spokane....we're here! That's the vibe the Oregon Ducks are silently chanting.
My photographer (you know him as Brian "The Ace" Warner) and I drove the nearly 6 hours to get to the capital of the Inland Empire. Peaceful drive really. And, it happened to be my first trip back through my old stomping grounds in the Tri-Cities.
Geographically speaking....the Ducks are the closest of the 8 teams in the Midwest Regional. Today...
