Oregon Ducks Men’s Basketball Earn Highest AP Poll Ranking In 9 Years, Enter Top Ten
The Oregon Ducks have made a move to join the Nation’s elite programs leading up to the Pac-12 Tournament and enter this week’s Associated Press Poll ranked 9th in the country.
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Dana Altman has the Oregon Ducks peaking at the right time. Following two road losses last week at Cal and Stanford, the Pac-12 Leaders took care of business at home for the final time this season beating Washington State and Washington. Not only did they take down the Washington schools, they finished the 17 game home slate undefeated in 2015-16 and extended their home winning streak to 25 games going back to last year. It is the highest ranking ever for an Altman coached Oregon team and 9th puts Oregon in the middle of the discussion.
Every season has been special since Dana Altman has come to Eugene, but this year is more so. The team is ranked in the Top 10 of the Associated Press Basketball poll and has a half game lead on Utah for the Pac-12 Conference crown. Arizona, who was expected to be a top challenger lost their last two games on the road against Colorado and Utah. There is a lot of season left to play for Oregon and the rest of the Pac-12. Right now, it is anyone’s Conference crown to win, but for Oregon it is nice to be in the drivers seat.
"Their front line is the best in this league and Casey Benson is the best glue guy in the whole league. They (Oregon) do all the little things right. They pay attention to detail, they don’t give up transition baskets, they don’t give up easy baskets. You earn everything you are going to get against this Oregon Ducks team.Pac-12 Network Analyst Kevin O’Neill On The Oregon Ducks Following Their Win vs Washington on Sunday"
The road this season has been a killer – case and point – Arizona. The Oregon Ducks need to take care of business this week at UCLA and USC. Oregon also has an outside chance at a top seed in the NCAA Tournament. Winning this weekend will give them an extra day of rest. The Conference is tight at the top with the Ducks battling Arizona, Utah, and Cal for the 2015 Regular season title.
Next: Oregon Baseball Wins 3 of 4 vs Illinois State
The Oregon Ducks face UCLA on Wednesday at 6pm Pacific Time on ESPN2.