NCAA Tournament: Oregon Ducks Overcome Slow Start, Fly Past Holy Cross
The Oregon Ducks showed what a top seed should do in the NCAA should do in their first round game and took care of business against Holy Cross, 91-52.
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It was a slow start for the Oregon Ducks in their First Round game of the NCAA Tournament against Holy Cross. The Ducks started 0 for 5, but Holy Cross did not see their first points of the game until over four minutes into the first half. Once the Oregon Ducks found their rhythm it was over.
As a team, the Ducks had 28 points in the paint just into the second half, the Crusaders had 27 points overall. It ended up being the mismatch that everyone expected after a weekend of Pac-12 upsets that saw Arizona, USC, and Colorado make early exits.
For Holy Cross Robert Champion finished with 22 points, but Oregon was too much and turned the Crusaders into a one man show while looking more like a three ring circus in Spokane with shots from every angle going through the net. Oregon shot better than 56 percent for the game. With 7 minutes left in the game the Oregon Ducks were flexing their muscle, up 39 points on Holy Cross. Dana Altman had his team ready for the challenge and Oregon looked the part.
Oregon looked like a Number One seed. Earlier in the day, Michigan State fell in the NCAA Tournament. Many believed that the Spartans would end up as a top seed, but the Madness has gotten to more than one team in the first weekend as just one lone bracket done through CBSSports is still perfect. One.
One is another important number for the Oregon Ducks. They will get to play at least One more game. They now need to win six straight for the National Championship. On Friday night it was all Oregon. Chris Boucher had 20 points and 5 rebounds. Elgin Cook had a double double with 11 points and 13 rebounds. Dwayne Benjamin was solid off the bench hitting five of six from the floor and two of three from beyond the arc.
Next: Are Oregon Ducks Not Getting Respect As A Number One Seed?
Oregon will face the winner of the the 9 seed St Joseph’s and 8 seed Cincinnati on Sunday. The tipoff for the final game of the night in Spokane is set for 7:18pm Pacific Time.