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NCAA Tournament Elite 8: Oregon Ducks Revisiting History vs Oklahoma

By Justin Phillips

March 24, 2016; Anaheim, CA, USA; Oklahoma Sooners head coach Lon Kruger speaks to guard Buddy Hield (24) against Texas A&M Aggies during the first half of the semifinal game in the West regional of the NCAA Tournament at Honda Center. Mandatory Credit: Robert Hanashiro-USA TODAY Sports
March 24, 2016; Anaheim, CA, USA; Oklahoma Sooners head coach Lon Kruger speaks to guard Buddy Hield (24) against Texas A&M Aggies during the first half of the semifinal game in the West regional of the NCAA Tournament at Honda Center. Mandatory Credit: Robert Hanashiro-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Oregon Men’s Basketball team enter the Elite 8 and face Oklahoma, a team that has coaching and historical ties in the NCAA Tourament.

The Oregon Ducks are entering unchartered territory, or territory they have not seen in 70 years, and the benchmarks with each game won keeps reminding us of the History of the Program. Last week it was St. Joseph’s that started the flashback and now not only has Oregon not faced Oklahoma in the NCAA Tournament in the same timespan, but there is a special connection between Oregon Ducks Head Coach Dana Altman and Oklahoma Head Coach Lon Kruger. It was Kruger who saw the potential on Altman and gave him his first job as a Division I assistant in 1986 according to GoDucks.com.

In the NCAA Tournament both Oregon and Oklahoma have mirrored each other with the same field goal percentage and close to the same output in points per game and rebounds according to ESPN. Buddy Hield leads the Sooners with close to 27 points per game this season. Jordan Yearwood and Isaiah Cousins are also players to watch. All three are hitting over 40 percent from beyond the arc. However, the Oregon Ducks Perimeter Defense has been sured up the last two games against Duke and St. Joseph’s. That will have to continue on Saturday against Oklahoma.

The Sooners are averaging 81 points per game to the Ducks 80, however Altman has had his guys ready for every game with a business-like approach. Dillon Brooks has been a force all season for the Oregon Ducks both inside and outside the arc. Of course, the supporting cast has been pretty good too. Everyone can shoot, but on the Defensive end, Chris Boucher and Jordan Bell are the guys on the inside that can really make a difference (See Bell vs Duke).

The Oregon Ducks Defense has also stepped up in the NCAA Tournament proving they can disrupt the most talented Offense. St. Joe’s DeAndre Bembry was held to two points for close to 20 minutes of game time before he rallied the Hawks in the final minutes, but an Oregon run gave the Ducks enough to prevail. Against Duke on Thursday, the Ducks Perimeter Defense stood tall against the Blue Devils in the final minutes to earn the victory.

The Oregon Ducks will have to contain Hield and again limit the three pointer from Oklahoma. The Final Four is on the line and Oregon is three wins from a National Championship.

Next: Ducks Defeat Duke, Land In Elite 8

Oregon and Oklahoma tipoff at 3:09pm Pacific Time on CBS.

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