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Oregon Basketball: 3 potential first-round matchups in 2021 NCAA Tournament

By Connor Muldowney

CORVALLIS, OREGON - MARCH 07: Will Richardson #0 talks with LJ Figueroa #12 of the Oregon Ducks as they enter the game during the first half against the Oregon State Beavers at Gill Coliseum on March 07, 2021 in Corvallis, Oregon. (Photo by Soobum Im/Getty Images)
CORVALLIS, OREGON - MARCH 07: Will Richardson #0 talks with LJ Figueroa #12 of the Oregon Ducks as they enter the game during the first half against the Oregon State Beavers at Gill Coliseum on March 07, 2021 in Corvallis, Oregon. (Photo by Soobum Im/Getty Images) /
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Mar 6, 2021; Richmond, Virginia, USA; St. Bonaventure Bonnies players celebrate after their game against the Saint Louis Billikens in a semifinal of the Atlantic 10 conference tournament at Stuart C. Siegel Center. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 6, 2021; Richmond, Virginia, USA; St. Bonaventure Bonnies players celebrate after their game against the Saint Louis Billikens in a semifinal of the Atlantic 10 conference tournament at Stuart C. Siegel Center. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports /

2. St. Bonaventure Bonnies

Everyone is always wondering what the experts think and this one is subject to change based on Friday’s results in the Pac-12 Tournament semifinals, but on Friday morning, Jerry Palm of CBS Sports had Oregon as a No. 6 seed, facing No. 11 seed St. Bonaventure from the Atlantic 10.

No one saw St. Bonaventure contending for an Atlantic 10 title before the season, but the Bonnies currently find themselves 15-4 overall and have won the regular season conference championship. Now they are preparing for a matchup with VCU (another potential opponent for Oregon) in the Atlantic 10 title game.

The Bonnies don’t exactly have an electric offense, averaging around 70 points per game, but they have one of the best defenses in college basketball, holding teams to around 60.

St. Bonaventure has won five of the past six games and they are favored to win the conference title game. Out of their four losses this season, three have come by six points or less and two were by three points. This team was a couple of breaks away from being 17-2.

This team isn’t incredibly deep but they have balanced scoring with five guys averaging double figures this season.

While this could be an upset, Oregon would likely handle business in this matchup.

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