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Oregon Basketball: 3 keys to a deep 2021 NCAA Tournament run

By Connor Muldowney

Oregon's Will Richardson, left, Chris Duarte, LJ Figueroa and Eugene Omoruyi head to the bench during a timeout in the first half.Eug 030321 Uombb07
Oregon's Will Richardson, left, Chris Duarte, LJ Figueroa and Eugene Omoruyi head to the bench during a timeout in the first half.Eug 030321 Uombb07 /
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CORVALLIS, OREGON – MARCH 07: LJ Figueroa #12 and Chris Duarte #5 of the Oregon Ducks walk to the bench for a time out during the second 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: LJ Figueroa #12 and Chris Duarte #5 of the Oregon Ducks walk to the bench for a time out during the second half against the Oregon State Beavers at Gill Coliseum on March 07, 2021 in Corvallis, Oregon. (Photo by Soobum Im/Getty Images) /

2. Avoid slow starts

In all six of Oregon’s losses this season, the Ducks found themselves trailing at halftime. In three of their last four defeats, the Ducks were trailing by double-digits for a decent margin of the first half. Oregon State was up as much as 13 in the mid-season matchup, USC raced out to a 17-1 lead and never looked back and then the Beavers caught the Ducks napping again in the Pac-12 tourney.

Slow starts have been this team’s kryptonite.

Oregon is 5-6 when trailing at halftime this season and 15-0 when leading after 20 minutes. Slow starts are pretty much the difference between a 7-seed and a top-three seed. If Oregon avoided those slow starts, it would likely be looked at as one of the favorites to win it all.

The Ducks have the pieces to compete and potentially take home the national title, but falling behind early and being forced to play catch-up can have them heading home on the first weekend.

Get that halftime lead and there’s a good chance this team will maintain it.

Next. 3 takeaways from Oregon's ugly loss to Oregon State. dark

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