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Oregon Basketball: 3 bold predictions vs. VCU in first-round battle

By Connor Muldowney

LOS ANGELES, CA - FEBRUARY 22: LJ Figueroa #12, Eugene Omoruyi #2, Jalen Terry #3 , LJ Figueroa #12 and Chris Duarte #5 of the Oregon Ducks while playing the USC Trojans at Galen Center on February 22, 2021 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by John McCoy/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - FEBRUARY 22: LJ Figueroa #12, Eugene Omoruyi #2, Jalen Terry #3 , LJ Figueroa #12 and Chris Duarte #5 of the Oregon Ducks while playing the USC Trojans at Galen Center on February 22, 2021 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by John McCoy/Getty Images) /
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RICHMOND, VA – NOVEMBER 25: Nah’Shon Hyland #5 of the VCU Rams in the second half during a game against the Alabama State Hornets at Stuart C. Siegel Center on November 25, 2019 in Richmond, Virginia. (Photo by Ryan M. Kelly/Getty Images)
RICHMOND, VA – NOVEMBER 25: Nah’Shon Hyland #5 of the VCU Rams in the second half during a game against the Alabama State Hornets at Stuart C. Siegel Center on November 25, 2019 in Richmond, Virginia. (Photo by Ryan M. Kelly/Getty Images) /

2. Ducks hold Nah’Shon “Bones” Hyland under 15 points

This might seem like a tall task for Oregon, and that’s because it is. The Ducks will be facing one of the best mid-major players in the country and he was just named the Atlantic 10 Player of the Year.

The sophomore has been torching A-10 competition all season long, leading the Rams to the NCAA Tournament as an at-large big after a 19-7 regular season. He fought through nagging foot injuries over the final couple of weeks to get VCU to the postseason and he should be the target of Oregon’s defense all night.

Hyland, a 6-3, 165-pound sophomore, averages 19.5 points points per game while shooting 45 percent from the floor and 37 percent from deep but he’s one of just two Rams who average in double figures. This means Oregon will have no problem doubling him early and often.

Plus, Hyland has been dealing with a foot injury for weeks and that may have affected his conditioning. Oregon also has one of the best defenses he’ll have faced all year and they’re going to keep him to just under 15 points on less than 35 percent shooting from the floor.

It’s going to be a long night for Bones.

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