Oregon Basketball: 3 takeaways from monster win over No. 2 Iowa

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Mar 22, 2021; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Oregon Ducks guard LJ Figueroa (12) celebrates after a play against the Iowa Hawkeyes during the first half in the second round of the 2021 NCAA Tournament at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports /

2. This starting five may be as good as any in the tourney

At one point in this one, the starters had about 70 points while the bench scored zero. Oregon just didn’t need to dip into the bench that much and the Ducks haven’t all year.

That didn’t change against a fast-paced Iowa team.

Both teams were running up and down the floor in a track meet all game long and the starters still played most of the minutes and didn’t even look tired. This group may be the most underrated starting five in the entire tournament as they’ve now appeared in eight straight games together.

Chris Duarte is an All-American and had 23 points, seven assists and two steals to lead the Ducks, LG Figueroa was hot from deep with five 3-pointers and 21 points, Will Richardson had 19 points, seven assists and six rebounds, Eugene Omoruyi had 17 points, six rebounds, five assists, two blocks and two steals and Eric Williams Jr. had nine points and two boards.

When your least productive player finishes with nearly 10 points, you know you have a pretty solid group.

Oregon’s starting five proved that it can match up with just about anyone this March.

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