Oregon Basketball: Ducks Lose Momentum Entering Pac-12 Tournament

Oregon Basketball Head Coach Dana Altman went into the final weekend of the regular season looking to continue momentum that has carried his team in past seasons, but two brutal road losses come with more questions than answers.

Wins earlier this season that could have started something against UCLA and USC on the road are now an aberration. Oregon ended the season losing five of their last six games and lost their first-round bye in the Pac-12 Tournament which starts later this week. The top four seeds earn a first-round bye which can make a big difference in who ultimately wins the conference bid to the NCAA Tournament.

Oregon on the road has had a rough go of late losing four straight road games, some of which they were not expected to win, but simply compete. Right now, you are not going to beat a highly ranked Arizona team that seems poised not only for a Pac-12 Tourney win, but a likely number one seed in the NCAA Tournament. As for the rest – if they make it far enough, you are likely looking at a high seed to the play for a conference that does not have much respect this season overall.

The Conference has just three ranked teams, Arizona at 2, UCLA at 17, and USC at 16. Two are just one loss away from dropping out of the rankings.

I have never been one to discount past history, and yes, Altman and the Ducks can start to make a run on Thursday. They will face Oregon State who has struggled with just three wins on the season.

As I said before the season started, this team goes as far as Will Richardson can take them. If he can get started early and show his game experience, Oregon should come out with a first-round win. The Ducks will have four games in four days and will need to win all four for a chance to get a ticket to the NCAA Tournament.

Oregon and Oregon State tipoff on Wednesday, March 9th at 2:30 pm Pacific Time on Pac-12 Networks.