MBB: #24 USC @ Oregon (Dec. 2, Tue 7 PM FS1)

[greenyellow]

Big 10 play starts against the undefeated Trojans.

[UOducksTK1]

These are must win games. Playing on the road in Big Ten is gonna be tough, so winning most home games is essential. Lose a few of these type games, and NCAA tournament will not be a reality.

[Greenblood]

It definitely doesn't feel good right now. I actually think, given the state of the team right now, this would be a REALLY big victory if they could pull it off. I am pessimistic. Hopefully the home crowd is into it.

[greenyellow]

Good news/bad news as Oregon will be without Nate Bittle but USC will be missing their leading scorer.

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[Everythingsducky]

Damn, Lindsay played great last game. Shame if he doesn’t play.

[Everythingsducky]

Ducks give up six offensive rebounds in one possession, get a steal, get fouled, then miss both free throws with 4 minutes to go. Bittle missing is killer.

[Everythingsducky]

Simpkins missing 2/3 free throws with 2:20 to go doesn’t help either. Shelstad disappeared in the 2nd half. Granted SC focused on him. But he gave ZERO in the 2nd half. He frustrates the sh*t out of me. ZERO points in the 2nd half with Bittle out. He has to figure out how to score or try to get to the rim when his team needs him. Not a fan of his this year. Ducks are going to seriously struggle this year. 0-4 last four games. YIKES. Could end up being Dana’s worst season at UO.

[GDuck]

Based on what I’ve seen of this team so far this season, it may be a lost season. Supporting players are just not very good but not surprising based on their transfer portal rankings. Sad for Bittle’s last season and who knows about Shelstad and Evans. Even our big 3 don’t consistently play well too.

[Everythingsducky]

Based on what I’ve seen of this team so far this season, it may be a lost season. Supporting players are just not very good but not surprising based on their transfer portal rankings. Sad for Bittle’s last season and who knows about Shelstad and Evans. Even our big 3 don’t consistently play well too.

Is it a lack of NIL money? Is it atrocious recruiting/transfer evaluation? Did they stupidly blow their wad on Bittle/Shelstad/KJ? Whatever it is, it absolutely backfired on many decisions. And Bittle probably wasn’t saving the couple games he missed. They just plain ain’t good. If this were a team that is consistently in the top 15, I wouldn’t believe coaching played a part. As much as I love what Dana has done, and as loyal as he has been, it may be time to look at younger blood, younger styles, younger ideas, and younger connections to a younger audience. Flame away, but how Lanning connects with his recruits age, maybe the Ducks are losing their hoops connection because of just that.

[UOducksTK1]

Darn, we played decently tonight. Just too many defensive lapses and small mistakes here and there.

It was a very evenly matched game otherwise.

[Everythingsducky]

Darn, we played decently tonight. Just too many defensive lapses and small mistakes here and there.

It was a very evenly matched game otherwise.

We watched different games then. SC wasn’t losing this game. Too many good shooters, too many rebounds lost. Was it close, yes, but the feeling was the Ducks were going to find a way to lose, which they did. I wasn’t surprised. Ducks have to win these kind of games, and they have proven they can’t versus a quality opponent so far. Will say it over and over, the Ducks won’t be in the top 10 of the BIG 10, and won’t sniff the tournament. Come wake me if I’m wrong. This is Dana’s last dance, pun not intended.

[ElPatoLoco]

This is tough. This year’s team isn’t very good. I appreciate everything Dana has done for the program. I remember a few year’s back when we didn’t do so well and some fans wanted him gone. At the time I didn’t agree. And it wasn’t the time. But I now do think it’s time. It’s different - NIL and the players. He’s my favorite coach at Oregon. Unfortunately a change is needed


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[Phalanx]

It feels like Oregon is not keeping up with NIL spending in basketball. Attendance at games is certainly not on a par with other Big Ten schools. If so, I'm not sure changing coaches is going to help a lot, unless we are looking for someone who is better at finding those under-rated players. It probably is time for Coach Dana to retire anyway, but I wonder if Oregon can find anyone as good.

[Duck07]

It feels like Oregon is not keeping up with NIL spending in basketball. Attendance at games is certainly not on a par with other Big Ten schools. If so, I'm not sure changing coaches is going to help a lot, unless we are looking for someone who is better at finding those under-rated players. It probably is time for Coach Dana to retire anyway, but I wonder if Oregon can find anyone as good.

I just don't think Dana is built for the NIL and that's nothing against him at all. I think there's been a drastic amount of change in a relatively short period of time and that while he still knows the game, the ability to connect with players today isn't the same for him. He's mentioned the trouble in getting through to the players and it's got to be frustrating for him

I do think that we can find another talented HC to lead the program and that Rob probably needs to start getting that list of names now to be ready.

[UOducksTK1]

Darn, we played decently tonight. Just too many defensive lapses and small mistakes here and there.

It was a very evenly matched game otherwise.

We watched different games then. SC wasn’t losing this game. Too many good shooters, too many rebounds lost. Was it close, yes, but the feeling was the Ducks were going to find a way to lose, which they did. I wasn’t surprised. Ducks have to win these kind of games, and they have proven they can’t versus a quality opponent so far. Will say it over and over, the Ducks won’t be in the top 10 of the BIG 10, and won’t sniff the tournament. Come wake me if I’m wrong. This is Dana’s last dance, pun not intended.

I'm not saying USC isn't a superior team in terms of talent. But USC hit some hard, contested threes, and I felt like had the ball go their ways a bit more than us. So in last night's game, it felt like Ducks had a legit chance to win.

And yes, I think Dana's time is coming to an end soon. Love him and he's amazing, and perhaps he'll shock us with another massive turn around. But this ain't the Pac-12 anymore, so gonna be hard to do a February/March comeback.