"It just seemed like things didn't come together the way we would have liked them to," Oregon guard Bryce Taylor, one of three senior starters, said after the Ducks bowed out of the NCAA tournament with a 76-69 first-round loss to Mississippi State.
Just a year ago, the Ducks won the Pac-10 tournament and roared into the final eight at the NCAAs. They returned four starters, and the best they could do this season was an up-and-down 18-14 record.
The loss to Mississippi State exposed Oregon's deficiencies, chief among them the fact that the Ducks have a limited inside game and must shoot well to prevail.
They missed 17 consecutive 3-point attempts during one stretch against the Bulldogs.
"We may have relied too much on the three-point shot in the second half," Taylor said. "But at the same time, a lot of them were open looks. Guys were getting their shots blocked and changed so much, that may have led to us thinking that the first open shot was the best shot."
Malik Hairston, another of the Ducks' seniors, refused to concede Oregon lost to a superior opponent.
"I don't think that's a basketball team that's better than we are," he said. "I thought we lost to a lot of teams this year that weren't better basketball teams.
"We're a good basketball team, and I think we're an athletic basketball team. So defensively, I thought we should have been much better this year."
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Ernie Kent had 4 years with this talented but miscoached seniors and a first round loss that was blown by bad coaching is what we have to remember this group of ducks. Year after year we bring the talent into the program and we see minimal results. If Oregon could land Mark Few I would be in favor of them firing Ernie Kent. Oregon's new basketball arena should keep bringing the h
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Well, he was the only one who showed up for the game against Mississippi State, however his late in the game disappearing act once again reared its ugly head.
Can't say I'll miss the guy, but I still wish him well in the NBA. Any guesses as to his potential draft order (or team).
I think Bryce Taylor would've been drafted at the e
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Hey guys, I'm trying to set up a sim league starting next season, where a simulator plays out the game and gives you realistic scores and stuff, and your Ducks are still available! If you are intere
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First- let me say that I completely respect all other teams and their passionate fanbases. I actually rooted for Oregon in football and liked watching your basketball team last season and was expecting bigger things from them this year. With all that being said, I hate to admit that one of your "fans" has tarnished your image with me because of his repeated and completely uncalled for
Another double degit lead lost in a matter of minutes, another 2nd half played in quicksand, like I have seen this team play 2 dozen times this season. Thank God its finally over and I won't have to watch them play anymore this season. Oregon should have won that game by 20 but once again tanked and blew it all to hell! How many months till football?!! What a total let down! At least we wont have
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Well, much of the same against the Bulldogs. No senior leadership (was Bryce there?) and terrible three point shooting. Anybody remember the game @ UCLA. Much of the same here. We were up at half time, increased the lead early in the second half and then just collapsed because we couldnt hit from beyond the arc. This team is going nowhere with their style of play and teams that lack a post presenc
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