There will be a new national champion and the Oregon Ducks are looking good after eliminating last year’s titleist Duke in the Sweet 16. The victory validates Oregon’s selection as a No. 1 seed when the brackets were announced, and also helps redeem the Pac-12 Conference.
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HOW THE OKLAHOMA SOONERS CAN COVER THE SPREAD
Oklahoma proved it could win a big game even when its biggest star didn’t have his finest performance. The Sooners turned up the tempo in the first half and Texas AM made the mistake of thinking it could keep up.
The Sooners played the way they have all season in downing the Aggies 77-63 to advance to their first Elite Eight since 2009.
Making 50 percent of their shots in the first half and going 6 of 11 from behind the three-point arc, made it easy for the Sooners to get into the kind of up-and-down pace in which they thrive. OU will need to be active and at its best against the Ducks, who operate in the same manner.
It wasn’t the Buddy Hield show for OU, though he did notch his first double-double of the season with 17 points and 10 rebounds. He doesn’t do it alone. But against the Ducks the Sooners likely need more from their national player of the year candidate to advance to the Final Four.
HOW THE OREGON DUCKS CAN COVER THE SPREAD
It’s strange to call a top seed “overlooked,” but few No. 1s in recent Tournament history received less buzz on a march toward the Elite Eight than Oregon. Perhaps a lopsided victory over a powerhouse like Duke will finally provide the accolades most top seeds receive.
The Ducks showed off their speed and athleticism to knock off the Blue Devils 82-68 and advance to their first regional final since 2008. They played the brand of basketball that allowed them to rise to the top of the Pac-12 and earn that No. 1 seed.
Dillon Brooks had a monster night and Duke had no answer. The gifted sophomore went for 22 on Thursday and was a matchup problem the entire game. Brooks hit four three-pointers for the second straight game and must be on to counter OU’s offensive prowess.
Elgin Cook, Chris Boucher and Jordan Bell give the Ducks an impressive trio of frontcourt players. Each scored double figures and easily handled Duke’s size on Thursday. They’ll have a size advantage against OU and need to dominate inside.
ANALYSIS AND ODDS PREDICTION
Both teams like to push the tempo and have done a nice job of shooting the basketball in the tournament. The scoring is balanced on both sides so it’s not about stopping one player. Texas AM focused on shutting down Hield during Thursday’s contest and Jordan Woodard stepped up to knock down 22 points for OU. On top of the 22 Brooks scored, the Ducks got stellar play down low, particularly from Bell, who scored 13 with seven boards in 26 minutes off the bench.
Neither side concentrates on playing defense so the game sets up to be a track meet. The inside play for Oregon will likely be the difference. The shot-altering ability of Cook will keep OU on the outside and if the shots don’t fall, the Sooners are in trouble. Equally disturbing is OU’s free throw shooting. The Sooners attempted just nine freebies on Thursday and made only four. They’ll need to get to the line more and make a higher percentage when they are there. It’s hard to go against a tested Big 12 team, but the Ducks have more to prove.
Oregon 88, Oklahoma 85
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Mobile betting lines are updated by the minute, so click here to start gambling on thrilling live action at BookMaker Sportsbook! The matchup between the Oklahoma Sooners and Oregon Ducks will go down Saturday, March 26, 2016 at 6:09 p.m. ET at the Honda Center. The matchup will be televised live on CBS.
