Carrying the torch for the underachieving Pac-12, No. 1 seed Oregon showed no nerves playing as a top seed and rolled past No. 16 Holy Cross 91-52 in Friday’s first round matchup. The Ducks have plenty of talent and depth and are a serious contender for a trip to Houston in two weeks.
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HOW THE ST. JOSEPH’S HAWKS CAN COVER THE SPREAD
It was strength against strength and the Hawks were able to win out in their first round game with Cincinnati. In typical St. Joseph’s fashion, the Hawks pushed the pace and dented Cincy’s stingy defense for 78 points in their win. However, it took a lengthy review to deny a Bearcats basket at the horn to give the Hawks a victory.
The strongest Hawks are DeAndre Bembry and Isaiah Miles. And once again those two were the centerpiece of the offense.
St. Joe’s will only go as far as the duo takes it. Bembry scored 23 against Cincinnati on 8 of 14 shooting, including 3 of 5 from three-point range. Miles scored 19 and also went 3 of 5 from distance. The two combine to average 35 points per game and are also the team’s most prolific three-point shooters.
The Hawks will be faced with a stiffer challenge against the athletic and long Ducks. Bembry and Miles will get their touches and must convert, either down low or from distance. St. Joseph’s launches nearly 23 three-pointers a game and needs to hit a fair amount since the inside will likely be choked off by Oregon’s post players.
HOW THE OREGON DUCKS CAN COVER THE SPREAD
The Ducks made plenty of history this season with a stellar campaign. They didn’t want to do it for the wrong reasons in the NCAA Tournament. Never has a No. 1 seed lost to a 16-seed, but the way this tournament was going, it seemed like a possibility. Oregon emphatically put away Holy Cross to quickly erase any doubt.
Coach Dana Altman was able to empty his bench early and rest his regulars ahead of the second round showdown with St. Joseph’s. All 12 Ducks played at least three minutes and none played more than 26. They should be rested and fatigue not a factor against the Hawks.
Oregon may have gotten a break in its first round matchup with the Crusaders, who were 15-19 entering the tournament and the least likely team to be competing for a national championship. The Ducks never gave them a chance. If they felt any pressure being a No. 1 seed, it clearly wasn’t evident.
It’s hard not to like what coach Dana Altman’s club brings to the court. The Ducks combine balanced offense with a healthy amount of depth, and they feature four scorers who average in double figures, led by Dillon Brooks, who scored 11 points with five assists and six rebounds in 26 minutes on Friday.
ANALYSIS AND ODDS PREDICTION
Brooks is an impact player and one the Hawks have seen very little of. He can beat opponents inside and out and leads an offense that ranks fifth in adjusted efficiency. Oregon has a nice combo of players. Brooks and Tyler Dorsey handle the backcourt with Elgin Cook and Chris Boucher forming an athletic pair of post players. Fatigue won’t be a factor for Oregon since no one played more than 26 minutes in Friday’s romp over Holy Cross.
The Ducks also have a deeper bench and more balance on the offensive end with four players scoring in double figures. There are more options on that end of the court and the Hawks won’t be able to slow all of them. It’s a different story for the Hawks, who rely on Bembry and Miles for half their point production. All the Ducks have to do is slow one of those guys and their odds increase. Easier said than done, but Oregon has been able to slow down better offensive players over the course of the season.
Oregon 88, St. Joseph’s 77
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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 St. Joseph’s Hawks and Oregon Ducks will go down Sunday, March 20, 2016 at 9:40 p.m. ET at Spokane Arena. The matchup will be televised live on TBS.
