I'm so turned around by what Oregon did to Arizona, I'm not even sure what to believe in this sport for the time being.
It was a ridiculous Saturday, and yet, even amid all the fun and noise, I think I'm most impressed -- and baffled -- by what happened in Eugene.
Over the past three weeks, arguably no team was playing better than Arizona, which without question earned top-five status in the rankings. They entered the weekend on a 15-game winning streak, stood atop the Pac-12 standings and were full strength thanks to the long-awaited return of multifaceted lead guard Allonzo Trier. This is a team that roasted UCLA on the road two weeks ago, a squad that had only two of its Pac-12 games so far this season decided by single digits.
Well, it's still just two games, because 13th-ranked Oregon completely destroyed the Wildcats on Saturday. I mean, it really escalated quickly. The game didn't have a single-digit margin from the 10-minute mark on. Oregon made Arizona look like an NAIA school. It was an odd massacre, and I couldn't turn away. What you're about to read feels like a once-a-season sentence, but it applies here: the 27-point final margin felt double the size. At one point the lead was 37; it felt like 77. Arizona had 18 points at the half and didn't crack 40 until 5:40 was remaining in the game.
Oregon was ill. The Ducks shot 16-of-25 from 3-point range, helping to account for what is factually one of the most lethally streamlined offensive outputs we've seen in a game between ranked teams in 10-15 years.
Oregon's 82.6 effective field goal percentage against Arizona was the third-best shooting by any team in major-conference play since 2006.
— John Gasaway (@JohnGasaway) February 5, 2017
The Ducks averaged 1.37 points per possessions, which is an outrageous clip for a team across 40 minutes. It's rare to see a really good team be next-level amazing against a top-five opponent, but Oregon was instinctively dominant. And because Kansas got stunned at home by an inconsistent, unranked Iowa State team, Oregon now owns the sport's longest home-court winning streak (4o).
Listen, sometimes you just get your butt handed to you. Arizona went on the road, Oregon went bonkers from 3-point range, and it was ballgame by halftime. What can you do? The loss doesn't make me think any less of U of A. I'd still consider putting that team in my personal top five on my most-likely-to-win-the-title-if-we-played-the-tournament-right-now list.
Oregon might join them now, though, which I didn't think could be the case prior to the game.
The outcome has consequence because it's the only scheduled matchup between these two this season. Both are now holding one loss in the conference, but Oregon has the edge.
The Ducks doing this came as a shock because you've gotta consider what's happened with this team as of late. It was not showing signs of ascendance.
1) Dillon Brooks hasn't been fully healthy, thanks to a lingering foot issue
2) They got a close-shave win at Utah on Jan. 26
3) The Ducks followed that up by losing 74-65 at Colorado
4) On Thursday, Oregon only beat mediocre Arizona State by one point
And yet, in the biggest game of their season, the Ducks put on their best showing. It's a really impressive thing, a win many people will remember come March.
The win was also vital to keeping Oregon's hopes at a No. 1 seed alive. The tough part: Now the Ducks not only have to turn around and play UCLA on Thursday, but they have to try to sweep the Bruins. Remember how this conference season began for Dana Altman's team? Brooks hit that 3-pointer right before time expired to give UCLA its first loss of the season.
The Ducks' defense has been a big part of keeping pace as a borderline top-10 team all season. This group rates among the top 15 in points per possession allowed, and thanks to Jordan Bell and Chris Boucher, no team blocks a higher percentage of shots than the Ducks.
It's funny how we've almost come full circle with Oregon. Think about it. Projected in the preseason as the No. 1 team in the Pac-12. This group was a 1 seed last year, remember, and Brooks was projected by many to be an All-American. Injuries have kept him from that, but no matter. Oregon's too good on both sides of the ball to not be considered for the remainder of the season one of the most dangerous teams in the country.
