NCAA Tournament preview:
– It’s been just one day and the NCAA Tournament is living up to its billing again. By the time the first batch of games had finished on Thursday, two three-seeds had already been sent packing. Oregon’s matchup versus nine-seed Oklahoma State Friday is expected to be part of another day packed full of high-intense basketball. Emerald senior sports reporter Josh Schlichter broke down the matchup between the Ducks and Cowboys earlier this week. 
– Nathan Ruiz of the O’Colly, the student-newspaper at Oklahoma State gave his reason why the Cowboys will fend off Joseph Young and Oregon in the first round. 
– Will Oregon’s success be entirely reliant on Young’s performance against Oklahoma State? What about the rest of the region? Is top-seeded Wisconsin too big a beast to defeat? Emerald basketball reporters break down the NCAA Tournament. 
– Before Oregon departed to Omaha, Nebraska for its date with Oklahoma State, head coach Dana Altman had one last message, according to The Oregonian.
“I want you to get really selfish,” Altman said.
– Apparently, Oregon forward Jordan Bell picked the upset in which 14-seed UAB knocked off three-seed Iowa State – a team many contended had a shot at making the Final Four. The upset shows just how unexplainable some outcomes are. For Ken Goe of The Oregonian, he thinks it serves as another example for why Oregon could end up doing what no one expects. His reasoning: It’s March, it’s mad, so why can’t Oregon make a run.
Oregon athletics:
– The Ducks collected a myriad of awards on Thursday, highlighted by Eric Jenkins being recognized as the USTFCCCA Division I Men’s Indoor Track Athlete of the Year. Jenkins received the honor after winning both the 3,000 and 5,000 at the NCAA Indoor Championships. Robert Johnson and Andy Powell were awarded the men’s head coach and assistant coach of the year awards, respectively.
– One year after losing three of the best offensive players in program history, the Oregon softball team was expected to regress at the plate. Just under halfway through the season however, the Ducks are blasting their way through opponents en route to the No. 2 ranking in the nation.
– Oregon pitcher Conor Harber will make his first start this season Friday against Arizona State. Harber is 3-0 with a 2.88 ERA in five appearances.
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