No matter how confident Oregon may be heading into today’s game against Miami of Ohio University, nerves will still be a factor.
The veteran players would like to say they’re not affected by the aura surrounding the NCAA Tournament, but it is something only one of them, Adam Zahn, has experienced.
Junior Maarty Leunen wants to be able to impart advice to the freshman players, telling them it’s just another game, except Leunen is in the same situation as they are. And he’s unsure how he’ll react.
“We never had that experience,” Leunen said. “There’s obviously going to be nerves just because with one loss you’re out, but we’re excited for this opportunity to show off our talent.”
Senior guard Aaron Brooks became anxious even during the selection show.
“I don’t know why, but I was nervous,” Brooks said.
Maybe it’s the idea of losing or maybe it’s the idea that they’re finally in the tournament but either way, some of the upperclassmen don’t know what to expect heading into the first round.
For freshman point guard Tajuan Porter, however, anxiety isn’t an issue. It’s just a matter of whether or not he and his teammates are playing to their ability and don’t go into the game overconfident.
“In this tournament anybody can win. Anybody can get upset,” Porter said. “We just have to stay level-headed.”
Maybe the upperclassmen should consult Porter for advice.
“There’s no need to be nervous,” Porter said. “(Playing basketball) is something I love to do so I’m not going to be nervous.”
While Porter may be in the right state of mind, coach Ernie Kent wants everyone else to be as well.
“I want to make sure this team is where it needs to be in terms of their mentality,” Kent said.
Kent didn’t specify how he expects to do it, but said if the Ducks carry their momentum from the conference tournament to March Madness, it’ll help ensure a win.
“We’ve been playing really well recently, so we’re just trying to continue playing the same way we did in the Pac-10 Tournament,” junior guard Bryce Taylor said. “We feel like if we defend then we’ll fare pretty well.”
Taylor said if the Ducks are able to play an aggressive defense similar to how they performed in the Pac-10 Tournament, then Oregon will be able to play the type of basketball it wants.
“If we defend, then that leaves us able to get on a run and that’s how we like to play,” Taylor said. “If you get stops, then that leads to transition points and us being able to play more up-and-down (the court).”
Stopping opponents on the defensive end allows the Ducks to move the game at a quicker pace and makes them a difficult team to catch.
“If we get on a run, we feel like that makes us a dangerous team and that all starts with our D,” Taylor said.
But until the game is actually played, Oregon will have to sit and ponder about the event the event they’ve been waiting to get to for such a long time.
“We have a great opportunity now, so we can’t let it get away,” Taylor said. “We haven’t even thought about losing.”