Can the Ducks feel comfortable sitting in third place in the Pacific-10 Conference?
“Definitely,” Oregon guard James Davis said. “The time is now for us to get a string of wins together. We don’t have many ballgames left; we’ve got eight. We definitely need to string some wins together.”
The first of those eight comes tonight in Seattle as Oregon takes on Washington. It’s the first chance for the Ducks to jump-start that winning streak they will need to earn an NCAA Tournament berth.
Oregon will have to do it against an ever-dangerous Washington team. The Ducks defeated the Huskies on Jan. 15, but have since watched Washington go 5-1.
The Huskies streaked to five straight wins after the loss at McArthur Court. They could’ve made it six last week against UCLA but lost by five.
“UCLA, that was a game (Washington) probably should’ve won,” Davis said. “They’re playing real well, are always talented and are athletic all over the floor. They’re starting to come together.”
The Huskies (10-9 overall, 5-6 Pacific-10 Conference) present an athletic test for the Ducks. Of their five projected starters, none stands taller than 6-foot-8. It is Washington’s most diminutive player, 5-foot-9 Nate Robinson, that brings the most athleticism and raw talent to the table.
“Nate’s all heart and he’s fun to watch,” Oregon forward Luke Jackson said. “He helped beat Arizona up there, and at Oregon State a couple weeks before that, he came back and pretty much single-handedly brought them back into the game. He’s just a hard worker, a hard player.
“At the same time, he’s really small and we can take advantage of that.”
The Ducks (11-6, 6-4) will take advantage with two posts — Ian Crosswhite and Mitch Platt — who have been playing well lately.
Crosswhite scored 14 points in 32 minutes against the Huskies and Platt, who was coming back from an ankle injury during the game, has scored 19 points in his past two games.
“I think we need to stick with the same game plan because it worked for us,” Platt. “I think we’re definitely getting the ball inside more this time around and that’s going to present some big problems for them.”
With those eight games left, today’s contest at Bank of America Arena begins the stretch drive for the Ducks.
Oregon heads to Pullman to take on Washington State on Saturday, then hosts Arizona and Arizona State in a crucial home series. If the Ducks can win six of those eight, an NCAA bid is not out of the question. Anything less than that, though, and it can get hairy.
The Ducks’ stretch began Saturday against a tough Oregon State team that nearly pulled out the win.
“That was important and it’s going to be just as important this weekend because there’s a chance we’ll be in the same situation,” Oregon forward Ian Crosswhite said. “We may have to dig deep and pull out both of these games and we’re going to have to be ready for that.”
Last season, the Ducks went 4-4 during their final eight games. They defeated Washington State, but lost, 78-66, to Washington in Seattle.
Last year, Oregon made headway by winning the Pac-10 Tournament in March, giving it an automatic berth into the postseason.
The Ducks can’t take that chance this season. Taking fate into their own hands starts today.
“I think with the exception of Stanford, (the Huskies) have probably been playing the best basketball,” Oregon head coach Ernie Kent said. “It’s a tough basketball game for us, particularly up there, where it will be a hostile environment. At the same time, we all know what’s at stake and we’re all capable. We just need to go up there and be ready to play.”