Corvallis — On Monday, Dana Altman hit the film room like usual. It was two days before Oregon (23-8, 13-5) headed up north to visit its in-state rivals for a season ending Civil War matchup. Altman simply wanted to see what worked well and what his team needed to improve since defeating the Beavers (17-13, 8-10) 71-59 back in January.
At that point in the season, the Ducks had just won their sixth straight game. They were off to a good start. They were also hopeful. For a team that had to essentially start from scratch following an array of graduations, transfers and dismissals in 2014, that was all they could ask for.
But that was then.
Since beginning Pac-12 play with a win over the Beavers, the Ducks have done a lot.  Their current No. 32 RPI ranking is a mere testament to their unexpected run.
In addition to finishing third in the conference standings behind No. 5 Arizona and No. 13 Utah and receiving a guaranteed bye in the first round, the Ducks are now in serious discussion for making the NCAA tournament. If this comes true, it will be the first time in program history that they’ve made it three consecutive years.
Simply put, Altman orchestrated an unproven team into contenders.
What was fitting about this game wasn’t the deafening crowd – which was memorable to say the least – or the fact that the Ducks won. It was the way in which they survived and escaped the depths of Gill Coliseum with a 65-62 edge. Time and time again, the Ducks found themselves in a hole. They acknowledged it. Oregon State head coach Wayne Tinkle later regretted it. The game was anyone’s to take and everyone knew it. But with the game on the line, the Ducks knew what to do because they had been there before.
“This is one we felt like we should have got,” Tinkle said.
When the game winded down to a few key moments, Altman’s crew didn’t crumble. Instead, it thrived. Whether it be a critical Dwayne Benjamin three with 3:48 to go or Elgin Cook’s and-one layup with 1:46 remaining, the Ducks found a way to win. The Ducks played like a team that had been there before, that was ready for the bright lights.
“Finding ways to win is critical for any team,” Altman said. “Our guys feel comfortable down the stretch. I’m happy for them. They find ways to win games and a lot of that is hard play.”
For the ninth time this season, the Ducks beat their opponent by a margin of five or less. For the ninth time this season, the Ducks willed their way to victory. I don’t know how well they will fare in the upcoming Pac-12 tournament and I sure don’t know what to expect from them in the NCAA tournament if they receive a bid. I do know however, that the Ducks finished the season the same way they began it: with grit, heart and determination.
“This team has heart and it showed a lot (tonight),” Joseph Young, who finished with 15 points, said. “In the beginning we didn’t really see it, but now it’s coming out. Team got a lot of heart and toughness.”
Follow Hayden Kim on Twitter @HayDayKim