At what point does the men’s basketball team say that each game is a must-win?
Through 21 games, they have lost 11, and after each loss comments have been “We just have to work hard in practice,” and “We’ll take it one game at a time.”
Isn’t it about time that someone says: “We have to win. This season can be turned around, but we have to win almost every game.”
The first half of Pacific-10 Conference play is over, leaving the Ducks seventh in the standings with a 4-5 record. The thing is, parity has taken over the Pac-10 and the leader, UCLA, is at 7-2. That means there are six teams within three games ahead of Oregon with nine remaining. Odds are that no team will run through the second half of the conference schedule with seven or eight wins, but if any team needs to, it is Oregon.
Less than a week and a half ago, the Ducks were riding a three-game winning streak, one game out of first place in the league standings and playing with a confidence that hadn’t been present since early last season. Three losses later, it seems as though the team is where it was one month ago, after it had lost back-to-back games to Portland and Portland State.
However, behind the win-loss record there are positives that are breaking through.
Leading scorer Malik Hairston was held scoreless for 50 consecutive minutes this weekend and finished with 14 total points. On the flip side, if the Ducks had stepped up in the final three minutes of both games this weekend, they could have come away with a pair of wins without Hairston having to dominate offensively.
Aaron Brooks averaged 8.5 points last weekend, but more importantly averaged a 7/2 assist-to-turnover ratio.
Bryce Taylor seemingly found his shot, something that he hasn’t found consistently since midway through last season.
Meanwhile, fellow long-range shooter Chamberlain Oguchi scored a career-high 25 points against USC, playing only 22 minutes.
If Hairston, Brooks, Taylor, Oguchi and company can consistently put forth a solid effort, the check marks should start falling in the wins’ column.
Last season the Ducks were missing defense. This season, they worked to gel on the defensive side of the court, but lost the touch on shooting the ball. Putting the two together could be enough to reverse the losing trend and lead to victories.
So I am saying it right now. The season is not lost or over. The Ducks can win and need to win seven conference games to get back in the title chase and position themselves comfortably for the Pac-10 Tournament. Should they win seven, confidence would be ripe during the conference tourney, and a couple of victories there might even get this team into the NCAA Tournament.
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