The 20-point outburst from Jadrian Tracey was just the thing the Ducks needed to get over the hump against Stanford.
Whatever.
Kwame Evans Jr.’s length and defensive versatility is something that can really translate to the next level.
Doesn’t matter.
N’Faly Dante is playing as consistently as ever at the perfect time for Oregon.
Get the gist? There are many narratives surrounding these Ducks. Thing is, none of them really matter.
With the Ducks’ (18-8, 10-5 Pac-12) 78-60 win over Stanford (12-14, 7-9 Pac-12 ) it’s as clear as ever; if Jackson Shelstad plays at his best, Oregon will be able to make (and succeed) in the NCAA tournament.
If he doesn’t, the Ducks don’t have a chance. Simple as that.
He’s been the story from day one of the season. The hometown kid from West Linn, Oregon who hit the shot to crumble a future Big 10 foe, announced his game to the national stage with a torrid ten-game stretch and has been the main focus of the Emerald’s men’s basketball coverage.
And now at the age of 18, his success (or lack thereof) will determine Oregon’s season.
Who else would it be?
Earlier this year Oregon suffered its most disappointing losses of the season against Washington State and Arizona. Shelstad had six points in each of the losses.
Halfway through the season Shelstad went on a tear that featured 10 or more points in 10 straight games. The Ducks record in that span? 8-2.
It really is that facile, when Shelstad plays well Oregon can compete with anyone. When he lays an egg, so do the Ducks.
Just two weeks ago in Oregon’s letdown loss against the Cougars, Shelstad felt invisible, shooting just 3-12 from the field.
“Jackson’s had to play against point guards who are bigger and stronger than him, and he’s struggled a little bit which I anticipated,” head coach Dana Altman said at a press conference the week of the Stanford game. “After he gets a few big games, it’s gonna be ‘Hey we have to get after this guy, we can’t give him open shots.”
Fast forward to Oregon’s win over the Cardinal, Shelstad (19 points, seven assists) drove play on both ends of the court and was far and away the best player on either side.
Altman needs him to be like that every night.
“Jackson, seven assists and one turnover, I mean, I thought he got in the middle and made some really good plays for the guys,” said Altman postgame on the UO’s postgame radio show. “We’re at 12-1 when we out-rebound people. You know the formula is not that difficult to figure out.”
Rebounding and defense certainly help, but so does Shelstad shutting down Stanford’s Kanaan Carlyle (8 points on 1-7 shooting). So does Shelstad shooting 8-13 from the floor. So does Shelstad being a walking bucket, getting to his patented mid-range spot and hitting time after time.
It’s Shelstad who makes this team tick, the formula is not that difficult to figure out.
Dante (13 points, 11 rebounds) has been Oregon’s most consistent performer, although held in check against the Cardinal, Jermaine Couisnard has shined as a primary scoring option for the Ducks. Still, Shelstad’s success or failure surmounts all, he’s the heartbeat of a bubble team that can’t afford to lose much more than it has.
If that seems like a big ask for a freshman, that’s because it is. Still, Altman is staring down a third straight missed NCAA tournament and needs Shelstad at his best down the stretch.
“I keep telling the guys,” Altman said after the Oregon State game. “We’ve been in worse positions than this and found a way to finish the season strong.”
With time dwindling down on the season, Shelstad, Altman and everyone inside that Oregon locker room knows everything they want is still attainable.
None of that will matter if Shelstad can’t deliver.
