The Oregon Ducks and Mississippi State Bulldogs are set to play Friday evening in Little Rock, Arkansas and the eventual winner most likely playing number one seed Memphis Tigers.
The Ducks held a two hour practice at an undisclosed high school that was near the arena the Ducks will play in tomorrow. They then used the 45 minute practice at Alltel Arena as a shoot around for the Duck players to get adjusted to the surroundings of the stadium and the depth behind each hoop.
The Ducks have a lot to prove Friday evening as they try to show the Pac-10, the nation, and particularly the Arizona State Sun Devils that they belong in the field of 65 for the tournament. Will Oregon give a showing similar to UCLA or Stanford where they ran from their opponents? Or will Oregon show up and get out hustled and play into foul trouble like USC did Thursday afternoon? How about the showing WSU gave, starting slow and uninspired basketball and finished with a ease and resting starters on the bench with a blow out on hand? Finally, will Oregon show up like Arizona did, where they just ran out of gas and couldn't hit the big shots when it was needed and ended up just short of a win?
The Ducks are set to play during the prime time slot for CBS and they are the only Pac-10 team playing on Friday so the stage is set for the Ducks to leave a big impression on the nation and for the seniors, on their careers at Oregon. “Hopefully,” Malik Hairston says, “our accomplishments aren’t done.”
“If we make another great run,” Maarty Leunen says, “not too many people are gonna remember the losses to Nebraska or Oakland, or whatever.”
When the Ducks have had to travel long distances for a first round match up, Oregon hasn't faired very well and have had to come back home after a quick exit in the first round in 1999 and 2003. Will Oregon break the trend? The players think so.
“No negative thoughts,” Hairston says, “we don’t plan on losing a game”.
Is that a guarantee that Oregon is going to win tomorrow? If Oregon fans are questioning the confidence level of the Ducks you can quickly leave that question at the door and watch what Duck players are saying will be a good win.
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