3/24/2007

I can't stop talking about Tajuan Porter

The headline from the Oregonian reads: Small wonder lifts Ducks.

Yup. Porter got 33 points last night. Oregon was playing sloppy, clearly more able than UNLV but unable to pull away with things. But Porter stepped up and took control of the game just when the team needed him to. He hit eight threes! The little dude was on fire.

Last night's game illustrated why I like this Oregon team so much. I feel like there are a number of players who, when the need arises, can get hot and take over the game. It's not a team with one superstar, it's a team with a lot of solid players who contribute, and several very good players. What this means is that even though the Ducks have failed to blow out their opponents consistently during the tournament, they've still been able to win. They don't need everyone playing perfectly to get things done.

If they do get everyone playing perfectly, well...

Also in the Oregonian, John Canzano directs some of his crankiness towards Florida and the media.

I imagine it's difficult to win a national title, become overnight rock stars and, for an entire calendar year, maintain the same raging intensity it took to get you there. While Florida was playing Butler in one regional semifinal, a UNLV assistant scouting the game, remarked about how difficult it has been to maintain focus with the media and fans bantering about the Rebels' run into the sweet 16 for the last week.

Understand, the Gators have been told how wonderful and imposing and beautiful they are for the past 51 weeks. They've been put on the covers of dozens of magazines. They've been called sure-fire lottery picks. They've been swooned on by cheerleaders, and asked for thousands of autographs, and chased by dozens of salivating agents. And it's become nauseating to everyone, but them.

The Gators have swallowed the thing whole.
Indeed. The Gators looked beatable last night. In fact, all of the higher seeds have looked beatable, in my opinion. And I think the Ducks could be the folks to do the beating.

So come on Gators, bring on the:


because the Ducks have a little bit of:

and they aren't afraid to use it.

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