- Joined
- May 8, 2002
- Posts
- 370,631
- Reaction score
- 43
It's been over a week since the Oregon women's basketball team was ousted from the Big Ten Tournament by Indiana after just one game, but the Ducks' position in the NCAA Tournament hasn't changed much since.
Viewed as a bubble team for most of the season, the Ducks (19-11, 10-8 Big Ten) are indeed on the bubble heading into the tournament. But they are solidly in March Madness, according to most outlets that regularly cover the sport. Oregon was ranked No. 41 in the NCAA's NET rankings as of Saturday, with a 4-9 record in quadrant 1 games against some of the best competition in the country.
That quadrant 1 record is significantly better than most teams sitting on the bubble, like Minnesota (ranked No. 39 in the NET) at 0-8 and Iowa State (ranked No. 37 in the NET) at 1-9.
Additionally, the Ducks have one of the strongest strength of schedules in the country, ranking No. 22 by the NET's metrics. Wins over Baylor (No. 15 NET), Grand Canyon (No. 60 NET), Iowa (No. 24 NET), Indiana (No. 34 NET), Michigan State (No. 21 NET) and Washington (No. 43 NET) have worked in the Ducks' favor over the course of the season.
Oregon hasn't had a "bad" loss, either, with its worst loss according to the NET coming against South Dakota State, a tournament team with a 29-3 record but a NET ranking of No. 44.
Here's where the Ducks stand heading into the postseason selection show.
Before Oregon coach Kelly Graves was hired in 2014, the Ducks hadn't made the Big Dance in nine seasons. The former Gonzaga coach took the Ducks to the tournament in his third year, beginning an unprecedented golden run in Oregon women's basketball history. The Ducks made the Elite Eight in back-to-back seasons starting in 2017 and made a run to their first ever Final Four in 2019.
The COVID-19 pandemic forced the cancellation of the NCAA Tournament in 2020, with Oregon the presumptive national title favorite with Sabrina Ionescu, Ruthy Hebard and Satou Sabally at the helm. The Ducks made the tournament in 2021 and 2022 but have missed each of the last two tournaments.
Alec Dietz covers University of Oregon football, volleyball, women’s basketball and baseball for The Register-Guard. You may reach him at [email protected] and you can follow him on X @AlecDietz.
This article originally appeared on Register-Guard: Oregon Women's March Madness bracket predictions: Where Ducks may land
Continue reading...
Viewed as a bubble team for most of the season, the Ducks (19-11, 10-8 Big Ten) are indeed on the bubble heading into the tournament. But they are solidly in March Madness, according to most outlets that regularly cover the sport. Oregon was ranked No. 41 in the NCAA's NET rankings as of Saturday, with a 4-9 record in quadrant 1 games against some of the best competition in the country.
That quadrant 1 record is significantly better than most teams sitting on the bubble, like Minnesota (ranked No. 39 in the NET) at 0-8 and Iowa State (ranked No. 37 in the NET) at 1-9.
Additionally, the Ducks have one of the strongest strength of schedules in the country, ranking No. 22 by the NET's metrics. Wins over Baylor (No. 15 NET), Grand Canyon (No. 60 NET), Iowa (No. 24 NET), Indiana (No. 34 NET), Michigan State (No. 21 NET) and Washington (No. 43 NET) have worked in the Ducks' favor over the course of the season.
Oregon hasn't had a "bad" loss, either, with its worst loss according to the NET coming against South Dakota State, a tournament team with a 29-3 record but a NET ranking of No. 44.
Here's where the Ducks stand heading into the postseason selection show.
Oregon women's basketball March Madness projections
- ESPN: "Last Four Byes," No. 10 seed, facing No. 7 Louisville in Storrs, Connecticut.
- Her Hoop Stats: "Last Four In," No. 11, seed facing No. 11 Virginia Tech in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
- CBS: No. 9 seed
- NCAA: No. 10 seed, facing No. 7 Oklahoma State in Raleigh, North Carolina.
- USA Today: No. 10 seed
Oregon women's basketball March Madness resume
- NET: 41
- NET strength of schedule: 22
- NET nonconference strength of schedule: 92
Oregon women's basketball NCAA Tournament history under Kelly Graves
Before Oregon coach Kelly Graves was hired in 2014, the Ducks hadn't made the Big Dance in nine seasons. The former Gonzaga coach took the Ducks to the tournament in his third year, beginning an unprecedented golden run in Oregon women's basketball history. The Ducks made the Elite Eight in back-to-back seasons starting in 2017 and made a run to their first ever Final Four in 2019.
The COVID-19 pandemic forced the cancellation of the NCAA Tournament in 2020, with Oregon the presumptive national title favorite with Sabrina Ionescu, Ruthy Hebard and Satou Sabally at the helm. The Ducks made the tournament in 2021 and 2022 but have missed each of the last two tournaments.
Alec Dietz covers University of Oregon football, volleyball, women’s basketball and baseball for The Register-Guard. You may reach him at [email protected] and you can follow him on X @AlecDietz.
This article originally appeared on Register-Guard: Oregon Women's March Madness bracket predictions: Where Ducks may land
Continue reading...
