Predicting NCAA Tournament clash between South Carolina Gamecocks and Oregon Ducks

One of the more fascinating showdowns in the NCAA Tournament will take place between N’Faly Dante and the Oregon Ducks, and Lamont Paris and the South Carolina Gamecocks.

On3’s Andy Staples and Bracketologist James Fletcher III took some time to debate who will come out on top of this one, with both thinking about siding with the Ducks, in what wouldn’t be as big of an upset as people are making it out to be.

Fletcher III specifically took some time to elaborate on the pick, and why Dana Altman and company can surprise some people during the NCAA Tournament.

“This Oregon team, I love this Oregon team. I have felt so bad in the last couple of years, this Oregon team has just been riddled with injuries. It has been brutal to watch Dana Altman try to get through it. I think they’re down, they’re under ten scholarship players again. They’ve got I think three guys who are shut down with injuries for the rest of the season, no matter what happens. I mean, it just it feels like over and over, they just get hit with this injury bug. And you wonder when — this team is talented, they’ve got the players. When is it going to come together? When are they going to get a healthy run? Well, it turns out, once they got in N’Faly Dante, just a little bit healthy, they turned into a completely different team.

“So I think this is another team, we talked about earlier in New Mexico, not being a real No. 11 seed. Oregon I think is in that same category, albeit for completely different reasons. I really like them in this matchup, because of what Dante brings, as long as he stays healthy. I think they can get through this first round matchup against South Carolina. Although, South Carolina. Lamont Paris, what he’s done there, I don’t think anything should be taken away from that. I think that they still have a chance in this game. I’m not saying by any means it’s just a loss, but I’m gonna ride with Oregon here. I do like what I saw from them in the Pac 12 Tournament.”

Alas, South Carolina is no slouch, but Oregon proved a ton over their Pac-12 Tournament title run. We’ll see who comes out on top, when the Gamecocks and the Ducks face off during the 2024 NCAA Tournament.