Instant Recap: 5-seed Oregon falls to 4-seed Arizona 83-87

After a beatdown of Liberty on Friday evening, and the Wildcats dominating win over Akron, the former Pac-12 foes meet again. Oregon of course in the Big Ten, and Arizona now in the Big 12. The last time these two teams met was in last year’s Pac-12 semifinal game, which would end as an Oregon upset win.

Starters:

Oregon starting Shelstad, Bamba, Barthelemy, Angel, and Bittle. Arizona starting Caleb Love, Jaden Bradley, Anthony Dell’Orso, Trey Townsend, and Tobe Awaka.

First Half:

Oregon wins the tip-off and Brandon Angel gets the Ducks started with a quick dunk. The next offensive possession, Brandon Angel knocks down a triple, early 5 for him. Jackson Shelstad step-back three over Awaka, big shot early for him. TJ Bamba with a poster over Tobe Awaka, and then Nate Bittle blocks the shot on the other end. Nate Bittle with a deep 3-pointer, the assist for Shelstad. Now, it’s Shelstad with the transition layup.

The Ducks are on fire early, now Kwame Evans Jr with the and-1. Oregon leading 17-4 with 15:11 remaining in the first half, after the media timeout.

Shelstad with another huge 3-pointer, extends the lead to 24-10 before Arizona responds with a quick two. Keeshawn Barthelemy with a tough layup, a lot of contact but no call. At the second media timeout, the Ducks lead the Wildcats 26-14 with 11:35 to go in the first.

Its a 10-2 run for Arizona over the last 3:11, and Dana Altman calls timeout. Nate Bittle is not playing well right now, at least on the glass, he HAS to grab rebounds. Ducks still lead 26-20 with 9:35 in the first half.

Jackson Shelstad hits the midrange to end a nearly 3:45 scoring drought for the Ducks. Oregon leading 28-23 with possession after the media timeout, 7:46 left in the half.

TJ Bamba beats the buzzer, huge 3-pointer. Oregon is so unbelievably lost on defense and cannot get a rebound to save their lives. The Ducks trail 33-35 with 4:33 left in the first half, Tobe Awaka just picked up his second foul.

Arizona calls timeout, 35.5 seconds left in the half, Oregon trailing 38-42. Mookie Cook comes into the game and right away gets a block before checking back out. The Ducks are unable to score on their last possession and trail 38-42 at the half.

First Half Stats:

The biggest issue for the Ducks through the first half is the rebounding, and allowing a player that is 4 inches shorter than Nate Bittle, to own him on the glass. Oregon as a team has 6 offensive rebounds, Tobe Awaka on his OWN has 5 offensive rebounds. To nobody’s surprise, the Ducks are losing the rebound battle 19-23 as a result. The defense has looked worse over the last 12 minutes, and the trio of Brandon Angel, Nate Bittle, and Kwame Evans Jr all have 2 fouls.

Oregon has more turnovers right now than Arizona which definitely isn’t helping their cause either. Leaving a wide-open 40% 3-point shooter in Dell’Orso was certainly a choice. The defense has got to figure it out, and somehow get some freakin’ rebounds. I’ll address it now, the refs have certainly been calling this game weird, at times letting one team play physical, and at times letting the other play more physical. That’s out of Oregon’s control, grabbing rebounds and playing fundamentally sound defense isn’t. Lastly, Dana Altman and staff have to get to Nate Bittle right now and get him out of his own head. He’s currently playing what is probably his worst half/game this season since the Minnesota game.

Second Half:

Absolutely disgusting start to the second half, nothing has changed. Oregon trailing 43-54 early in the 2nd. Nate Bittle has been borderline unplayable in this game but the Ducks don’t have a good enough center to take some of his minutes.

Finally, Nate Bittle with something there, and he draws the and-1, 3rd foul on Tobe Awaka. Jackson Shelstad with a huge 3-pointer, and Oregon is back into the game. Ducks trailing 52-56 but are fighting and taking advantage of Awaka not being on the floor. I mentioned it earlier and I’ll mention it again, these refs are absolutely egregious. Nate Bittle and TJ Bamba have gotten hammered and haven’t been drawing calls all game.

Technical on KJ Lewis for hanging on the rim, could be significant if Oregon can hit their free throws. Now another mental error for Arizona on another goaltending call, that Supreme Cook hook wasn’t going in but Oregon will happily take the points. 57-63 Oregon still trails with 11:03 to play.

Oregon still trailing 64-68 with 7:38 left in the game, but have been much better recently with Tobe Awaka off the floor. He has 4 fouls and even through a ton of contact, Bittle has gotten a few tough shots to fall.

Ducks had it down to a 2-point game, but Arizona has 5 straight and it’s now Arizona leading 77-70 with 2:27 to play. Awaka likely comes back into the game after the timeout as well. Shelstad has to takeover now and Bittle has to be the most physical he’s been all game.

Bamba just broke KJ Lewis’ ankles and hangs for the and-1 layup. Need the free throw desperately. Bamba delivers from the charity stripe. Caleb Love hits a 3-pointer over Nate Bittle, that might be the dagger.

Keeshawn Barthelemy nails a big time 3-pointer, 4 point game with 1:31 to go. Veesaar misses both free throws, and Nate Bittle can’t grab a rebound, it goes off of him and Arizona retains possession. Same score with 1:19 remaining. Nate Bittle’s hook shot falls, 78-80 with 49.2 to go. Get a stop and give the ball to Shelstad. Beautiful trap by Kwame Evans Jr and TJ Bamba, Arizona turns it over.

Oregon ball with 45.5 seconds to go. TJ Bamba nearly turns it over, play under review now. Unsure if will be Oregon or Arizona ball. Ball stays with Oregon 44.7 to go, Tobe Awaka back in for Arizona. Awful shot attempt by Bamba, that ball needed to be in Shelstad’s hands.

First free throw is good for Jaden Bradley, second is short. Shelstad gets a quick layup, 80-81 and Arizona has to call timeout with 10.6 left. Anthony Dell’Orso is fouled, and heads to the free throw line. He nails both, 3 point game, Ducks ball. Bradley fouls Jackson Shelstad and he heads to the line, needing both, and he connects on both.

Dell’Orso is fouled again, Oregon nearly forced a 5-second violation. Again Dell’Orso makes both free throws, Oregon down 3 with 3.9 seconds to go and Arizona again fouls Jackson Shelstad, sending him to the line. Shelstad makes the first and intentionally misses the second but nobody is there to grab the rebound. Caleb Love sinks both free throws to end the game, Oregon falls 83-87 to end their season.