Longshot Ducks ready for top-seeded Virginia
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — Oregon is the closest thing to a long shot remaining in the NCAA Tournament after advancing through the opening weekend as a No. 12 seed. But the Ducks are also in the Sweet 16 for the third time in four years and made the Final Four just a couple years ago. They face top-seeded Virginia Cavaliers tonight in Louisville.
CBS Sports reports the Ducks have rattled off 10 wins in a row thanks to tremendous defense. In that span, they have allowed only 54.2 points per game and won by an average of 17.9 points per game. Payton Pritchard and Louis King have helped turned around what recently looked like a failed season into a third Sweet 16 trip in four years.
Virginia has a reputation of being one of the best defensive teams in the country, and this year’s squad is no different. This team — led by Kyle Guy, De’Andre Hunter and Ty Jerome — is ranked No. 1 in scoring defense this season. Tony Bennett’s team also does not have too many mental errors; the Cavs are among the best in the nation in turnovers and fouls per game, CBS Sports reports.