For the first time since 2007, Oregon Men’s Basketball has earned a spot in the NCAA Sweet 16. Could it be the start of a new basketball powerhouse?
Northern California grown stars, Erik Armstead (Forward) and Dominic Artis (Guard) have helped the team achieve new heights. Artis, was a standout Freshman from the beginning of the season. He was hobbled by a foot injury during the Jan. 23 game against Washington State. He returned on Feb. 28 against Oregon State where he hit two 3-pointers in the Ducks’ victory and finished with six points in 12 minutes of action. Fans thought the Ducks would be down and out along with Artis, but Jonathan Lloyd helped to keep up the team’s positive momentum during his injury. Watch a video featuring Dominic Artis here.
Armstead also serves as a defensive lineman on the Duck football team. Watch an interview to hear his take on the Midwest Regional game and life as a busy two-sport student athlete on OregonLive.
ALTMAN REACHES FIRST SWEET 16
Oregon head coach Dana Altman has been to the NCAA Tournament eight times before but the 2012-13 Oregon Ducks are the first team he has guided to the Round of 16. Prior to this year, Altman’s last NCAA Tournament victory came in March 2002, when his Creighton Bluejays won a thrilling 83-82 victory over Florida in the first round.
OREGON’S NCAA TOURNAMENT HISTORY
Oregon has made 10 previous trips to the NCAA Tournament and it is a combined 12-9 in those previous appearances. Oregon has won one national championship (1939) and has advanced to the Elite Eight on five occasions (1939, 1945, 1960, 2002, 2007), although there were only eight participating teams in the 1939 and 1945 NCAA Tournaments.
Today’s game is set to tip off at 4:15pm. Tune in to watch the NCAA Men’s Basketball Championship Midwest Regional semifinal between No. 25 Oregon and No. 2 Louisville on CBS.
Go Ducks!