MADISON, WIS. ? They were the toasts of Oregon.
They surprised everyone by winning the Pac-10 championship.
They were going to be the first Oregon University basketball team to reach the Final Four since the 1939 Ducks won the first NCAA championship.
Then Drew Gooden and Nick Collison walked off the Kansas team bus into Kohl Center and the dream died.
“They have two NBA players in the paint,” Oregon coach Ernie Kent said after Gooden and Collison led the Jayhawks to a 104-86 Final Four-clinching victory Sunday afternoon, “and they have the mentality to be warriors in there.”
Gooden and Collison combined for 43 points and 35 rebounds.
At halftime, Kansas led 48-42 and had a modest 26-20 edge in rebounds. However, in the second half, KU outrebounded the Ducks, 37-14, for an overall 63-34 bulge.
Fatigue played a role in that lopsided disadvantage.
“We got a little fatigued, and I think our hearts took over,” said Oregon point guard Luke Ridnour. “But Kansas did, too, and they played an unbelievable game.”
Ridnour, an All-Pac-10 first-teamer who was averaging nearly 16 points a game, settled for nine points. The 6-foot-2 sophomore did have seven assists, but they were negated by seven turnovers. He missed 10 of his 13 shots.
“They really stepped it up,” Ridnour said of KU’s defenders. “I think it was a focus to stop our perimeter.”
Oregon’s other Luke struggled, too. Luke Jackson, averaging nearly 17 points a game, missed 12 of 16 shot attempts and scored just 10.
Only Frederick Jones was unstoppable. The 6-4 senior ended his career with a 32-point performance after being held to only four points in Friday’s 72-70 squeaker over Texas.
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Three-point goals: 11-28 (Lever 3-6, Jones 3-8, Ridnour 3-9, Michaelis 1-1, Davis 1-4). Assists: 21 (Ridnour 7, Jackson 5, Jones 4, Johnson 2, Christoffersen, Davis, Lever). Turnovers: 14 (Ridnour 7, Jackson 4, Jones 2, Johnson). Blocked shots: 2 (Christoffersen, Jones). Steals: 11 (Jones 4, Ridnour 3, Jackson, Christoffersen, Davis, Lever). |
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Three-point goals: 3-12 (Boschee 2-7, Hinrich 1-2, Ballard 0-1, Miles 0-2). Assists: 17 (Miles 8, Gooden 2, Collison 2, Hinrich 2, Boschee 2, Langford). Turnovers: 18 (Hinrich 4, Gooden 3, Collison 3, Miles 3, Bochee 3, Langford, Simien). Blocked shots: 5 (Collison 3, Hinrich, Langford). Steals: 9 (Hinrich 5, Langford 3, Gooden). |
Oregon | 42 | 44 | 86 |
Kansas | 48 | 56 | 104 |
“I’m very disappointed,” Jones said. “Coming into the game, there was no doubt we could win. We’re not satisfied. We expected to go to the Final Four.”
Not by shooting 40.5 percent and not by being dominated on the boards.
“It was a game of runs,” Kent said. “They had a run in the first half and we had a run. In the second half, they made that late run and we had nothing to come back at them.”
Kent conceded fatigue may have been involved.
“I think when the fatigue factor set in we played on the hype factor,” Kent said. “We feel we have a deep bench and (KU coach Roy Williams) went to the bench, too, because it was such a ferocious pace. They just held serve longer than we did.”
Kent also left no doubt who he will be pulling for in Atlanta.
“I know I’m one coach who’ll be rooting for Roy,” Kent said. “If they’re clicking like they were clicking today, they’re going to be tough to beat in this thing.”
What did Williams say to Kent after the game?
“He said it was unfortunate one team had to go home with a rock in its gut,” Kent said. “Unfortunately, it’s us.”
Oregon wound up with a 26-9 record and Kent stressed it was important for his players to reflect and realize they played on the second-best team in school history.
“Kansas gave us another blueprint to step up to,” the Oregon coach said.
All in all, Oregon had never run into a buzzsaw like the one that sawed off the Ducks on Sunday.
“They’re just an unbelievable team,” point guard Ridnour said.
MADISON, WIS. ? They were the toasts of Oregon.
They surprised everyone by winning the Pac-10 championship.
They were going to be the first Oregon University basketball team to reach the Final Four since the 1939 Ducks won the first NCAA championship.
Then Drew Gooden and Nick Collison walked off the Kansas team bus into Kohl Center and the dream died.
“They have two NBA players in the paint,” Oregon coach Ernie Kent said after Gooden and Collison led the Jayhawks to a 104-86 Final Four-clinching victory Sunday afternoon, “and they have the mentality to be warriors in there.”
Gooden and Collison combined for 43 points and 35 rebounds.
At halftime, Kansas led 48-42 and had a modest 26-20 edge in rebounds. However, in the second half, KU outrebounded the Ducks, 37-14, for an overall 63-34 bulge.
Fatigue played a role in that lopsided disadvantage.
“We got a little fatigued, and I think our hearts took over,” said Oregon point guard Luke Ridnour. “But Kansas did, too, and they played an unbelievable game.”
Ridnour, an All-Pac-10 first-teamer who was averaging nearly 16 points a game, settled for nine points. The 6-foot-2 sophomore did have seven assists, but they were negated by seven turnovers. He missed 10 of his 13 shots.
“They really stepped it up,” Ridnour said of KU’s defenders. “I think it was a focus to stop our perimeter.”
Oregon’s other Luke struggled, too. Luke Jackson, averaging nearly 17 points a game, missed 12 of 16 shot attempts and scored just 10.
Only Frederick Jones was unstoppable. The 6-4 senior ended his career with a 32-point performance after being held to only four points in Friday’s 72-70 squeaker over Texas.
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Three-point goals: 11-28 (Lever 3-6, Jones 3-8, Ridnour 3-9, Michaelis 1-1, Davis 1-4). Assists: 21 (Ridnour 7, Jackson 5, Jones 4, Johnson 2, Christoffersen, Davis, Lever). Turnovers: 14 (Ridnour 7, Jackson 4, Jones 2, Johnson). Blocked shots: 2 (Christoffersen, Jones). Steals: 11 (Jones 4, Ridnour 3, Jackson, Christoffersen, Davis, Lever). |
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Three-point goals: 3-12 (Boschee 2-7, Hinrich 1-2, Ballard 0-1, Miles 0-2). Assists: 17 (Miles 8, Gooden 2, Collison 2, Hinrich 2, Boschee 2, Langford). Turnovers: 18 (Hinrich 4, Gooden 3, Collison 3, Miles 3, Bochee 3, Langford, Simien). Blocked shots: 5 (Collison 3, Hinrich, Langford). Steals: 9 (Hinrich 5, Langford 3, Gooden). |
Oregon | 42 | 44 | 86 |
Kansas | 48 | 56 | 104 |
“I’m very disappointed,” Jones said. “Coming into the game, there was no doubt we could win. We’re not satisfied. We expected to go to the Final Four.”
Not by shooting 40.5 percent and not by being dominated on the boards.
“It was a game of runs,” Kent said. “They had a run in the first half and we had a run. In the second half, they made that late run and we had nothing to come back at them.”
Kent conceded fatigue may have been involved.
“I think when the fatigue factor set in we played on the hype factor,” Kent said. “We feel we have a deep bench and (KU coach Roy Williams) went to the bench, too, because it was such a ferocious pace. They just held serve longer than we did.”
Kent also left no doubt who he will be pulling for in Atlanta.
“I know I’m one coach who’ll be rooting for Roy,” Kent said. “If they’re clicking like they were clicking today, they’re going to be tough to beat in this thing.”
What did Williams say to Kent after the game?
“He said it was unfortunate one team had to go home with a rock in its gut,” Kent said. “Unfortunately, it’s us.”
Oregon wound up with a 26-9 record and Kent stressed it was important for his players to reflect and realize they played on the second-best team in school history.
“Kansas gave us another blueprint to step up to,” the Oregon coach said.
All in all, Oregon had never run into a buzzsaw like the one that sawed off the Ducks on Sunday.
“They’re just an unbelievable team,” point guard Ridnour said.
MADISON, WIS. ? They were the toasts of Oregon.
They surprised everyone by winning the Pac-10 championship.
They were going to be the first Oregon University basketball team to reach the Final Four since the 1939 Ducks won the first NCAA championship.
Then Drew Gooden and Nick Collison walked off the Kansas team bus into Kohl Center and the dream died.
“They have two NBA players in the paint,” Oregon coach Ernie Kent said after Gooden and Collison led the Jayhawks to a 104-86 Final Four-clinching victory Sunday afternoon, “and they have the mentality to be warriors in there.”
Gooden and Collison combined for 43 points and 35 rebounds.
At halftime, Kansas led 48-42 and had a modest 26-20 edge in rebounds. However, in the second half, KU outrebounded the Ducks, 37-14, for an overall 63-34 bulge.
Fatigue played a role in that lopsided disadvantage.
“We got a little fatigued, and I think our hearts took over,” said Oregon point guard Luke Ridnour. “But Kansas did, too, and they played an unbelievable game.”
Ridnour, an All-Pac-10 first-teamer who was averaging nearly 16 points a game, settled for nine points. The 6-foot-2 sophomore did have seven assists, but they were negated by seven turnovers. He missed 10 of his 13 shots.
“They really stepped it up,” Ridnour said of KU’s defenders. “I think it was a focus to stop our perimeter.”
Oregon’s other Luke struggled, too. Luke Jackson, averaging nearly 17 points a game, missed 12 of 16 shot attempts and scored just 10.
Only Frederick Jones was unstoppable. The 6-4 senior ended his career with a 32-point performance after being held to only four points in Friday’s 72-70 squeaker over Texas.
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Three-point goals: 11-28 (Lever 3-6, Jones 3-8, Ridnour 3-9, Michaelis 1-1, Davis 1-4). Assists: 21 (Ridnour 7, Jackson 5, Jones 4, Johnson 2, Christoffersen, Davis, Lever). Turnovers: 14 (Ridnour 7, Jackson 4, Jones 2, Johnson). Blocked shots: 2 (Christoffersen, Jones). Steals: 11 (Jones 4, Ridnour 3, Jackson, Christoffersen, Davis, Lever). |
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Three-point goals: 3-12 (Boschee 2-7, Hinrich 1-2, Ballard 0-1, Miles 0-2). Assists: 17 (Miles 8, Gooden 2, Collison 2, Hinrich 2, Boschee 2, Langford). Turnovers: 18 (Hinrich 4, Gooden 3, Collison 3, Miles 3, Bochee 3, Langford, Simien). Blocked shots: 5 (Collison 3, Hinrich, Langford). Steals: 9 (Hinrich 5, Langford 3, Gooden). |
Oregon | 42 | 44 | 86 |
Kansas | 48 | 56 | 104 |
“I’m very disappointed,” Jones said. “Coming into the game, there was no doubt we could win. We’re not satisfied. We expected to go to the Final Four.”
Not by shooting 40.5 percent and not by being dominated on the boards.
“It was a game of runs,” Kent said. “They had a run in the first half and we had a run. In the second half, they made that late run and we had nothing to come back at them.”
Kent conceded fatigue may have been involved.
“I think when the fatigue factor set in we played on the hype factor,” Kent said. “We feel we have a deep bench and (KU coach Roy Williams) went to the bench, too, because it was such a ferocious pace. They just held serve longer than we did.”
Kent also left no doubt who he will be pulling for in Atlanta.
“I know I’m one coach who’ll be rooting for Roy,” Kent said. “If they’re clicking like they were clicking today, they’re going to be tough to beat in this thing.”
What did Williams say to Kent after the game?
“He said it was unfortunate one team had to go home with a rock in its gut,” Kent said. “Unfortunately, it’s us.”
Oregon wound up with a 26-9 record and Kent stressed it was important for his players to reflect and realize they played on the second-best team in school history.
“Kansas gave us another blueprint to step up to,” the Oregon coach said.
All in all, Oregon had never run into a buzzsaw like the one that sawed off the Ducks on Sunday.
“They’re just an unbelievable team,” point guard Ridnour said.
MADISON, WIS. ? They were the toasts of Oregon.
They surprised everyone by winning the Pac-10 championship.
They were going to be the first Oregon University basketball team to reach the Final Four since the 1939 Ducks won the first NCAA championship.
Then Drew Gooden and Nick Collison walked off the Kansas team bus into Kohl Center and the dream died.
“They have two NBA players in the paint,” Oregon coach Ernie Kent said after Gooden and Collison led the Jayhawks to a 104-86 Final Four-clinching victory Sunday afternoon, “and they have the mentality to be warriors in there.”
Gooden and Collison combined for 43 points and 35 rebounds.
At halftime, Kansas led 48-42 and had a modest 26-20 edge in rebounds. However, in the second half, KU outrebounded the Ducks, 37-14, for an overall 63-34 bulge.
Fatigue played a role in that lopsided disadvantage.
“We got a little fatigued, and I think our hearts took over,” said Oregon point guard Luke Ridnour. “But Kansas did, too, and they played an unbelievable game.”
Ridnour, an All-Pac-10 first-teamer who was averaging nearly 16 points a game, settled for nine points. The 6-foot-2 sophomore did have seven assists, but they were negated by seven turnovers. He missed 10 of his 13 shots.
“They really stepped it up,” Ridnour said of KU’s defenders. “I think it was a focus to stop our perimeter.”
Oregon’s other Luke struggled, too. Luke Jackson, averaging nearly 17 points a game, missed 12 of 16 shot attempts and scored just 10.
Only Frederick Jones was unstoppable. The 6-4 senior ended his career with a 32-point performance after being held to only four points in Friday’s 72-70 squeaker over Texas.
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Three-point goals: 11-28 (Lever 3-6, Jones 3-8, Ridnour 3-9, Michaelis 1-1, Davis 1-4). Assists: 21 (Ridnour 7, Jackson 5, Jones 4, Johnson 2, Christoffersen, Davis, Lever). Turnovers: 14 (Ridnour 7, Jackson 4, Jones 2, Johnson). Blocked shots: 2 (Christoffersen, Jones). Steals: 11 (Jones 4, Ridnour 3, Jackson, Christoffersen, Davis, Lever). |
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Three-point goals: 3-12 (Boschee 2-7, Hinrich 1-2, Ballard 0-1, Miles 0-2). Assists: 17 (Miles 8, Gooden 2, Collison 2, Hinrich 2, Boschee 2, Langford). Turnovers: 18 (Hinrich 4, Gooden 3, Collison 3, Miles 3, Bochee 3, Langford, Simien). Blocked shots: 5 (Collison 3, Hinrich, Langford). Steals: 9 (Hinrich 5, Langford 3, Gooden). |
Oregon | 42 | 44 | 86 |
Kansas | 48 | 56 | 104 |
“I’m very disappointed,” Jones said. “Coming into the game, there was no doubt we could win. We’re not satisfied. We expected to go to the Final Four.”
Not by shooting 40.5 percent and not by being dominated on the boards.
“It was a game of runs,” Kent said. “They had a run in the first half and we had a run. In the second half, they made that late run and we had nothing to come back at them.”
Kent conceded fatigue may have been involved.
“I think when the fatigue factor set in we played on the hype factor,” Kent said. “We feel we have a deep bench and (KU coach Roy Williams) went to the bench, too, because it was such a ferocious pace. They just held serve longer than we did.”
Kent also left no doubt who he will be pulling for in Atlanta.
“I know I’m one coach who’ll be rooting for Roy,” Kent said. “If they’re clicking like they were clicking today, they’re going to be tough to beat in this thing.”
What did Williams say to Kent after the game?
“He said it was unfortunate one team had to go home with a rock in its gut,” Kent said. “Unfortunately, it’s us.”
Oregon wound up with a 26-9 record and Kent stressed it was important for his players to reflect and realize they played on the second-best team in school history.
“Kansas gave us another blueprint to step up to,” the Oregon coach said.
All in all, Oregon had never run into a buzzsaw like the one that sawed off the Ducks on Sunday.
“They’re just an unbelievable team,” point guard Ridnour said.