Josh Jackson grew up a fan of Michigan State’s winning basketball program and played a huge part in knocking the Spartans out of the NCAA tournament.
Now it’s Landen Lucas’ turn to do the same to the team for which he rooted.
A native of Portland, Lucas’ father, Richard Lucas, a 6-foot-7 center, played at Oregon from 1987 through 1991. He averaged 15.3 points and 8.8 rebounds as a senior, 10.9 and 8.6 as a junior.
Richard wore an Oregon shirt and cheered for the Ducks throughout Thursday’s one-point victory against Michigan.
“He had a Kansas shirt under it so he took that off and supported us,” Landen said after Kansas blew out Purdue in the second half Thursday night in Sprint Center. “I told him he needs to get rid that for the next 48 hours.”
Richard tweeted about how his no-lose situation.
Part of me is dreading Saturday & part of me is totally stoked. One of my teams is Final Four bound!! Congrats @KUHoops & @OregonMBB!!
— Richard Lucas (@RlucasOregon) March 24, 2017
Blood is thicker than water, even for a man who doubles as a Duck.
“Obviously, he should be rooting for us in this matchup,” Landen said. “It’ll be nice to play against them.”
Foul trouble limited Lucas to 20 minutes against Purdue, so he should be fresh, even after battling Purdue’s massive post players.
“I grew up watching them all the time, big fan,” Landen said. “I’ve watched them a lot. They’re a good team, an athletic team. I feel like we match up well with them, they match up well with us.”
“I’m just going to play my game and I won’t try to force anything, but it’s going to be fun,” Lucas said. “And I’m obviously going to be ready to go because it’s the Final Four on the line, but it does add a little to it because it’s my dad’s school.”
