by DSH contributor Eric Sloat
It was going to take something really weird for the Ducks to beat the Buffaloes in Boulder. And, something really weird did happen. But having 93% Jason Caliste, he of the ritualized routine, and 31 consecutive makes from the line, MISS 3 straight, was not the right kind of weird at all.
The first half was full of runs by both teams, Oregon did better the initial 10, Colorado picked up steam near the end, and led by 5 with seconds left. But Caliste hit 3 as time ran out. So, I guess maybe Oregon shouldn’t have been greedy, and expect that he make all the free throws. No team let alone Oregon, is going to break through the home court advantage, Colorado has developed in Boulder. Colorado gets calls. 33-39 free throws for the Buffaloes, compared to 16-21 for the Ducks.
Double D on D: Damyean Dotson guards Jaron Hopkins of Colorado. The Ducks led deep into the second half but sent the Buffs to the charity stripe an astounding 39 times (Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports).
A team is going to have to overcome that advantage, by dominating other areas. And, Oregon, shooting, 42.3% from the field, compared to Colorado, 56.3 isn’t going to get it done. Colorado got calls at the rim, benefiting the misses with opportunities at the line. But that is part of the personality they’ve made for themselves. Oregon is not that type of team. It is similar to how the football team plays. The Ducks want to run, create space. Shoot a lot, and from outside. When it works it overwhelms the opposition. But, Colorado plays smash mouth basketball And so, when a Duck does take it to the basket, the official is not as predisposed to the action, and a call is not as easily awarded.
There were times during the game when it was working for Oregon. The first 5 minutes of the second half can often be the most important stretch of a game. Oregon had a great run during that span, at one point going on a 16 4 run to take a 58-48 lead. But, again, weird happened. And again, it was the wrong weird.
Askia Booker and Spencer Dinwiddie led the Buffaloes with 27 and 23 points, respectively. Mike Moser led the Ducks with 24, and was the only player to foul out of the game.
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