2012 NIT Quarterfinals
#3 Oregon Ducks at #1 Washington Huskies
Alaska Airlines Arena – Seattle, Washington
Tuesday, March 20, 2012, 9:00 pm Eastern, TV: ESPN
Opening Line: Washington -4 1/2
Current Line: Washington -5
Opening Total: 155
Current Total: 155
Opening Money Line: Washington -200 / Oregon +170
Current Money Line: Washington -210 / Oregon +180
The 23-10 Washington Huskies won the Pac 12 regular season title. However, the Huskies were upset by Oregon St in the Pac 12 quarterfinals. Washington became the first school in history to win a power 6 conference regular season title and not get an at large bid to the NCAA tournament. The Huskies, coached by Lorenzo Romar, were given a #1 seed in the NIT. The Huskies beat #8 Texas-Arlington 82-72 and #4 Northwestern 76-55 to advance to the quarterfinals. Washington is the only one of the four #1 seeds to make it to the quarterfinals.
The Huskies will take on a familiar foe in the quarterfinals as they take on Pac 12 rival Oregon. The winner will play the winner of Middle Tennessee and Minnesota in the semifinals next week in New York. The 24-9 Oregon Ducks finished tied for second in the Pac 12 with California. The Ducks were also on the bubble for the NCAA tournament, but they lost in the Pac 12 quarterfinals to Colorado. Oregon got a #3 seed in the NIT. The Ducks, coached by Dana Altman, beat #6 LSU 96-76 in the first round and #7 Iowa 108-97 in the second round of the NIT. Both games were in Eugene.
Washington leads the series 186-105. The teams split the series this season, with each winning on their own home court. Oregon won in Eugene 82-57 February 9, and Washington won in Seattle December 31 76-60.
The Ducks have losses to Vanderbilt, BYU, Virginia, Washington, Cal twice, Colorado twice and Oregon St. Oregon has wins over Nebraska, UTEP, Fresno St, Washington St twice, Stanford twice, Arizona St, Arizona, USC, UCLA, Utah twice, Oregon St and Colorado.
Washington has losses to Saint Louis, Nevada, Marquette, Duke, South Dakota St, Colorado, Cal, and UCLA. The Huskies have wins over UC-Santa Barbara, Oregon St twice, Utah, Washington St twice, Stanford, Arizona St twice, Arizona twice, UCLA, and USC twice.
Oregon is outscoring opponents 74-68 this season. The Ducks are shooting 46.9% from the field, including 37.8% from 3 point range. Oregon makes 70.7% of their free throws. The Ducks average 34.1 rebounds a game, and have a rebounding margin of +1.8. Oregon averages 14.2 assists, 13.1 turnovers, 6.1 steals, and 3.6 blocks a game. Duck opponents are shooting 43.8% from the field, including 34.1% from 3 point range. The Ducks force 12.7 turnovers a game.
Oregon guard Devoe Joseph, a transfer from Minnesota, averages 16.9 points, 3.7 rebounds, 3.2 assists, and 1.4 steals a game. He is shooting 42.6% from 3 point range. He leads the team in scoring, assists, and steals. E.J. Singler averages 13.4 points, 5.5 rebounds to lead the team, and 2.2 assists a game. Garrett Sim averages 12.3 points, 2.5 rebounds, 2.5 assists, and 1 steal a game. He is shooting 47.4% from 3 point range. Olu Ashaolu averages 8.9 points and 5.1 rebounds a game. Tony Woods averages 6.5 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 1.6 blocks a game to lead the team. Johnathan Loyd averages 3 assists a game.
Washington is outscoring opponents 75-70 this season. Washington shoots 45% from the field and 34.3% from 3 point range. The Huskies make 61.6% from the free throw line. Washington is 6th nationally in rebounding with 40 a game, and have a rebounding margin of +5.5. The Huskies average 13.5 assists, 13.3 turnovers, 6.7 steals, and 4 blocks a game. Husky opponents are shooting 42% from the field and 33.2% from 3 point range. Washington forces 13.8 turnovers a game.
Washington guard Tony Wroten is averaging 16 points, 5 rebounds, 3.9 assists, and 1.9 steals a game. Wroten leads the Huskies in scoring and steals. Terrence Ross averages 16 points, 6.5 rebounds, 1.4 assists, 1.2 steals, and 1 block a game. Ross makes 36.9% of his 3 point attempts. Guard C.J. Wilcox averages 14.2 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 1.1 assists a game. Wilcox makes 40.8% from 3 point range. Aziz N’Diaye averages 8.1 points, 7.4 rebounds, and 1.1 blocks a game to lead the team in the latter two categories. Abdul Gaddy averages 8 points, 2.5 rebounds, and 5.1 assists to lead the team. Darnell Gant averages 7.1 points and 5.3 rebounds a game. Guard Scott Suggs is out for the season with turf toe.
Washington is 17-14 ATS and the total is 15-16 this season. Oregon is 18-12 ATS and the total is 15-15 this season. The favorite is 9-4 ATS in this series recently, and the home team is 4-0. Washington is 10-3 ATS in the last 13 played in Seattle against Oregon. The Ducks are 7-0 ATS in road games, 5-0 in road games against teams with winning home records, 4-0-1 after scoring 100 points or more, 9-1 after a cover, against teams with winning records, and in Pac 12 games, 7-1 after a straight up win, 16-5 overall, 13-6-1 after scoring 90 points or more, and 1-8 in Tuesday games. The Huskies are 8-2 in Tuesday games, 4-1 after a straight up win, 6-2 at h0me against teams with winning road records, 5-2 against teams with winning records, and overall, 9-4 at home, 3-7 after a cover, and 1-6 after a win by 20 points or more.
Recent history says the home team usually wins in this series. Both teams won handily at home this season, and Oregon hasn’t won in Seattle since 2010. I don’t see that changing, and Washington should win to advance to the semifinals next week.
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