4/12/07: Oregon Returns to Elite Company

April 12, 2007

One of the best seasons in the University of Oregon basketball history came to an end with an 85-77 loss to eventual NCAA Champion Florida in the Midwest Regional final, but not before the Ducks set a number of impressive team and individual benchmarks.
Oregon’s 29 wins were tied with the 1939 national championship team for the second-most in school history. It was also the Ducks highest win total in 62 years. Last season Oregon was 2-14 in games decided by eight points or less, compare that to this season’s 14-5.
The Ducks were 7-3 versus teams ranked in the top 25 this season. Oregon knocked off three top ten teams, the only team in the country that has that claim. Playing away from Eugene, the Ducks went 13-6.
Personal bests were among the stories this season, senior Aaron Brooks led the Pac Ten conference in scoring, the first Oregon player since Terrell Brandon in the 1990-91 season. Brooks also finished among the nation’s best making the All-American list as a third team selection.
Freshman Tajuan Porter had the best start of any Oregon player ever finishing the season with 512 points, the only Duck frosh to score over 500 points in a season. Porter broke an Oregon record for most points scored in an NCAA tournament game with 33 points against UNLV.
Porter’s big contribution was from behind the arc, setting Oregon overall and Pac-Ten freshman single-season records for three-pointers. The Detroit native hit 110 threes on the season. The NCAA record was set by fellow freshman Stephen Curry of Davidson, also this season.
As a team, Oregon led the Pac-Ten conference and was ninth in the nation in three-point field goals made per game at 9 and half. The Ducks were also second in the conference and fifth nationally in free throw percentage at 76 percent.
Oregon will lose Brooks to graduation, but returns the other four starters next season. The Ducks also lost their sixth man in Chamberlin Oguchi who chose to leave the team for a yet-to-be named team. The questions will be leadership, with the loss of Brooks a new leader will have to emerge. Will it be future pro-prospect Malik Hairston or the young Porter?
Let the future be pondered, but let the past always be remembered and never forgot, for it was a great year to be a Duck basketball fan.