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The late-blooming Ducks came alive just in time to win the Pac-12 tournament and earn one of the final bids in the field. Now, they should reach the Round of 32 by getting past a South Carolina club that has overachieved most of the season but is now seeing some regression.
Oregon is off their Pac-12 title. The Ducks have won their last four games and are finally healthy at the right time. South Carolina is not as experienced as the Ducks and may struggle rebounding now that N’Faly Dante is healthy. Oregon also has the better overall guards and better coach in this matchup. While the Gamecocks, may have the better defensive numbers on paper, Oregon defense has been peaking at the right time, holding opponents to 64.3 point over their last three game. Dana Altman is also 15-6-1 ATS in the tournament.
I don't think South Carolina will have enough adequate answers inside facing Oregon big man N'Faly Dante. This is a Gamecocks team that may be reduced to shooting 3's over the Ducks' defense, and as a 33.5% three-point shooting team I think that's a scenario Dana Altman would sign up for. Ducks' keep it rolling after claiming the Pac-12 title in Las Vegas.
South Carolina has sleeper potential in my opinion, but March Madness is about the draw. South Carolina gets a poor draw against an Oregon team whose system fits tournament play. Dana Altman has continually advanced Duck’s squads in the tournament, and they come in with confidence after winning the Pac-12 tournament. An underlying factor is Jermaine Cousnard began his first three seasons as a Gamecock.
South Carolina (26-7) has been winning all season, and yet the Gamecocks get no respect. People think they're going to fall. Oddsmaker think there going to fall. But you have to look at their against-the-spread record, which is a very impressive 23-10. Meanwhile Oregon was 16-18 ATS. The Ducks won four games to win the Pac-12 Tournament, but they did not cover six straight games prior to the tournament. I'm going to take South Carolina to again come up with the victory like it has all season.
Team Injuries
