Ducks @ Oregon - University of Oregon

Pretty in Pink

Peter E.

January 31, 2010 - 4:43 PM

Jeremy Jacob played the lead roll this weekend lifting the Ducks over UCLA and USC, improving the Ducks' Pac-10 record to 4-5 with 30 points in the two games. Jacob and his fellow Ducks really were "pretty in pink." This weekend was the annual "Coaches vs. Cancer" weekend to raise awareness about breast cancer, so coaches dressed casually in sneakers and the team wore white jerseys with pink numbers and pink shoes. Though effeminate, the Ducks snapped a five game losing streak with back-to-back wins wearing pink-- I think they should stick to the alternate color combination.

Jacob lead the Ducks with 19 points yesterday over USC, and Tajuan Porter and Matt Humphrey hit clutch three pointers on Thursday to boost the Ducks over UCLA in overtime. Oregon's offense finally came to life this weekend with some great shooting and ball movement, and they spread the ball around feeding the big men and rediscovering the three point shot. When they click, this basketball team can be hard to beat.

From a fan's perspective, this weekend also saw the Pit Crew come alive. Perhaps it was Ernie Kent's master plan to simultaneously motivate both his players and the Pit Crew when he called us into the locker room for the pre-game huddle Thursday night. In my three years of Pit Crew I'd never been in the locker room, but it was a cool new experience to surprise the team (and ourselves) with the clever idea to storm the locker room and get the team pumped for the game. The energy carried through the UCLA game to a win, and it continued Sunday with clever signage and cheers. For instance, Pit Crew members brought tombstones to mourn the death of USC's basketball program (they've banned themselves from any post-season play because of rules violations when ex-coach Tim Floyd paying former USC player O.J. Mayo). In addition, there was a sign that read "USC Rules Violations Counter:" followed by many fans holding up red "X's"to represent the many violations. It was a good spirited, clever attack against an athletic department that can't play by the rules-- great to see.

The Ducks will travel to Corvallis next weekend to play Oregon State, and look to move up in the standings in the Pac-10. I'll leave the Xs and Os to the coaching staff, but if I may put my two cents in: I recommend we stick with the pink.