No incidents this weekend! A basketball sweep! It sure is nice not to have depressing news to share on Monday mornings.
- The Oregon baseball team salvaged a potentially disastrous trip to Hawaii with a 3-0 shutout win in the second game of yesterday's doubleheader. Zack Thornton and Drew Gagnier pitched the shutout, with Gagnier shutting the door in the sixth, relieving Thornton after Hawaii put two men on base. The Ducks dropped the first game 5-2, as they gave up three runs in the bottom of the seventh. Oregon dropped the series 1-3, which dumped a bit of cold water on what was a quick start to the season. Unfortunately, errors plagued the Ducks, and lackluster hitting as well. Oregon opens at the recently completed PK Park against Washington tomorrow.
- The Oregon women held their annual season banquet last night and Taylor Lilley was named the team MVP. The senior leads the team with 17.6 ppg, and set game, season, and career three-point records. She won the same award two years ago as a sophomore. Senior Micaela Cocks won an award for her offensive contributions (averaging 15.6 ppg), and sophomore Nia Jackson was named the teams best defensive player.
- Ed Dickson competed in the combine yesterday, to mixed reaction. While he showed his speed with a 4.67 time in the 40-yard dash, he fell down during field drills and then dropped a pass. This isn't likely to hurt his draft stock, but it won't improve it either. He isn't a top level blocker, and he didn't blow the scouts away in other areas to move him higher on any boards.
- In some men's basketball notes, Mike Tokito writes about who is hot (and not) in the Pac-10. Tajuan Porter leads the hot list, after his strong showing in LA. Hopefully he can continue the hot steak to end his Oregon career on a high note. Bob Clark also answers four questions.
- Lastly, as part of the RG coverage on the Oregon football teams legal problems, they have some info on the new recruit vetting process. The simple fact is that some of the players that come to Oregon will have baggage, whether legal or academic. The coaching staff must balance that risk and reward. Sometimes it works out great. Other times (such as with Jamere Holland or Myles Wade), not so much.
Share your quack below! GO DUCKS!