Oregon Blowing A 9 Point Lead With A Minute To Go Is As Bad Of A Loss As You'll See In College Basketball This Year

Listen, I know Oregon doesn’t have Bol Bol and Kenny Wooten. I know that the Pac-12 is a mess this year. But, I do know that UCLA fired its head coach less than 2 weeks ago. I do know that UCLA is as much of as a disaster as Oregon. Actually, let me correct that. I know UCLA was as much of a disaster as Oregon currently is. I know that Oregon led by 9 at home with a minute to go.

So what in the living shit happened?

Oregon actually made UCLA work 13 seconds off the clock before Jules Bernard hit a three to cut it to 74-68. Still, not a huge thing for concern. You’re up 6 with 47 seconds to go and getting the ball. Perfect, Oregon inbounded the ball to Payton Pritchard who got fouled and drilled two free throws. Up 8 now with :44 to go. Okay, UCLA hits another three and it’s a 5 points game with :38 to go. Now, is where it all falls apart.

Payton Pritchard turned the ball over. Then one of the only things you can’t do. Oregon fouled Jaylen Hands shooting a three. Naturally he drills all three to cut it to two with :33 left. Oregon actually hit their next two free throws to move the lead up to 4 with :20 seconds to go. Prince Ali hit an absurd off balanced three. He was almost falling out of bounds and drilled it to make it a one point lead with :03 to go. Then you can see the video above.

Oregon made the smart decision to foul up 3. That’s what you do there. But, my God, that rebound. Credit to Moses Brown for keeping it alive and then Chris Smith for getting the layup. But to foul? What the hell are you doing! Luckily Smith bricked the free throw. But, naturally UCLA won in overtime.

So now UCLA is 3-0 in Pac-12 play since moving on from Steve Alford. I’ll say this. They look a bit better. Mostly because they are playing at a faster pace and trying to push tempo offensively. It’s fitting the players better than Alford’s style.

I’ll also say this. UCLA is now a favorite to win the Pac-12. Think about that for a second. They are 3-0 with a win at Oregon. They only play Washington and Arizona once – at Washington and home to Arizona. We could realistically see Pac-12 champion UCLA Bruins after firing Steve Alford. That would be an absolutely unreal scenario playing out.

As for Oregon, who knows man. They can’t seem to either a) stay healthy, b) find out a rotation that fits together and c) be consistent offensively. This is the second season in a row that’s trending towards disaster after the Final Four run with Dorsey, Brooks and company.

The Pac-12 isn’t good this year, but it’s going to be bizarre. I guarantee that. You don’t have Bill Walton calling your games without the league being bizarre.