The No. 7 seed Oregon Ducks are the second team to knock off a No. 2 seed from the Big Ten in the 2021 NCAA Tournament. They will now gear up to face the No. 6 seed USC Trojans in the Sweet 16 on Sunday, who rocked the No. 3 Kansas Jayhawks out of the NCAA Tournament.
Game date: Sunday, March 28th
Game time: 9:45 p.m.
TV channel: TBS
Location: Bankers Life Fieldhouse
Point Spread: USC -2
Total: 138
Moneyline: USC -130, Oregon +110
KenPom rating: 18 Overall, 12 Offense, 54 Defense
NET ranking: 33, (3-3 VS Quad 1)
Leading scorer: Eugene Omoruyi (16.7 ppg)
After not playing in their first round game against the No. 10 seed VCU, the Ducks did not show any rust on Monday versus the No. 2 seed Hawkeyes. Oregon defeated Iowa 95-80 in the second round to advance to the Sweet 16. Dana Altman’s team shot the lights out and withstood a 36-point and nine-rebound effort from two-time Big Ten Player of the Year Luka Garza.
Chris Duarte led the Ducks with 23 points on 9-of-12 shooting from the field, to go along with seven assists and three rebounds. Right behind Duarte was LJ Figueroa, who had 21 points (8-14 FG, 5-9 3pt), seven rebounds, and three steals. The Ducks had four players to score at least 10 points or more. Oregon shot 55.9% from the field and 44% from three-point range. The Ducks held Iowa to 45.6% shooting from the field and 32% from behind the arc.
No. 6 USC: 24-7 (15-5 Pac-12)
KenPom rating: 9 Overall, 20 Offense, 6 Defense
NET ranking: 19 (4-4 VS Quad 1)
Leading scorer: Evan Mobley (16.4 ppg)
The No. 6 seed USC Trojans continued the Pac-12’s dominance in the NCAA Tournament with a 85-51 victory over the No. 3 seed Kansas Jayhawks. The Trojans will be heading back to the Sweet 16 for the first time since 2007.
SC were led on Monday night by the Mobley brothers and their impressive three-point shooting. Isaiah Mobley had a team-high 17 points (6-14 FG, 4-5 3pt), eight rebounds, and four assists. His younger brother, Evan had another double-double with 10 points and 13 rebounds.
USC shot an incredible 61.1% from three-point range and 57.1% from the field. They also did an outstanding job on defense, holding the Jayhawks to only 29% shooting from the field and 24% from behind the arc. The Trojans also crushed the Jayhawks on the glass 43-28.
