Cardinal’s NCAA hopes take big hit
Without Pac12 Player of the Year candidate Oscar da Silva, Stanford figured to have a tough time against Oregon at Maples Pavilion on Thursday night.
The Cardinal took the Ducks down nearly to the buzzer, but Oregon prevailed 7168, putting a dent in Stanford’s hopes for an atlarge bid to the NCAA Tournament.
Stanford head coach Jerod Haase said da Silva injured his foot in practice Wednesday.
“So much of what we do offensively and defensively revolves around Oscar,” Haase said. “So with him not in there, there are adjustments to be made.”
A senior forward, da Silva entered Thursday second in the Pac12 in points per game (18.8), fourth in fieldgoal percentage (58) and tied for fifth in rebounds per game (6.8).
“It was a surprise to us,” Stanford forward Jaiden Delaire said of da Silva’s absence. “Oscar comes into work every single day, gives it everything he has … and it’s really hard when we see him out.”
Oregon (155, 104 Pac12) got a gamehigh 24 points from guard Chris Duarte. His 3pointer with just less than four minutes remaining put the Ducks ahead to stay.
With nine seconds left, Duarte went 1for2 at the line, leaving Stanford down 7068. Oregon had three fouls to give. The Ducks committed two and the Cardinal had a sideoutofbounds play with four ticks left.
Freshman Ziaire Williams caught the inbounds pass and got a good look a 3 from the corner, but it was off the mark. Eugene Omoruyi grabbed the rebound, and his foul shot accounted for the final margin.
Stanford entered Thursday with a NET (NCAA Evaluation Tool) ranking of 58. That would put the Cardinal likely just shy of an atlarge bid to the NCAA Tournament. A win over Oregon (NET: 47) probably would have put Stanford in position to receive an atlarge berth.
On Saturday, the Cardinal lost 8576 in triple overtime at Washington State.
Because of Santa Clara County’s previous restrictions on contact sports, Stanford didn’t play a game at Maples until Feb. 2. The Cardinal also have had to deal with extended absences of Williams (because of a death in the family) and guards Daejon Davis and Bryce Wills (knee injuries).
Haase said the goal of reaching the NCAA Tournament has provided his players their motivation.
“They understand why we’ve sacrificed so much,” Haase said. “Why we were on the road and practicing in dark gyms and staying in hotel rooms and fighting through injury and sacrificing for each other. They understand (the) reason we did all that was to have a chance to chase our dream at the end of the year here.
“They’re well aware. It’s not something I’m bringing up every day, but I don’t think I need to. They understand what’s at stake.”
Briefly: Stanford head football coach David Shaw handled sweepingthefloor duties. … Neither team attempted a foul shot in the first half.