Oregon refocuses after UA loss

Some may not have seen this Final Four run by the Ducks coming after losing in the Pac-12 Tournament championship to Arizona, 83-80.

The Ducks drew a No. 3 seed in the NCAA Tournament, and coach Dana Altman had his team make adjustments before the Big Dance.

“I think that losing a ballgame maybe refocuses you sometimes,” Altman said. “But in this particular case, I think it just let us know that we were going to have to play a little differently without Chris, and we were able to make a few adjustments.”

Altman credited Jordan Bell for stepping up.

Kansas’ Mason picks up more hardware

Kansas guard Frank Mason III won another national award on Friday. Mason earned the USBWA Oscar Robertson Trophy as the Player of the Year.

Robertson was at University of Phoenix stadium to present the trophy.

“When I won the award, you didn’t get anything like this at all,” Robertson said. “When they informed you that you won the award, they sent a letter to the athletic director. He would call you and say, ‘By the way, you’re named Player of the Year.’ “

Mason also won the AP Player of the Year, announced Thursday.

South Carolina’s Thornwell back

South Carolina star Sindarius Thornwell is back at University of Phoenix for media availabilities and practice one day after he stayed back at the team hotel because he was feeling ill.

Thornwell says he’s now fine and feels good. He says he had a fever and headache.

The 6-foot-5 senior guard has been one of the tournament’s biggest stars as he’s led the Gamecocks to their first Final Four.

– The Associated Press contributed to this report