Game 3 matchup in Spokane
Game 3
No. 1 Oregon vs. Holy Cross/Southern U.
Oregon (28-6)
Seed, region: No. 1, West
Location: Eugene, Oregon.
Enrollment: 24,125
Founded: 1876
Nickname: Ducks
Conference: Pac-12
How they got here: Pac-12 champs
NCAA tournament record: 7-12 in 12 years.
Coach: Dana Altman 150-63 in 5 seasons, 554-305 overall in 26 seasons
Marquee players: Continuing theme, the Ducks have four players who average better than double figures in scoring. They are led by 6-7 Dillon Brooks, who averages 16.8 points and 5.6 rebounds and 3.1 assists a game. He’s followed by 6-6 senior forward Elgin Cook (14.5, 4.9 rebs); 6-4 freshman guard Tyler Dorsey (13.8, 4.3 rebs) and 6-10 senior forward Chris Boucher (12.1, 7.6 rebs). The Ducks crushed Utah 88-57 Saturday in the Pac-12 tournament final.
Famous alumni: Phil Knight, founder of Nike: Mark Few, Gonzaga basketball coach; Luke Jackson, NBA; Ernie Kent, WSU basketball coach; Dan Fouts, NFL quarterback; Steve Prefontaine, Olympian long distance runner.
Holy Cross (14-19)
Seed, region: No. 16, West
Location: Worcester, Mass.
Enrollment: 2,937
Founded: 1843
Nickname: Crusaders
Conference: Patriot
How they got here: Patriot tournament champs
NCAA tournament record: 7-12 in 12 years.
Coach: Bill Carmody 14-19 in 1st season, 298-264 overall in 18 seasons
Marquee players: The Crusaders average only 65.3 points per game. They are led by 6-7 junior forward Malachi Alexander, who averaged 12 points, 5.5 rebounds 2.7 assists per game. Their second-leading scorer is 6-6 junior guard Robert Champion (11.6, 4.8 rebounds). He is followed by 6-6 freshman forward Karl Charles (10.8, 4.3 rebs). The Crusaders finished ninth in a 10-team league, but Holy Cross knocked off league champion Bucknell and beat Lehigh 59-56 on March 9 in the Patriot tournament to earn the automatic bid.
Famous alumni: Chris Matthews, broadcaster; Jack McKeon, MLB manager; Bob Cousy, NBA: Bill Simmons, broadcaster; Mike Sherman, NFL coach.
Southern University (22-12)
Seed, region: No. 16, West
Location: New Orleans, La.
Enrollment: 6,730
Founded: 1880
Nickname: Jaguars
Conference: Southwestern Athletic
How they got here: SWAC champs
NCAA tournament record: 1-8 in eight years
Coach: Roman Banks 99-56 in 5 seasons, all at Southern
Marquee players: The Jaguars only have two players who average double figures, but they have a hand full of players who contribute. They are led by 6-4 senior guard Adrian Rodgers. He leads the team with 16.6 points and he also averages 5.4 rebounds a game. He’s followed by 6-1 junior guard Trelun Banks (12.6, 2.2 assists) and three other players (Shawn Prudhomme, Jared Sam and Christopher Hyder) who all average the same 9.6 points a game. The Jaguars have wins this season over Mississippi State, Tulane and Wyoming before going 11-7 in the SWAC.
Famous alumni: Mel Blount, NFL Hall of Fame; Avery Johnson, NBA player and coach; Aeneas Williams, NFL Hall of Fame; Randy Jackson, American Idol.