The Win is Nice, But Nice Enough to Save Ernie’s Job?
Posted on 29. Jan, 2010 by Keith Becker in Oregon Ducks
Funny headline from Yahoo: Oregon gets uglier than usual for a good cause.
This Oregon team threw themselves after loose balls, crashed the offensive and defensive boards with reckless abandon and at the same time, somehow managed to run a much smoother, controlled offense that featured several pick and rolls (even making contact with the defenders!) – something I figured as a lost art for the Ducks.
As much as I’ve criticized Kent the past few weeks, I have to give him some credit tonight. He had his team ready to go, laid out a solid game plan, kept them interested through halftime and didn’t blow it down the stretch. For Ernie, that’s a win.
But Mr. Hot Seat did something tonight that we haven’t seen for a while: he made adjustments.
UCLA’s Nikola Dragovic nailed three nearly consecutive treys early in the first half (with each one earning more and more of the Pit Crew’s ire). So what did Ernie do?
He switched to a zone defense and made sure two players closed in on Dragovic whenever he got the ball within shooting range, knowing that everyone else on the Bruins shoot about as well as a Storm Trooper from Star Wars. Well, at least until Michael Roll brought out his inner Reggie Miller and started knocking back clutch threes like Jon Daly knocks back Jack Daniels. (Think I got enough analogies in that paragraph? Sheesh.)
The switch worked, Dragovic went cold and the Ducks took control of the game.
Yet somehow, despite E.J. Singler and Matt Humphrey’s heroics, Oregon still couldn’t win in regulation. There was a chance, as Oregon had the ball in a tie ball game with 10 seconds left, but Tajuan Porter forgot that he wasn’t Michael Jordan, deciding to drive coast to coast and throw up a shot that had a lower chance of going in than Ernie Kent winning coach of the year honors.
Fortunately, Singler and Humphrey continued their Supermen acts into overtime, nailing multiple clutch free throws and three-pointers, respectively.
Unfortunately, after looking so putrid thus far this season (and last year), I’m torn about what happened last night. Do I root for losses every Thursday and Saturday so Ernie Kent will get shown the door? Do I hope for improvement expecting Kent to be fired anyway?
For fans who want to see Kent gone, this is a tricky situation.
In the post-game thread on Addicted To Quack, a few people summed up the situation perfectly. (By the way, am I the only one who giggles to himself every time I hear the phrase “the situation”? I can’t help it.)
MurphyLPendleton wrote: “Just when you are about to write Ernie Kent’s career obituary, he pulls out the defib paddles and shocks this team back to life.”
To which Dave eloquently responded: “Given Kent’s history, we’ll win the Pac-10 tourney to get the auto bid and he’ll save his job again. Then we’ll suck for another season, make the elite eight when Dunigan and Armstead are seniors, then suck again for three more years.”
The truth hurts. I just can’t live that way as a fan of Oregon basketball. It’s too tantalizing, painful, and encourages more hair pulling than fans should subject themselves to.
This one game alone did not do anything to change my opinion that Ernie still needs to go. Even if he pulls together a solid rest of the season, I say it’s too little, too late, kind of like the Adrian Beltre and Erick Dampier contract-year syndrome. Except General Managers are dumb enough to shell out millions because they decided to give a shit for one season, or the play-offs. Yes, I’m looking at you Jerome James.
My question for you, hardcore Duck fans, is this: does last night do anything to change your mind about Ernie Kent’s future in Oregon basketball?
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Sabonis
29. Jan, 2010
I would much rather a team that makes the tourney every year, than a team that sucks for 3 years then goes to the elite 8, then sucks for 3 more years… Ernie needs to go and he is NOT the coach to bring in bigtime recruits that UO/Nike/Matt Court need.
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Jeff Roberts
29. Jan, 2010
Absolutely not. Duck fans; don’t let yourselves get lured in again with a few good wins. Ernie can’t win consistently unless he has NBA prospects that can overcome is lack of game planning and coaching.
Let the campaign for Mark Few to Oregon begin!
HEY MARRRRRRK!!! CAN YOU HEAR ME!?!?!? IT’S TIME TO COME HOME!
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Mark Ferchland
29. Jan, 2010
We have tasted the fruits of success in football and track and will not settle for warmed over memories of better basketball teams of the past.
Too many years in the same job can lead to stagnation and I think that has happened to Ernie and his players. A change of venue would be good for Ernie and even better for the Ducks.
Sincere wishes for great success Ernie, where ever you go.
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1BIGDUCKFAN
29. Jan, 2010
NO !
There are “Few” choices I’d rather see.
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Quack Daddy
29. Jan, 2010
I don’t know if Few is the answer but it’s a step in the right direction. I think there are other choices.
Remember we have Westhead coaching the UO women and he has an NBA Championship ring!
Think other options besides Few.
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Keith Becker
29. Jan, 2010
Few was offered the job last summer and declined. He doesn’t really want to come to Oregon but he asked for a artificially high salary just to show minor interest, to which
Belotti declined.
At this point, I would be shocked to see Few come to Oregon. I think it would be a perfect fit for both sides, but you can’t force him to do it.
I’m hoping we can grab the next Sean Miller.
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