SAN JOSE, Calif. — Like a proud papa Jordan Bell jumped out of his seat, clapping his hands and hollering out admiration every time Kenny Wooten spiked a shot into the floor or slapped one into the front row.
It was only two short years ago Bell was playing that role himself, blocking eight shots in Oregon's most recent NCAA Tournament win, at Kansas in the Elite Eight. Two short years ago on the calendar, at least. For a UO basketball program that missed the Big Dance in 2018, and wasn't in the discussion for a bid this year just a few weeks ago, that Kansas game felt like a distant memory.