For all the ups and downs of this Oregon's men's basketball season — and there have been many, of each — the low point unquestionably came in early February at Stanford.
The Ducks had won three in a row, including their first road win in conference play, at Cal. Then, a 35-point loss to the Cardinal, the final margin very fairly reflecting Oregon's uninspired play. The season hit a crossroads.
Since then, Oregon (19-10, 9-7 Pac-12) has won four of six, including last week's sweep of Arizona State and No. 14 Arizona. But on the same day the Ducks were upsetting the Wildcats in overtime, UO coach Dana Altman was struck by another result: Stanford, again playing in Maples Pavilion, needed to hit two free throws and survive a three-point attempt at the buzzer to fight off the Cougars, 86-84.