Oregon Ducks, OSU Cowboys meet up Friday

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) – The No. 8 seed Oregon Ducks open the NCAA Tournament against No. 9 seed Oklahoma State on Friday in a matchup of teams heading in opposite directions.

Led by league Player of the Year Joseph Young, the Ducks (25-9) burnished their NCAA credentials with a strong finish to the regular season, including wins over Colorado and Utah in the Pac-12 Tournament.

But they were no challenge to Arizona in the title game, getting blown out 80-52. They also lost to the Wildcats by 18 in Eugene and 24 in Tucson.

Oklahoma State (18-13) doesn’t exactly enter the NCAA Tournament on a roll.

The Cowboys have lost six of their last seven but they got in based on five Top 25 wins and own three top-10 wins.