Dana Altman's six years in Eugene as head coach of the Oregon Ducks have been the winningest six years in program history. Yet NCAA tournament success has eluded the Ducks under Altman, with just one Sweet 16 appearance. With a Pac-12 title -- the school's first since 2002 -- and an impressive conference tourney championship run, 2015-2016 was Altman's best season yet. Does that mean his winning ways will finally translate into tournament glory this March?
ESPN Insider has your answers, as Joe Lunardi has enlisted a team of Bracketologists to compile advanced metrics, key scouting intel and best- and worst-case tournament scenarios for all 68 teams to help you make smart picks in your bracket.
TOURNEY PROFILE
Best wins: Baylor, Cal, at Arizona, Utah
Worst losses: vs. UNLV, at Stanford
Regular season conference finish: 1st, Pac-12
Polls and metrics: After starting the season outside of the AP Top 25 and being unranked for a month in midseason, the Ducks began an ascension that landed them in the top 10. The BPI and KenPom put Oregon in the top 20 by season's end.
All-time tourney record: 16-12, one national title, one Final Four
Coach's tourney record: Dana Altman (6-11)
Bracketology chart | BPI information
PERSONNEL
(Note: Player statistics are through games of March 6.)
STARTING LINEUP
F Chris Boucher (12.0 PPG, 7.5 RPG)
F Dillon Brooks (16.7 PPG, 5.6 RPG)
F Elgin Cook (14.3 PPG, 4.9 RPG)
G Casey Benson (5.9 PPG, 3.1 APG)
G Tyler Dorsey (13.2 PPG, 4.3 RPG)
Key Bench Players
F Dwayne Benjamin (8.3 PPG, 2.8 RPG)
F Jordan Bell (7.2 PPG, 5.0 RPG)
G Kendall Small (1.7 PPG, 0.7 RPG)
Biggest strength: The Ducks are not a deep team, but they have scoring depth and versatility. Everyone in Altman's seven-man rotation, except point guard Benson, is a willing shooter and can get to the basket. Brooks is Oregon's biggest threat, but keying on him leaves too much space for too many capable scorers.
Biggest weakness: Somewhat strangely for a team built on athletic wings with a defense that hustles into passing lanes, Oregon is not good at defending the 3-point shot, and it has gotten worse as the season has worn on. The Ducks were last in 3-point field goal defense in the Pac-12 -- despite clearly being the conference's best team -- and rank 246th nationally.
Best player: Brooks is a fearless basket attacker and an outstanding finisher at the rim. The deep jumper is still a work in progress, but it is difficult to keep Brooks out of the lane, where he also makes plays for others. His 3.1 assists per game are tied for the team lead. His confidence as a driver is the catalyst for an offensive attack built largely on his penetration.
X factor: Dorsey. Initially the 6-foot-4 freshman lived up to expectations as a highly regarded recruit, averaging 15 points in 11 nonconference games. His play fell off early in Pac-12 play, but during the five-game winning streak to end the regular season that clinched the Pac-12 title for the Ducks, Dorsey averaged 15.8 points.
SCOUTING REPORT
Offensive approach: Without a true post player, the Ducks spread the floor with four players capable of attacking the lane off the dribble. They are trying to get angles for passes to the rim or kickouts for open jumpers. All the cutting and screening can get Oregon in some mismatches.
Defensive approach: Altman will play a fair amount of zone and Oregon will take chances out of it, diving into passing lanes and overplaying the post. The Ducks are sixth in the country in steal percentage, but some of the risk-taking has left them vulnerable to open jump-shooters.
How they beat you: Oregon is a high-energy team and is constantly in attack mode on offense. The Ducks' success has caused their confidence to rise, and they never feel like they are out of the game. Their offense is tough to contain for 40 minutes. Oregon won at Arizona after being down 13 in a game in which the Wildcats shot 61 percent.
How you beat them: Teams that keep turnovers to a minimum, play honest defense and can punish Oregon inside have the best chance. Cal and Stanford attacked the glass to beat the Ducks on their northern California swing. If Oregon is forced to get the ball into the lane via the pass rather than the dribble, the Ducks could struggle.
WHAT THE NUMBERS SAY
(Note: All statistics in this section are courtesy of kenpom.com and are accurate through games of March 6.)
NATIONAL RANKS
Offensive efficiency, 11th (117.8)
Defensive efficiency, 57th (97.6)
3-point percentage, 200th (34.1)
3-point percentage D, 246th (36.0)
Free throw rate, 89th (40.1)
Free throw rate D, 71st (31.9)
TO percentage, 68th (16.6)
TO percentage D, 53rd (20.4)
Good stat: 117.8 offensive efficiency rating
The Ducks take good shots and are willing passers, making them such an efficient unit. Brooks is a budding star, but he is willing to share the ball, and players like Cook, Boucher and Benjamin are nearly as dangerous in Oregon's up-tempo motion offense.
Bad stat: 34.1 3-point percentage
Oregon will not beat anyone shooting long jumpers. Fortunately, there is some self-awareness in play and the Ducks don't launch a lot. They are just 204th in the country in 3-point attempts percentage. But, when they need one, the freshman Dorsey has been the only reliable deep shooter.
HOW FAR WILL THEY GO?
Best-case scenario: Final Four
Being able to score easily is a trademark of many national-title contenders and the Ducks can do that. Their nine RPI top-50 wins is bested only by Kansas. Those types of schools would be second-weekend opponents, and Oregon has proven it can beat them. Getting to the Final Four would be the school's first trip since 1939.
Worst-case scenario: Round of 32 exit
The Ducks have shown just enough vulnerability to suggest they could be an upset victim if they aren't able to impose their rhythm on a game. Oregon has not done a good job against 3-point shooters in the second half of the season, and one hot day by a lower seed could send the Ducks home early.