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http://www.omniture.com --> Sections Home Page Local News AP News Blogs Archives Business Classifieds Event Calendar Forums Life Opinion Obituaries Multimedia Photo Gallery Readers Photo Gallery Sports Tempo Weather Road Cams Special Coverage 2006 Britt Festivals --> Shop Our Valley AutoFinder HomeFinder JobFinder Search Our Valley Special Sections Distinctly Northwest Women in Business Homelife Magazine Joy Magazine Oregon Golf Info Oregon Wine Info Other Publications Local Links Ashland News eSouthernOregon Newspapers In Education Personals Moving Here Movie Listings TV Listings Volunteer Customer Service Advertise With Us Media Kit Place Classified Ad Contact Us FAQ's Home Delivery Site Map --> Email Story to a Friend March 21, 2007 Everything ducky as Oregon prepares for Sweet 16 By ANNE M. PETERSON The Associated Press PORTLAND — Portland's Morrison Bridge was lit this week with green and yellow. The University of Oregon's student newspaper, The Daily Emerald, splashed the headline "Sweet (16)!" Duck Fever is heating up. The Oregon Ducks beat Miami University and Winthrop in the NCAA Tournament's Spokane Regional, advancing to play UNLV in St. Louis on Friday in the round of 16. Third-seeded Oregon, the Pacific-10 tournament champion, has won eight straight games. If they beat the Runnin' Rebels, they'll face the winner of the game between Butler and Florida. And, if they win, they'll have 29 victories — the same as the 1939 "Tall Firs" that won the first-ever NCAA Championship and became a source of statewide pride. Advertisement The high scorer on that team was retired Navy rear admiral John Dick, 88, an Oregon season ticket holder who will accompany the team to St. Louis. That makes No. 29 a big deal to Oregon coach Ernie Kent. "Every time I look at him I realize what a special place this is, the University of Oregon," Kent said. "I went to school at Oregon, and every time I look back on this, I'm a Duck. I'm a Duck at heart. I grew up a Duck going to school here, and I'll always be a Duck — and Admiral is the same way." The Tall Firs own Oregon's only NCAA basketball title. Oregon has now been to the tournament nine times and has advanced to the regional semifinals five times. The seventh-seeded Runnin' Rebels knocked off Georgia Tech and second-seeded Wisconsin to advance in the tournament. UNLV (30-6), with a nine-game winning streak, is the lowest seeded team remaining in the field. The Runnin' Rebels swept the MWC tournament to lock up an automatic NCAA bid, and have become the lovable underdogs of the tournament with a father-son storyline about coach Lon Kruger and guard Kevin Kruger. The Ducks were studying the Rebels this week, in addition to preparing for finals. "I know they're in the Sweet 16 and we've got to be ready to play because they deserve to be there," Oregon guard Aaron Brooks said. The team leaves for St. Louis this afternoon. As for the Morrison Bridge, a new lighting system paved the way for Portland's tribute to the team. "The new lights were a perfect way to say 'Go Ducks,'" said Multnomah County Commissioner Maria Rojo de Steffey. "We'll keep them lit in yellow and green as long as the Ducks keep winning." Advertisement Copyright © 1997-2007 Mail Tribune, Inc. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions | Website Feedback online casinos news Home Security Systems Online Casino Reviews Trunks, Footlocker Fundraisers UK Homeowner Loans Casinos Canada Cord Blood Banking Discount Hotel Reservations Texas Electric Choice Compare Electric rates in Texas Windermere Van Vleet Men's Clothing Debt Help New Hampshire Primary