NCAA tournament team previews: Oregon Ducks

The Ducks come flying into the tournament with eight wins in their last nine games. (Chris Williams/Icon SMI)

As part of its preview of the 2014 NCAA men’s basketball tournament, SI.com is taking a look at all 68 teams in the field. RPI and SOS data from realtimerpi.com. Adjusted offense and defense are from kenpom.com and measure the number of points scored and allowed per 100 possessions, and the team's national rank. For more teams, click here.

Record: 23-9, 10-8 in Pac-12

RPI/SOS: 27/19

Adjusted offense / Adjusted defense: 116.9 (12th) / 100.7 (92nd)

Seed: No. 7 in West

Impact player:Joseph Young, junior guard, 18.6 ppg, 84.4 from the line, 41.6 from 3

The Case For:

Oregon is one of the hottest teams in the country coming into the tournament, having won eight of its last nine games. The Ducks have been inconsistent this season, but they're on an upward swing and have a tournament-tested coach in Dana Altman, who also took Kansas State and Creighton to the NCAAs before doing the same this year and last with Oregon. Senior transfer forward Mike Moser could be the Ducks' X-factor; one of the best rebounders in the country, Moser is tough to stop when he gets into an offensive flow. He averages 13.5 points and 8.0 rebounds per game. Oregon can score from every position on the floor, as evidenced by their 82 points per game.

The Case Against:

The Ducks' defense has been non-existent at times this year -- like when they lost eight of ten during an early stretch of conference games. Oregon also lacks a true rim protector, a piece that proved crucial in its Sweet 16 run last year. The Ducks have a tendency to settle for jump shots, and while their field goal percentage is good (46.8), they will be in trouble if they shoot poorly, because they lack a consistent post presence.

SI prediction: Beat BYU in second round, lose to Wisconsin in third round

View complete bracket predictions from SI.com's panel of experts