The Washington Huskies walked into the Oregon game sleeping. There was a lack of energy, hustle, and motivation. Maybe the team was resigned to the fact that they just aren't very good this year and won't make the NCAA Tournament, but neither will the Ducks, and Oregon came out just the opposite. However, at the end of the game, Washington went on a run, an insane and impressive run, taking the lead with seconds left.
It was improbable that they got to this point, but all the momentum was riding on the Huskies. All the cards were turning up Dawgs, and then disaster struck. Kwame Evans drained a three-pointer to tie the game, and in the process, Quimari Peterson fouled him.
Double technical fouls on Washington doomed a late-game rally vs. Oregon
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Evans went to the line and sank the "And-1." It's only a one-point game at this point, no big deal, take a deep breath and do what got you to this point. Oregon called a timeout after Evans made a free throw, and out of the timeout, the Ducks got Steinbach to turn it over.
To make matters worse, Washington let the emotions go and added a double technical foul to all this. The Huskies are only down one. What are you doing?! Oregon would go on to make it a six-point lead, and that would be the ball game.
It was as bad a fumbled end to the game as you will ever see, and yet it felt like a summary of the season. The Huskies came in with one of the best rosters on paper, couldn't stay healthy, came out with a lack of energy in a ton of games, fought at random times to win other games, and at the end of the year, when you are playing your rivals, couldn't hold it together.
Washington will now head into the Big Ten Tournament with none of the momentum and probably none of the energy to make some noise. It will be a No. 13 vs. No. 12 seed game against USC for the chance to play Wisconsin (most likely, unless Illinois loses today). The Dawgs have to find a way to put a better ending to a disappointing season than whatever that was against Oregon.