The Trail Blazers have hit a winning stride. Is that a good thing for a team that is attempting to rebuild through the draft? It seems likely the roster is headed for another second-half shutdown after the trade deadline. Plus, Brenna eats crow for her confidence that her beloved Gonzaga would have no problem at Oregon State. 

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The Blazer Focused podcast, hosted by Aaron Fentress of The Oregonian/OregonLive and Craig Birnbach, jumps all over the latest developments surrounding the team. Scoot Henderson continues to shine. Anfernee Simons bounced back. Shaedon Sharpe lost his starting role.

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Oregon fans harbored hopes of watching the Ducks play in the national championship game on Monday in Atlanta. That dream was crushed about three plays into the Rose Bowl as Ohio State overwhelmed Oregon, bringing an abrupt end to one of the best seasons in program history.

With the Buckeyes now in the championship game against Notre Dame after edging Texas in the Cotton Bowl, many Ducks fans may be asking themselves this question: Who do we root for now?

On this week’s episode of the Oregonian Sports podcast, hosts Bill Oram and Brenna Greene debate that question and come to different conclusions.

Also on this week’s show:

• Looking ahead to Oregon State’s first basketball game against Gonzaga in Brenna’s lifetime

• Was it a good idea for Beavers head coach Trent Bray to appoint himself defensive coordinator, too?

• Should Scoot Henderson’s career-best performance against Brooklyn be seen as a sign of progress for the young Blazers star or thrown out as an anomaly?

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The Blazer Focused podcast, hosted by Aaron Fentress of The Oregonian/OregonLive and Craig Birnbach, offers well-earned praise to Scoot Henderson for his performance against the Nets. But was it just a fluke? Also, why does Deandre Ayton coast at times, and should the Blazers regret not trading Damian Lillard to Miami for a package including Tyler Herro?

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We’ve had a week to process Oregon’s 41-21 loss to Ohio State in Pasadena. While the Ducks were badly outplayed by their opponent, the system that put them in that matchup remains a topic of much debate and scrutiny.

On this week’s episode of the Oregonian Sports Podcast, hosts Bill Oram and Brenna Greene of KOIN unpack the New Year’s debacle, including whether the Ducks should consider any staffing changes.

Also discussed on this week’s episode:

• Will top teams start to manipulate their seasons, including resting players in conference title games?

• If the Ducks are gradually leveling up, does that make next year their year to win in the playoff?

• With the NBA’s trade deadline a month away, what are reasonable expectations for the Blazers front office?

• The Blazers have the NBA’s sixth-worst record, but with lottery odds front of mind, are they winning too many games?

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The Blazer Focused podcast, hosted by Aaron Fentress of The Oregonian/OregonLive and Craig Birnbach, examines the team's solid play lately, especially that of Shaedon Sharpe, Anfernee Simons and Deni Avdija. Plus, the trade deadline is coming up on Feb. 6. What should the Blazers do? And would we trade for Zion Williamson?

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It’s finally time for the Grandaddy of Them All.

On the eve of the Rose Bowl, co-hosts Ryan Clarke and Bill Oram preview Oregon vs. Ohio State for this special edition of Ducks Confidential. Does recency bias favor the Buckeyes, and which position groups will decide this one?

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It’s time for another episode of Ducks Confidential, an Oregonian Sports podcast about the Oregon Ducks.

In this edition, columnist Bill Oram and senior writer Joe Freeman discuss the connection between Dillon Gabriel and Marcus Mariota, the two Hawaiian-born quarterbacks who have engineered the most successful seasons in Oregon history and share a unique bond that extends beyond football.

How did Gabriel earn Mariota’s permission to wear No. 8? How are their mothers connected? And how does their bond impact the Ducks?

Oram and Freeman answer those questions and more in the episode. Subscribe to Oregonian Sports podcasts on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you listen.

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As one year closes, we take a look ahead to the next one on the Oregonian Sports podcast, setting goals for the local sports teams and figures as they enter into 2025. Can the Blazers shed some weight — at least contractually? And can the Timbers and Evander decide that what they really want is to work things out? And the Portland Diamond Project... really should host more in the new year.

Other things discussed on this week’s episode with hosts Bill Oram and Brenna Greene:

· Is calling the new football playoff the “first of its kind” FCS erasure?

· Can UP women’s basketball go from “totally Meek” to “totally sleek”?

· Plus, resolutions for the Ducks and Beavers, the new WNBA team and local sports fans.

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Bill and James discuss Oregon’s upcoming matchup with Ohio State in the Rose Bowl. What might apply from the Oct. 12 classic in Eugene? What’s changed? What will perception be with a win or loss for each team?

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