There may still be some aspects on the court that need to be polished, but as an alumni and fan experience Thursday at Matthew Knight Arena, Oregon's entry in The Basketball Tournament looked like a million bucks.
The Ducks' alumni team "Always Us" won an exhibition Thursday over a team of players primarily from nearby Bushnell University, 66-60. Up next for Maarty Leunen, Tajuan Porter, Bryce Taylor and company is The Basketball Tournament, a $1 million, winner-take-all event that begins for Always Us on Sunday in Peoria, Ill. (noon, ESPN3).
Thursday's exhibition capped a short week of practice together for Always Us, which boasts players spanning generations from Leunen and Taylor to 2019-20 senior Shakur Juiston.