Jordan Bell made a couple of crucial mistakes late in Oregon’s heartbreaking loss to North Carolina in the Final Four Saturday night, and the junior forward is taking it quite hard.
When North Carolina nearly blew the game with seconds remaining by missing free throws, Bell failed to box out on two rebound attempts. His mental and physical errors prevented the Ducks from having an opportunity to take the lead.
“People can tell me what they want — I lost the game for us,” Bell said, via Jeff Eisenberg of The Dagger. “You play your a– off the whole year, and this was the moment that mattered. I didn’t do my job when it mattered.”
Bell admitted that he was distracted while talking to a teammate about the upcoming play when he failed to box out Theo Pinson the first time. He was simply out-hustled by Kennedy Meeks on the second play.
“I thought I had the second one,” Bell added. “He just took it from me. … I hit him and I went for it instead of hitting him and holding it. We talk about that all the time.”
The 6-foot-9 big man, who finished with 16 rebounds and 13 points, also apologized on Twitter.
I am so sorry….
— Jordan Bell (@1jordanbell) April 2, 2017
Bell said his teammates and coaches were nothing but supportive after the game. He received plenty of encouragement on social media, too.
@1jordanbell Don't be. You all had such a magical year. You made me so proud as a fellow Duck/#LBC kid. Can't wait for next year. #GoDucks
— Corey duBrowa (@coreydu) April 2, 2017
@1jordanbell without you we don't win any of these games. Hold you head up you deserve it! #GoDucks
— Peter Hollens (@PeterHollens) April 2, 2017
@1jordanbell No need to be sorry young man. You played your ass off. Made all us old guys proud to be DUCKS. Always US!
— Christopher Judge (@iamchrisjudge) April 2, 2017
@1jordanbell don't be! You played your heart out. Thanks to you & your boys for giving fans a great season. #GoDucks
— Hillary Lake, WCPO (@hillarylake) April 2, 2017
You can understand why Bell feels responsible for the gut-wrenching 77-76 loss, but one player or play doesn’t lose a game. The Ducks had their chances down the stretch (video here), and they would not have gotten to the Final Four without Bell. The absence of big man Chris Boucher, who tore his ACL in the Pac-12 Tournament and missed the entire NCAA Tournament, really hurt Oregon in the end.
