Fans reach out to console apologetic Jordan Bell after Oregon’s loss in Final Four
Apr 1, 2017, 11:17 PM | Updated: 11:26 pm
Oregon's Jordan Bell (1) is interviewed in the locker room after the semifinals against North Carolina of the Final Four NCAA college basketball tournament, Saturday, April 1, 2017, in Glendale, Ariz. North Carolina won 77-76.(AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)
(AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)
One of the worst part of sports is that when a game or a match or a bout is all over with, someone ends up on the losing end.
It’s never easy, which is why Oregon’s Jordan Bell took to Twitter to apologize after his team fell to North Carolina 77-76 in a Final Four game Saturday at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale.
I am so sorry….
— Jordan Bell (@1jordanbell) April 2, 2017
Bell was taking the loss especially hard because of how things ended, with he and his teammates unable to corral either of two missed North Carolina free throws that, if Oregon had rebounded, would have given the Ducks one last chance to win the game at the buzzer.
In fact, he told reporters the loss was on him because he failed to box out at the end.
A junior, Bell did grab a career-high 16 rebounds in the game, but he will always wonder what would have happened if that number reached 17.
Dana Altman, the Ducks’ coach, said he is not sure what happened on either of the missed rebounds, noting there was a scrum and his guys just weren’t able to grab the ball.
“So Jordan felt terrible,” he said after the game. “But I told him, I said, ‘Buddy, you got 16 rebounds, we wouldn’t have been in this position if it hadn’t been for you.’
“So all the guys felt bad. We had 5.8 seconds. We had time to get a look. And we just didn’t get it done.”
Altman’s words, while noble, may ring hollow. After all, you would expect a coach to come to his player’s defense, especially when in reality his player stepped up on the game’s biggest stage.
But if Altman coming to his defense does not do much for Bell, perhaps the response his apology tweet generated will. It seems like fans, who have in the past been known to be a bit harsh on athletes, have instead decided to try and lift this one’s spirits.
A sampling of the responses:
Nothing to be sorry about champ. Played your heart out this season. There is no Final Four run without Jordan Bell.
— Isaiah Truong (@isaiahtruong) April 2, 2017
You have nothing to be sorry about young man. You put us on your back and got us here. Thank you for a great season. #GoDucks
— Sid Leiken (@sidleiken) April 2, 2017
You are the heart and soul of the team. You are someone that has made me proud to be a Duck! Thank you for everything this season Always Us
— Ryan Bath (@BathisaDuck) April 2, 2017
You have nothing to be sorry for. You played your heart out all season and were a huge factor in getting this far. Go easy on yourself. ✊️💚💛
— oregon_girl (@oregon_girl3) April 2, 2017
you don't owe us any apologies man you left it all out there. proud of you.
— BIG OTTER BRAND 🌹 (@patronusisotter) April 2, 2017
And that’s just a sampling…
While really the only thing that will likely make things easier for Bell and his teammates is time — to move on from the tough loss as well as to reflect on a season in which they got Oregon to the Final Four for the first time since 1939 — one would hope the volume of support from those who care about him and the Oregon program would at least lift his spirits.
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