On the down low

Possibly because they feared having their signs confiscated, leadership in Oregon’s Pit Crew student section instructed students to keep all signs hidden until Saturday’s gametime.

Among the signs tucked away early included a giant “100 Grand” candy wrapper sign, a six-figure check written out to Deandre Ayton, and, naturally, “U of Pay” and “APayersProgram” signs. One student strolled in front of the student sideline section wearing a dark sportcoat with the letters “FBI” spelled out in green duct tape.

Oregon student section @OregonPitCrew being featured on @SportsCenter pic.twitter.com/uMSxLCU817

— Kevin Wade (@KwadeSays) February 25, 2018

Miller’s checklist

During the game, one Oregon student waved a cardboard sign claiming to be “Miller’s Checklist.”

Three items were listed on it: “Steroids for Trier,” “Pay Ayton,” and “Make Final Four.”

The first two boxes were checked and the third was not.

Mellow lineup

While Oregon students lined up long before last season’s showdown of 10-0 teams in the Pac-12, only 50 or so were on hand an hour before the game. Those who came got cupcakes.

Several students declined to give their names, while also hiding anti-UA signs, but one said the cold weather in Eugene this week decreased the early lineup, where students can grab coveted standing spots along the south baseline.

O Canada (again)

They've played O Canada so much on senior night at Oregon (honoring international seniors) that the announcer said "you can go ahead and sing if you know it." pic.twitter.com/FATXDS92ed

— Bruce Pascoe (@BrucePascoe) February 25, 2018

Oregon has a tradition of playing national anthems for the native countries of its senior players on Senior Night — which pretty much means they play “O Canada” every year.

The Ducks have had a strong Canadian connection under coach Dana Altman, and — even after losing Canadians Dillon Brooks, Chris Boucher and Dylan Ennis last season — continued the trend this season with senior forward MiKyle McIntosh. McIntosh hails from Pickering, Ontario.

“You can go ahead and sing it if you know it,” Oregon’s PA announcer said.

The Ducks also played “Hatikvah,” the national anthem of Israel, in honor of Israeli forward Roman Sorkin. The Downing Street Singers from nearby Churchill High School sang “The Star-Spangled Banner.”

He’s fired. Not.

ESPN reporting Sean Miller is out at Arizona. #12Sports pic.twitter.com/V7DuBnjQg1

— Cameron Cox (@CamCox12) February 25, 2018

About an hour before Saturday’s game, an ESPNU broadcaster announced that UA coach Sean Miller had been fired, creating a Twitter storm. Two UA officials reached before the game said they knew of no change since Miller had agreed to sit out and said he was confident of being vindicated.

ESPN retracted the report minutes later.

ESPN's Steve Quis retracts on-air report that Sean Miller has been relieved of his duties. As of now, Miller is still the Wildcats' head coach.

— Dominic Baciocco (@DominicBaciocco) February 25, 2018

Bilas says Miller is done

.@JayBilas says he can't imagine Sean Miller coaching in college basketball again. pic.twitter.com/qgcexXAz3g

— College GameDay (@CollegeGameDay) February 24, 2018

Earlier Saturday, ESPN analyst Jay Bilas said ESPN’s report Friday was “a career-ending thing for Sean Miller. Career-ending. I can’t imagine him ever coaching in college again.”

Bilas said UA should put Miller on administrative leave and not play Ayton until an investigation is complete. An ESPN report, released Friday night, said Miller and agent Christian Dawkins discussed paying $100,000 to land Ayton out of high school.

Walton proud

"This goes against everything I believe in and try to live for. Morally, ethically and legally." - Bill Walton on Arizona scandal pic.twitter.com/xFS8agTJOG

— Kevin Wade (@KwadeSays) February 25, 2018

ESPN’s yin-yang broadcasting duo of Bill Walton and Dave Pasch worked Saturday’s game, working in discussion of the off-court issues facing Arizona.

Walton said he didn’t enjoy seeing what was happening but was “proud” to see how the eligible players were competing, and said he was against paying players because not every school makes money.

Of course, Walton also gushed over Ayton and, when Oregon was playing well, said the Ducks were “becoming eagles… evolution in progress.”

Lute’s guys

@APlayersProgram BearDown it’s time to clean house and bring home our own bloodlines to carry on Lutes Legacy. We have too much pride, too much tradition to allow outsiders to tear down what we built.

— Jason Terry (@jasonterry31) February 24, 2018

Among all the commentary on the Miller news were some heated tweets involving Jason Terry, Richard Jefferson — and Dick Vitale.

Terry tweeted out Friday night that “it’s time to clean house and bring home our own bloodlines to carry on Lute’s Legacy. We have too much pride, too much tradition, to allow outsiders to tear down what we built.”

ESPN analyst Dick Vitale then cited Terry in this tweet: “How can (Arizona) coach SEAN MILLER survive as Arizona coach? Jason Terry, NBA ex-Cats star says Wildcats must clean house & get back to the class and pride of Lute Olson era.”

But Richard Jefferson apparently had a slight problem with that. The Twitter handle RoadTrippinPodcast, which Jefferson and Channing Frye share, tweeted a note that Terry took money from agents while playing for the Wildcats in the late 1990s.

The tweet read: “Oh and DICK you are quoting a guy that got caught taking money from AN AGENT his senior year that forced Arizona to vacate the wins from my freshman year. Be careful who you quote DICK- Richard Jefferson”

Oh and DICK you are quoting a guy that got caught taking money from AN AGENT his senior year that forced Arizona to vacate the wins from my freshman year. Be careful who you quote DICK- Richard Jefferson! https://t.co/yFqvGLS3CV

— RoadTrippinPodcast🎧 (@RoadTrippinPod) February 24, 2018

Terry was found to have accepted $11,500. The UA had to repay $45,363 in forfeited NCAA Tournament revenues while also vacating their 1999 NCAA Tournament appearance, a first-round loss to Oklahoma).

The big number

19

Double-doubles for Ayton this season, the third-most in Arizona basketball history in a season, behind only Al Fleming (22, 1974-75) and Jordan Hill (20, 2008-09).