Oregon senior guard Jermaine Couisnard was one of the breakout stars of the first game of the NCAA men’s basketball tournament.
Couisnard, a 25-year-old playing for the Ducks in the opening round of March Madness, is currently finishing his senior year in Eugene for the Oregon men’s basketball program.
He had previously played multiple seasons for South Carolina in the SEC before transferring to the Pacific Northwest to play for Oregon head coach Dana Altman.
Yet, in a juicy storyline, Oregon was fatefully matched up against South Carolina to begin March Madness and Couisnard did not disappoint.
Jermaine Couisnard transferred from South Carolina to Oregon in 2022…
He just dropped 40 against his former team to upset them in the tournament 🤯 pic.twitter.com/RfRCGg7He1
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) March 21, 2024
The senior led the Ducks in many key statistical categories, including: points, assists, 3-pointers, and steals. He was dominant while playing against South Carolina, finishing with 40 points as the Ducks advanced to the second round to play Creighton in the Midwest region of the bracket.
It was the first time a double-digit seed had scored at least 40 points in a men’s basketball tournament game since Stephen Curry did as much in 2008.
After the game, Couisnard admitted that he was feeling particularly inspired because someone on South Carolina’s roster was hitting him with some “trash talk” after hitting a 3-point against him.
Jermaine Cousinard said someone on South Carolina roster who he had mentored during his time there said some trash talk after hitting a 3 over him. He said that's what got him going in the second half.
— Matt Prehm (@MattPrehm) March 21, 2024
Couisnard said that this is a player that he used to mentor when they were teammates in South Carolina (who he later confirmed was Jacobi Wright), so he was feeling especially motivated after hearing that.
Couisnard described it as “normal” trash talk and nothing egregious.
Jermaine Cousinard said that Jacobi Wright said something to him after he hit a three (nothing personal), and said that got him going.
He said his dribble pull-up three was when he knew he was on one.
— Andrew Lyon (@ALyon_SC) March 21, 2024
Either way, the Oregon star played for South Carolina for many years.
So this win to survive and advance had to feel especially good for Couisnard and the Ducks.
