Get ready for a late night, Badger fans!
The Wisconsin Badgers travel out to the West Coast to take on the Oregon Ducks at Matthew Knight Arena on February 25th. Tip-off is at 10:00 PM on the Big Ten Network, and the Badgers are 4.5-point favorites.
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The Badgers earned a major victory last Sunday, defeating the Iowa Hawkeyes 84-71. Nick Boyd put together his best game as a Badger with 27 points, 10 assists, and nine rebounds. His performance and energy were much needed after the Badgers’ lackluster performance against Ohio State.
What should Badger fans know about the Oregon Ducks?
Opponent Preview
It’s been a season to forget for Dana Altman and the Ducks. Oregon enters this game with a poor 10-17 record and a second-to-last 3-13 conference record in the Big Ten. Two big reasons for that record are an offense that averages only 71.1 points per game and commits 12.2 turnovers per game. The Ducks also dealt with the loss of starting point guard Jackson Shelstad, who suffered a season-ending hand injury against Omaha on December 28th. Shelstad was the Ducks’ second-leading scorer at 15.6 points per game.
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Forward Kwame Evans Jr. has stepped up for the Ducks this season. Evans Jr. averages 12.9 points and is the team’s leading rebounder at 7.2 rebounds per game. In Oregon’s frantic comeback win over USC, Evans Jr. scored 21 points, including five of the Ducks’ last seven points in under one minute to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat.
In addition to Evans Jr., the Ducks got great news this month when veteran center Nate Bittle returned to the starting lineup. Bittle missed approximately a month this season with a lower-body injury he suffered back on January 13th against Nebraska. Since he returned to the starting lineup on February 7th against Purdue, Bittle has averaged 17.8 points per game. Rounding out the frontcourt for the Ducks is Sean Stewart, who averages 6.9 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 1.0 assists per game.
In the backcourt for Oregon are Drew Carter and Takai Simpkins. While Carter averages a mere 2.4 points, 1.0 rebounds, and 0.4 assists per game, Simpkins, a transfer from Elon University, is the Ducks’ leading three-point shooter among starters at 35.2 percent. He averages 12.4 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 2.1 assists per game.
Score Prediction
This game concerns me for Wisconsin. Oregon returns home with momentum and nothing to lose. If the Badgers walk into Eugene with the lack of focus they showed in their last road game, they will be in trouble. I do not anticipate that will happen, as Oregon is not on the same level as Ohio State this season.
I anticipate a closer-than-expected game with the Badgers getting just enough scoring to put this game away late.
Prediction: Wisconsin 80-71
