MBB: Sparks Still Flying
· Yahoo Sports
It appears a bit of momentum carried over from Oregon Men’s Basketball’s improbable rally over USC last weekend.
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Looking about as in-sync and defensively sound as they have all season, the Ducks not only beat Wisconsin (currently in the NCAA Tournament picture), but beat them rather handily 85-71 in a late-evening matchup in Eugene.
With the postseason no longer a possibility, I had noted last time that Oregon’s best bet to finish 2026 was to play the role of spoiler.
Apparently, they’re taking the role rather seriously.
With 20 points, six rebounds, and five assists, Nate Bittle continued to bolster his NBA draft stock…while becoming the 41st player in UO history to compile 1,000+ points for his career in Eugene.
Bittle led a balanced attack, as Takai Simpkins tallied 17 points, KJ Evans 16, and Wei Lin 13.
The Ducks shot 52 percent from the floor as a team.
But the real story of the night was the rejuvenated defense, which held the Badgers to 33 percent shooting, the best defensive percentage Oregon has had since their victory over Maryland way back on January 2nd.
With the season itself not going at all as expected, it’s great to see Bittle be able to finish strong, especially after a midseason injury. Additionally, if the team can finish on a positive note with some wins, there can be increased hope for 2027, in which all key players outside of Bittle will be eligible to return.
Oregon travels to the Great Lakes next, with a very winnable game at Northwestern and yet another upset opportunity at Top 25 Illinois.
The Ducks finish up the regular season (and likely the season as a whole) March 7th at home against Washington.