Oregon and No. 24 Michigan are each in strong form for NCAA Event bids, however there is not a lot else they’ve in frequent proper now getting into Wednesday evening’s Huge Ten contest in Ann Arbor, Mich.
Visiting Oregon (16-5, 5-6) is available in reeling, having misplaced three in a row and 4 of its final 5, with the one win in that stretch coming in opposition to one of many league’s worst groups, Washington.
The Geese launched into their two-game highway journey to Michigan (they play at No. 9 Michigan State on Saturday) after dropping a 77-71 residence contest to Nebraska on Sunday.
Oregon has fallen from reputable convention contender to a sub-.500 report within the league throughout this icy stretch.
The silver lining is that Oregon had eight Quad 1 wins and a No. 37 NET rating to start this week, so the Geese nonetheless are effectively north of the NCAA tourney bubble.
Nonetheless, Oregon coach Dana Altman is aware of his crew goes to have to show issues round rapidly, particularly enjoying on the highway in opposition to two of the highest three groups within the Huge Ten this week.
“We will should battle by means of it,” he mentioned. “We have got 5 on the highway and 4 at residence left. Everyone’s sort of bundled up (within the convention race), so it is simply whoever performs effectively in February. We have historically performed effectively in February, however this crew goes to should determine it out.”
Michigan (16-5, 8-2) is available in feeling a lot better about itself, a winner of two straight following a 66-63 highway triumph at Rutgers on Saturday.
The Wolverines entered Tuesday a sport behind Michigan State for the highest spot within the convention standings and have been No. 17 within the NET rankings.
“We’re nonetheless a piece in progress,” Michigan coach Dusty Could mentioned. “It is February. We have got to have the ability to win when it isn’t fairly and simply maintain transferring ahead. However we won’t get uninterested in the method.”
The sport will characteristic three of the very best frontcourt gamers within the convention.
Michigan is led by its 7-foot twin towers of Vladislav Goldin (15.6 factors, 6.0 rebounds per sport) and Danny Wolf (12.2 ppg, 10.0 rpg), whereas Oregon is led in scoring and rebounding by 7-footer Nate Bittle (12.5 ppg, 7.2 rpg).
If there was an enormous weak spot for Michigan this yr, it has been turnovers. The Wolverines lead the Huge Ten in turnovers at 14.8 per contest, and that may very well be a difficulty in opposition to an Oregon crew that averages 7.1 steals per sport and is giving up solely 71.0 factors per contest.
Although the groups have been in reverse conferences earlier than this yr and are positioned a good distance from one another, there’s a latest historical past.
Oregon earned a 71-70 time beyond regulation win over Michigan in Ann Arbor in 2019, whereas the Geese additionally defeated Michigan in time beyond regulation, 86-83, in time beyond regulation final season in Eugene, Ore.
–Subject Degree Media
