The Wisconsin Badgers and Oregon Ducks will face off on Wednesday, marking their third meeting in the last three seasons. The two teams have previously met once in Madison and once in Eugene, with Wisconsin losing their inaugural matchup in the Big Ten last year at the Kohl Center in a tightly contested overtime game, 77-73. John Tonje led the Badgers in that encounter with 22 points. Two years prior, Wisconsin secured a narrow victory over Oregon in the NIT Semifinals, winning 61-58 at the Matthew Knight Arena. This matchup will only be the third encounter between them in Eugene, with the previous one dating back to November 24, 1990, when the Badgers edged out the Ducks 72-70.
Oregon comes into this contest with a record of 10-17 overall and 3-13 in the Big Ten, having won two of their last three games. Their recent form includes a significant Quadrant I victory over USC, where they triumphed 71-70 in a close contest on Saturday. Leading the charge for the Ducks is center Nate Bittle, who is averaging 16.7 points and 7 rebounds per game. Alongside him, Kwame Evans Jr. has been a vital contributor, raising his averages to 12.9 points and 7.2 rebounds, showcasing a promising level of performance as they gear up for this critical matchup against Wisconsin.
As the Ducks look to build momentum, this game presents an exciting opportunity for both teams to showcase their talent and potentially shift the dynamics of their season. Fans can anticipate an intense battle as each program aims to secure a vital win.