Oregon and No. 24 Michigan are each in strong form for NCAA Event bids, however there is not a lot else they’ve in widespread proper now coming into Wednesday night time’s Large 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 street journey to Michigan (they play at No. 9 Michigan State on Saturday) after dropping a 77-71 dwelling contest to Nebraska on Sunday.
Oregon has fallen from official convention contender to a sub-.500 document 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 street in opposition to two of the highest three groups within the Large Ten this week.
“We will must battle by way of it,” he stated. “We have 5 on the street and 4 at dwelling left. Everyone’s form 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 must 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 street 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 Might stated. “It is February. We have to have the ability to win when it is not fairly and simply maintain shifting ahead. However we will not get uninterested in the method.”
The sport will characteristic three of one of the 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 12 months, it has been turnovers. The Wolverines lead the Large 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.
Regardless that the groups have been in reverse conferences earlier than this 12 months and are positioned a good distance from one another, there’s a current historical past.
Oregon earned a 71-70 extra time win over Michigan in Ann Arbor in 2019, whereas the Geese additionally defeated Michigan in extra time, 86-83, in extra time final season in Eugene, Ore.
–Subject Stage Media