The Wisconsin Badgers are taking on the Oregon Ducks in a late-night West Coast game on Wednesday, with tip-off set for 10:00 p.m. CT on Big Ten Network.
Wisconsin has yet to make a West Coast trip this year, but it has back-to-back games on the road this week, facing Washington on Saturday, with tip-off slated for a much more ideal 3:00 p.m. CT.
The Badgers are coming off an 84-71 victory over the Iowa Hawkeyes at the Kohl Center that essentially cemented their NCAA Tournament bid and strengthened
their projected seed with just two weeks left in the regular season.
Nick Boyd was the leader in the win, going for 27 points, 10 assists, and nine rebounds in another vintage performance that got the Kohl Center crowd off its feet. Nolan Winter also added 18 points on an efficient 8 of 11 from the field, while Austin Rapp hit four three-pointers in his return from an illness and finished with 14 points off the bench.
Now, Wisconsin faces an Oregon team that has gone 10-17 this season, including 3-13 in the Big Ten. That’s good for the second-worst conference record behind only Penn State (2-15). The Ducks have dealt with some injuries this year, including a season-ending one to point guard Jackson Shelstad, and their season has taken a tumble as a result.
They average just 71.1 points per game, which ranks 331st in the country, as they’re one of the slower-paced teams in the nation. Their defense hasn’t been great either, allowing 74.2 points per game this year. As a result, Oregon is KenPom’s No. 106 team this year in adjusted efficiency.
Nate Bittle, who dealt with a month-long injury earlier this season, is leading the charge for the Ducks once again, averaging 16.7 points and 7.0 rebounds a game this year. Behind him, Kwame Evans Jr. has taken a step forward as a starter in Year 3, averaging career highs in points (12.2), rebounds (7.2), assists (2.2), and blocks (1.2).
Heading into the game, the Badgers are 5.5-point favorites, down slightly from the opening line as a 6.5-point favorite.
Can they pull off a road win and stay rolling late in the season? Join us as our game thread is live!
