We’ve got a bit of a sleepy Big Ten slate on our hands Monday night: an in-state rivalry matchup up in the Pacific Northwest and a buy game back home in the beautiful Midwest.
Here’s what you need to know
about the games:
Oregon State Beavers at Oregon Ducks
- Time/TV: 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PST on FS1
- KenPom Spread: Ducks by 13
The Ducks and Beavers renew their rivalry series on Monday night in Eugene. This is a non-conference matchup, unfortunately, but let’s get into it anyway.
Oregon finally got a decently convincing win over an overmatched opponent when the Ducks dispatched South Dakota State 83-69 at home to move to 3-0. The Ducks have leaned on their defense as they work out their offensive issues, with none of their three opponents going over 70 points on the season.
The offense is, uh, bad. Oregon has been plagued by turnover issues and struggles shooting everywhere on the court, including at the free throw line. Jackson Shelstad’s 22 over the Jackrabbits definitely helped and water could find its level, it’s very early, but that needs cleaning up soon.
Oregon State is also 3-0. The Beavers have beaten North Dakota State, UIC and North Texas by a combined seven points. Much like the Ducks, their games go down to the wire. The issue being the Oregon State defense is far more porous than Oregon’s.
That should allow the Ducks to keep the Beavers at arm’s length while they score enough points to win the game.
SIU Edwardsville Cougars at Wisconsin Badgers
- Time/TV: 8 p.m. ET/7 p.m. CT on Big Ten Network
- KenPom Spread: Badgers by 21
Wisconsin still looks great on both sides of the floor, maintaining the offensive excellence it found last season and doing so without breakout star John Tonje, who moved onto the professional ranks.
SIUE is better than most buy game opponents you’ll see in Big Ten gyms on the average weeknight, but it was still easily dispatched by Indiana State on its home floor. The Badgers should win and have a chance to cover the spread at that.
