Oregon Ducks at No. 24 Michigan Wolverines College Basketball Preview: Known Chickens

Halfway through the big ten season, Michigan Wolverines finds themselves among the top three in the position, but their performances have been dipped since the beginning of the new year. Victories are victories, but to maintain pace over the next 10 games requires improvements in both ends of the floor, especially when competition rams; Michigan has been exposed to only the 16th-greater strength of the schedule of conference games.

Three of Wolverines’ eight Big Ten wins have come against former PAC-12 teams, and on Wednesday provides an opportunity to end the celebration. Oregon Ducks has looked formidable at times, but now rolls from three equal losses (and four in their last five matches). With the game played in Ann Arbor and Oregon fighting, Michigan has to take advantage and hang at the top of the position.

Oregon Ducks (16-6, 5-6) on No. 24 Michigan Wolverines (16-5, 8-2)

Date and time: Wednesday 5th February, 18:30 a one
Location: Crisler Center, Ann Arbor, Mi
TV/streaming: Btn

Oregon started the 9-0 season and later reached 15-2 and secured impressive victories over Alabama and Texas A&M, while he briefly continued a top-10 ranking. However, losses to Minnesota (how embarrassing !!), UCLA and Nebraska (at home) have derailed the ducks, which now finds themselves in the Kenpom Top 40. Their resumption of the early season remains strong, but it is fair to say Dana Altman’s team has been fighting at his new conference.

Despite their fresh arrival at the Big Ten, the ducks are quite familiar with Michigan. They won both sides of a covid-long-long home-and-home, including last year’s frustrating charging burner in Eugene. Earlier, they eliminated Michigan in 2017 Sweet Sixteen, though Wolverines claimed a win in 2014 Legends Classic. It makes Wednesday’s Matchup the fifth meeting between these programs of 11 years.

A big question: How will Oregon score?

The ducks have had lots of defensive matches during their slump, but it’s hard to ignore how the offense has really fallen off. Their three-point shooting is 32.8 percent with relatively high volume, and they have switched between revenue and offensive rebounding problems most nights. Meanwhile, Michigan’s defense has shown recent signs of improvement, including a Lockdown performance against Rutgers that held Scarlet Knights to their lowest PPP context in a month.

Oregon has three players on average between 10 and 13 points per year. Battle but no one is real standouts. Point Guard Jackson Shelstad and Center Nate Bittle both shoot from the inside out, as the offense is dependent on ball movement to generate quality appearance. Michigan can dry the ducks to take jumpers and see if they can convert. Given Wolverines’ defensive improvements in recent matches, I think there is reason to believe that Oregon will have trouble scoring.

One thing to look at: Quality competition

While Michigan has clearly underpinned recently, its way winner at USC and UCLA wasn’t that long ago. The Purdue debakel is tempting optimism, but it is reasonable to say that a game against (even a falling) Oregon will engage the schedule a little more than one against Northwestern, Penn State or Rutgers. With the next four matches, against Indiana, Purdue, Ohio State and Michigan State, represent Wednesday the start of the next central stretch.

This increase in competition can lead to two key changes. First, Dusty may emphasize ball safety – giving up property to quality opponents can be deadly and put a wealth of pressure on the possessions that actually end up in a shot. Secondly, the most important contributors must stepping up. Danny Wolf and Vlad Goldin have to continue to exploit discrepancies, but given Oregon’s fight defending the three in the Big Ten game, three Donaldson and Nimari Burnett be aggressive from deep. Hopefully, the name of Jersey inspires some elevated game despite the opponent’s actual fall in shape.