Now we have a winning streak! Can we make it to three?
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The Barn
3:00 PM
BTN
Oregon
This appears to be the first-ever meeting between Minnesota and Oregon. The Ducks are a good team that is currently projected to be a 3-seed in the NCAA Tournament.
Oregon Ducks
Record: 16-3 (5-3)
KenPom Rank: 25
The Ducks are coming into the Barn! So far the travel for Oregon to the rest of the Big Ten has not been unmanageable as the Ducks are undefeated on the road. Can the Gophers give them a taste of why the Barn is such a tough place to play?
KEYS TO A GOPHER WIN
Defend the Duck’s backcourt – I really like watching Jackson Shelstad and Keeshawn Barthelemy, the Oregon guards. Also, I’m very concerned about the Gopher’s ability to defend these two. And TJ Bamba is pretty good too. The Gopher team defense is solid, but defending 1-on-1 on the perimeter is an area of concern.
Defend the cutter when Bittle gets doubled – Bittle is a big center who leads the Ducks in scoring and rebounding. He demands a double-team when in the post but is very good at passing to open cutters when this happens. I do not love this matchup for anybody in a Gopher uniform, but they need to avoid allowing easy baskets.
Control the pace – Oregon is an athletic team that has the ability to run Minnesota off the floor. Minnesota needs to control the pace, play physical defense and make enough shots to win. Oregon, while athletic, isn’t exactly playing at a frenetic pace, but they can roll with easy baskets.
PREDICTION
Minnesota has been competitive in most of the games they have played this season. Execution and finishing games has been the challenge. This Ducks team is one of the more athletic teams in the Big Ten and very “un-Big Ten-like.”
I have more confidence that the Gophers will compete in several Big Ten games this season, but this is not one I see them winning.
Minnesota – 68
Oregon – 79