Oregon Looks to Reignite NCAA Tournament Hopes Against Rutgers

The Oregon Ducks (17-8, 6-8 Big Ten) started the season with high expectations, but six losses in their last seven games have left them scrambling for a late-season push.

They’ll get a chance to turn things around on Sunday afternoon in Eugene, when they host a talented but struggling Rutgers team (12-13, 5-9 Big Ten) looking to snap a two-game skid.

Can Oregon String Together Wins?

It’s been over a month since Oregon won consecutive games—a surprising fact for a team that was once a Top 25 contender. But with six games remaining, there’s still a shot at moving up the Big Ten standings and earning a first-round bye in the conference tournament.

Key Players for Oregon:

• Jackson Shelstad (13.4 PPG) – The sophomore guard has emerged as Oregon’s top scorer and posted a season-high 26 points in the Ducks’ recent 81-75 win over Northwestern.
• N’Faly Dante (12.1 PPG, 7.4 RPG) – A force inside, Dante will be key in matching up against Rutgers’ athletic frontcourt.

A major concern for Oregon? Defensive lapses in the second half. The Ducks have allowed 50 points in the second half of their last two games. If they don’t clean that up, Rutgers could make them pay.

Rutgers: A Team with NBA-Level Talent

Despite their losing record, Rutgers boasts two of the most exciting freshmen in college basketball:

• Ace Bailey (19.1 PPG)
• Dylan Harper (18.8 PPG)

Both are top NBA prospects, and if they keep up their scoring pace, they could become just the second freshman duo in the past 22 years to average 19+ points per game—joining Zion Williamson and RJ Barrett at Duke.

However, the Scarlet Knights have dropped three of their last four games, including an 84-73 home loss to Iowa. Their biggest bright spot? A nine-point upset win over then-No. 23 Illinois—the same Illinois team that crushed Oregon 109-77 earlier this season.

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What’s at Stake?

• Oregon: A win keeps their Big Ten tournament bye hopes alive and stops another downward spiral.
• Rutgers: The Scarlet Knights are out of the NCAA Tournament picture, but Bailey and Harper are looking to make a statement on a national stage.

Will Oregon find a defensive spark, or will Rutgers’ young stars take over in Eugene? Tip-off is set for Sunday afternoon.