Oregon Ducks vs Liberty Flames Picks and Predictions March 21st 2025

Keeshawn Barthelemy, Oregon Keeping Liberty in Sight

The Oregon Ducks (24-9) are gearing up for their first-round matchup against the Liberty Flames (28-6) in the East Region of the NCAA Tournament, set for Friday in Seattle. Despite being the higher-seeded team, No. 5 Oregon knows better than to underestimate the 12th-seeded Liberty, as upsets are common in the 5-12 seeding matchup.

Oregon guard Keeshawn Barthelemy emphasized that the Ducks are not taking their opponent lightly.

“They have to be a good team. We know they are going to be ready,” Barthelemy said. “Liberty is going to be ready and we know that 5-12 matchup is always something to look at.”

Oregon started the season with a dominant nine-game winning streak before encountering a slump that saw them drop five straight games. The Ducks regained their form just in time, winning eight consecutive contests before falling to Michigan State in the Big Ten tournament quarterfinals.

“I feel like we went through a little slump,” Oregon guard Jadrian Tracey said. “We just got back right. Every team goes through it.”

Liberty’s Path to the Tournament

Liberty punched their ticket to March Madness by defeating Jacksonville State in the Conference USA title game. The Flames began the season hot, winning 12 of their first 13 games before hitting a rough patch. They regained their momentum just in time for the tournament, securing the automatic bid.

Coach Ritchie McKay, leading Liberty to their first tournament appearance since 2019, knows what the Ducks bring to the table.

“Coach Altman is a Hall of Famer. He’s tremendous,” McKay said. “I’ve followed his program and career. They will make it hard for you. They’ll try to take away what you do best.”

Liberty thrives on its perimeter shooting, ranking sixth in the nation with a 39.0% three-point percentage and averaging 10.6 treys per game. Leading scorer Taelon Peter (13.9 points per game) is lethal from deep, making 46% of his three-point attempts, while second-leading scorer Kaden Metheny has buried 99 threes.

Bracket-Busting Profits

Sign Up for NCAAB Tips

Get Free Trial

Key Players and Matchups

Oregon Ducks:

• Nate Bittle leads the Ducks with 14.1 points and 7.4 rebounds per game.
• Jackson Shelstad, averaging 13.2 points, has made 60 three-pointers, tied with Barthelemy (10.1 points).
• Keeshawn Barthelemy’s playmaking and shooting will be crucial in breaking down Liberty’s defense.

Liberty Flames:

• Kaden Metheny averages 13.5 points per game and has knocked down 99 triples.
• Taelon Peter contributes 13.9 points per game and leads the bench scoring while shooting 46% from beyond the arc.
• The Flames’ defense must contain Oregon’s dynamic scorers while capitalizing on long-range shooting opportunities.

Game Location Advantage

One advantage the Ducks hold is playing close to home. Seattle, about 280 miles from Eugene, is an accessible location for Oregon fans. In contrast, Liberty traveled nearly 2,800 miles from Lynchburg, Virginia, to play on the West Coast.

“We were happy about it, yeah,” Oregon coach Dana Altman said. “We thought Seattle and Denver were pretty good options for us.”

Betting Insights and Predictions

• Oregon is favored due to their higher seed and proximity to Seattle, but Liberty’s lethal three-point shooting could pose a challenge.
• College basketball championship odds favor the Ducks advancing, but upsets in the 5-12 matchup are historically common.
• For expert betting analysis and odds, visit our expert betting guide and odds page.

Final Thoughts

Can Oregon’s depth and home-court advantage withstand Liberty’s sharpshooting? The winner of this matchup will face either No. 4 Arizona or No. 13 Akron in the second round. With both teams riding high on momentum, this game has all the ingredients of an NCAA Tournament classic.