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Nebraska Cornhuskers (13-8) at #16 Oregon Ducks (16-5)

 

Date: Sunday Feb 2nd, 2025

Time: 6:30 pm CST
Arena:  Matthew Knight Arena

Broadcast:  BTN (Guy Haberman and Don MacLean)

Oregon Info

Oregon Ducks Logo
Head Coach: Dana Altman (15th season)

Location: Eugene, Oregon 
Conference: B1G
Nickname: Ducks

Mascot: The Oregon Duck

Line: Oregon by 5

Typical Rotation Depth: 9+

KenPom rank: 37

Nota bene:  

  • Oregon leads the all-time series 7-6.  Their last meeting was a 60-38 win in Oregon back in 2012 during Tim Miles' first season
  • Dana Altman is 13-15 all-time vs Nebraska.
  • Dana Altman got his start playing at Fairbury College which was part of the SECC system, something he has in common with current Husker Justin Bolis
  • This is an experienced team, ranking 34th in KenPom's D-1 experience stat
  • Supreme Cook and Mookie Cook are not related
  • As former players for Pac-12 schools, both Braxton Meah and Berke Buyuktuncel have logged minutes in Eugene against the Ducks

 

Player to watch: Jackson Shelstad

Named to the Pre-Season B1G All-Conference First team, Shelstad is 2nd on the team in scoring and first in assists. Shooting a blistering 51.1% from 3 in conference

 

Player to watch: Nate Bittle

Leads the Ducks in scoring, rebounding, and blocked shots. He can shoot from 3 but it's a lot like Juwan Gary can shoot from 3.  Look for Nebraska to attack the rim at all times when he's out of the game

 

Oregon 's Roster

Player # Class Pos Height Weight Summary
Nathan Bittle 32 SR C       7-0 215 12.9 Pts 7.4 Reb 1.8 Ast
Jackson Shelstad 3 SO G       6-0 170 12.1 Pts 3.1 Reb 2.7 Ast
TJ Bamba 5 SR G 6-5 208 10.4 Pts 3.3 Reb 2.6 Ast
Keeshawn Barthelemy 9 SR G 6-2 163 9.7 Pts 2.4 Reb 2.7 Ast
Brandon Angel 21 SR F 6-8 210 9.6 Pts 3.8 Reb 1.1 Ast
Jadrian Tracey 2 SR F 6-5 190 7.9 Pts 3.1 Reb 2.2 Ast
Kwame Evans 10 SO F 6-9 200 6.0 Pts 3.8 Reb 0.7 Ast
Supreme Cook 7 SR F 6-9 200 6.1 Pts 2.7 Reb 0.3 Ast
Ra'Heim Moss 0 SR G 6-4 205 1.5 Pts 1.8 Reb 0.8 Ast
Jamari Phillips 24 FR G 6-3 185 1.6 Pts 0.6 Reb 0.3 Ast
Mookie Cook 11 SO F 6-7 200 1.1 Pts 0.6 Reb 0.0 Ast

 

Other Players

 

Villanova transfer TJ Bamba is elite at scoring in isolation but has struggled from 3 this season. Combo guard Keeshawn Barthelemy is shooting 42.9% from 3. Oregon's other ball handler is Jadrian Tracey who is an effective secondary scorer. Forward Brandon Angel shoots at a high percentage at all 3 though is turnover prone. Forward Kwame Evans is a defensive force but can be foul prone. Backup center Supreme Cook is a bucket inside and a rebounding force but is a so-so defender and foul prone. 

 

UNL Game Notes

 

Roster/infirmary report

 

 

Possible starters for Nebraska

3    Guard    Brice Williams     6-7    214 lbs    Senior

1    Guard    Sam Hoiberg     6-0    185 lbs    Junior

4    Forward    Juwan Gary     6-6    226 lbs    Senior

23    Forward    Andrew Morgan     6-10    242 lbs    Senior 

24    Guard    Rollie Worster     6-5    210 lbs    Senior

 

Bench

34    Center    Braxton Meah     7-1    264 lbs    Senior

0    Guard    Connor Essegian     6-4    190 lbs    Junior

2    Guard    Ahron Ulis     6-3    190 lbs    Senior

9    Forward    Berke Büyüktuncel     6-10    244 lbs   

31    Guard    Cale Jacobsen     6-4    195 lbs    Sophomore

12    Guard    Gavin Griffiths     6-7    193 lbs    Sophomore

5    Forward    Braden Frager     6-7    220 lbs    Freshman
8    Guard    Jeffrey Grace III     6-3    200 lbs    Junior
20    Forward    Justin Bolis     6-8    225 lbs    Sophomore
25    Guard    Nick Janowski     6-4    208 lbs    Freshman

35    Forward    Henry Burt     6-7    222 lbs    Sophomore

 

Out for year
51    Forward    Rienk Mast     6-10    260 lbs    Senior

 

The Skinny: 

Oregon played an impressive non-con schedule, going 11-0 with wins over Texas A&M, Alabama, and San Diego St. In conference play has been a different story where the Ducks are 5-0.  This is a NCAA tournament team but it's struggling relative to the start season. 

 

Here are some quotes from Altman after being pummeled at UCLA

-------------

"We got out to a slow start. It was embarrassing to shoot four for twenty-three from the three. Lots of those were not good shots. We kind of made a run in the second half. We just have to play a lot better.” 

on their three-point defense 
“We didn’t have any deflections. Their ball movement was good and they basically got what they wanted.”

on their three-point shooting 
“We just took some quick threes. Nobody was in position to rebound. We made some bad decisions. Right now, we are a poorly coached team. We started two for thirteen to start the game and we didn’t execute.” 

on their plan moving forward 
“We just have to play better, even on the defensive end. We just didn’t get it done tonight. The only area we won tonight was points in the paint. As a coaching staff, we have to demand not to take quick threes.” 

on their upcoming game against Nebraska 
“It’s going to be a tough game. We are not playing well right now. We just don’t have a lot of confidenc
e.”

------------

 

Defensively, Altman is notorious for rolling out multiple defenses so expect that to continue tonight. In conference. While they do try to run you towards Bittle in the middle, teams are torching the Ducks from the outside, especially in conference. The Huskers will need to make shots tonight as Oregon does guard well without fouling.

 

Offensively, how patient will the Ducks be hunting for 3s when the Huskers crash down on their posts? That might be the difference in this game for an Oregon offense that doesn't rebound well nor take care of the ball. With the size of Oregon's post players, it seems likely we will answer the question of why Braxton Meah has not played the last two games.

 

The Ducks seem vulnerable but other than hanging on at home in their last game it's not like Nebraska has been lighting the world on fire, especially on the road. Who has the juice in this game?

 

Prediction: Oregon 70 - Nebraska 66


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