Wisconsin Basketball vs. Oregon Ducks – NIT Quarterfinal Preview

After a gritty win over Liberty, Wisconsin basketball is moving on to the NIT quarterfinals. 

The Badgers received significant contributions from Chucky Hepburn and Steven Crowl against the Flames, scoring 27 and 14 points, respectively. With UW now scheduled to take on No. 1 seeded Oregon, the Badgers need some of the same output from their top guys. 

Oregon, who just missed out on the NCAA Tournament, has shined in their two NIT matchups. The Ducks secured an 84-58 blowout win over UC Irvine, followed by a 68-54 win over UCF. 

Oregon has gotten hot at the right time, winning six of their last seven games. As one of only two No. 1 seeds remaining in the NIT, the Ducks could make a run, but Wisconsin stands in their way. 

The Ducks may not be at full force on Tuesday night, as their two stars N’Faly Dante and Jermaine Couisnard, remain questionable. The seniors have been instrumental to Oregon’s offense but have yet to appear in the NIT. Dante is averaging 13.4 points per game, while Couisnard averages 12.8 PPG. 

Wisconsin has stayed healthy, giving them a potential edge if Oregon’s seniors remain out. 

Keys to victory for Wisconsin basketball

The biggest point of emphasis for the Badgers should be defending the paint. Against UCF, Oregon’s frontcourt combined for 40 of the team’s 68 points, and Nate Bittle led all scorers with 21 points on 50% shooting. The Badgers must limit Oregon’s opportunities at the rim, and they’ll need Crowl to continue on his recent hot streak.

Against Liberty, the Badgers hit only 1 of their 15 three-point attempts. The most significant point of emphasis on offense should be getting back on track from deep after an abysmal showing. If Connor Essegian or Chucky Hepburn can get it going from beyond the arc, Greg Gard and company could leave Eugene with a win and head to the NIT semifinals.

Wisconsin will face Oregon tonight at 8 PM CST on ESPN. With a trip to the semifinals on the line, this game could be an entertaining one.