Oregon Basketball: Three keys for the Ducks to take down Wisconsin

Oregon basketball needed a monster hot streak in the Pac-12 to reach the NCAA Tournament. Now that they are here, can the Ducks take down Wisconsin?

The Ducks are coming off a 20-point demolition of rival Washington in the Pac-12 Final. This win earned them an automatic berth in the NCAA Tournament. But the story begins on February 28. On this day, Oregon’s eight-game win streak began with an 18-point revenge win against Arizona State in which they allowed 51 points. Defense has provided the impetus for Oregon’s turnaround. During their win streak, the Ducks have allowed an average of 53.25 points per game.

An important role in Oregon’s surge has been played by Francis Okoro. The freshman center’s uptick in minutes coincided with the start of Oregon’s win streak. For a team missing Bol Bol, he provides another effective rebounding and defensive option, accruing as many as six blocks in a Pac-12 Tournament game against Utah. Kenny Wooten is an additional defensive force with his athleticism and vertical leap. He has blocked at least four shots in five different conference games and ranks 12th nationally in block rate. In the backcourt, point guard Payton Pritchard has done well to keep his man in front of him and use active hands. In six of Oregon’s last eight wins, he’s accrued at least two steals.

Defense has become a crucial part of an Oregon team that was looking for an identity after Bol Bol went down. The Ducks will face a Wisconsin team that is in some ways a mirror image of themselves. The Badgers, too, like to grind out possessions offensively. They’ve been criticized for being predictable or otherwise lackluster on offense. Also, they have one of the nation’s most efficient defenses that keeps them in games when they’re struggling to score.

Here are the three keys for Oregon to pull off the 12 vs 5 upset.