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

2. Turn defense into offense.

For all of Wisconsin’s issues on offense–Happ’s inefficiency, the inability of its guards to create their own shot, Davison’s shooting slump–one thing that it has been very good about is not turning the ball over. It is possible, though, to turn over Wisconsin. In its game against Nebraska on March 15, the Badgers turned it over 17 times. Happ had seven of those turnovers, fellow forward Khalil Iverson and fellow big Nate Reuvers combined for five additional ones.

Oregon has had its own problems on offense since it stopped being able to feed the currently injured Bol Bol. But it can score enough points by turning defense into offense. The Ducks like to anticipate passes in order to disrupt passing lanes. They also pressure their opponent into making bad decisions by double teaming and pressing. Their defense has the 50th-highest rate of turnover creation.

Point guard Payton Pritchard had been struggling offensively because he was trying to do too much to make up for the loss of Bol Bol. Now, he’s using defense to amp up his offensive production. Pritchard is dangerous on the fast break and stays low to the ground when driving into the paint to make himself quicker. While on the run, he keeps his head up and is always looking to get his teammates involved. With his vision and good ball movement, has a 5:1 assist-to-turnover ratio in his last three games.