Oregon Basketball: 2019-20 keys for Ducks to beat Michigan Wolverines

Oregon Basketball had high expectations heading into the season. Their next test comes against the Michigan Wolverines. How can the Ducks win the game?

Heading into the season, Oregon Basketball was picked by many as the preseason favorite in the Pac-12 Conference. When looking at their roster and the transfers they added the rankings were not egregious. Adding Anthony Mathis and Shakur Juiston from the Mountain West and then securing a top recruiting class especially with gem N’Faly Dante the roster was going to be loaded. With a good roster in Eugene, head coach Dana Altman was going to be able to work his magic again.

So far Oregon has performed well which is not surprising even though star big man N’Faly Dante has yet to play a game. There was an issue with his transcripts and the NCAA suspended him for the first nine games. Oregon ended up in fourth place at the Battle 4 Atlantis tournament with a win over Seton Hall and losses to Gonzaga by one point in Overtime and North Carolina the next day.

As the Ducks get ready to play the winner from the Battle 4 Atlantis tournament the Michigan Wolverines, they are going to be without two key pieces. Dante is back with the team and able to practice, however, coach Altman does not want to play Dante against Michigan, it would be a tough matchup for the big man who has only practiced for a little over a week. He is set to make his debut on Wednesday against Montana.

Shakur Juiston is also out for the game against Michigan and that could be a potentially huge loss for the Ducks on both sides of the floor. Oregon still has a fantastic roster on the floor to compete with Michigan. If they can accomplish the following three things it will be a happy plane flight back to the Pacific Northwest.