Oregon’s March Madness Dreams on Life Support in Desert Showdown
The Oregon Ducks face their toughest test yet as they visit the #6 Arizona Wildcats with their NCAA tournament hopes dwindling. Oregon’s chances sit at a dismal 16% (teamrankings.com) or even worse at 9% (barttorvik’s TourneyCast), making their remaining three games a must-win scenario.
The Ducks (19-9, 11-6 Pac-12) find themselves on the road yet again, a place where they boast a respectable 6-4 record. However, the McKale Center in Tucson is a different beast. Arizona (22-6, 13-4 Pac-12) dominates at home (14-1) and looks every bit the part of a #1 seed in the upcoming NCAA Tournament.
These teams met in Eugene on January 27th, where Arizona prevailed 87-78. The Wildcats hold the statistical edge in nearly every category, suggesting a repeat outcome is likely. Oregon will need a monumental performance to secure the upset.
Key Players and Predictions
Our model projects a 93-67 Arizona victory, a result that would likely crush any remaining Oregon tournament aspirations. Look for Arizona’s Caleb Love (19.3 PPG) to lead the way, while Oregon will rely on N’Faly Dante (14.8 PPG) and Jermaine Couisnard (14.7 PPG) to try and pull off the miracle.
We think Arizona will be too much for the Duke here.
Our Pick – Arizona -13.5
Game Details
- Date: March 2, 2024
- Time: 2:00 PM EST
- Location: McKale Center, Tucson, Arizona
- TV Broadcast: ESPN
Can the Ducks shock the college basketball world and keep their dream alive, or will Arizona deliver the final blow?