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3 bold predictions for Oregon basketball vs. Texas A&M in Vegas

By Connor Muldowney

Oregon center Nate Bittle presses toward the basket as the Oregon State Beavers host the Oregon Ducks Thursday, Nov. 21, 2024 at Gill Coliseum in Corvallis, Ore.
Oregon center Nate Bittle presses toward the basket as the Oregon State Beavers host the Oregon Ducks Thursday, Nov. 21, 2024 at Gill Coliseum in Corvallis, Ore. / Ben Lonergan/The Register-Guard / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
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Another week, another big game for Oregon basketball.

Just days after taking down rival Oregon State on the road in what turned out to be a thriller, the Ducks will be in Vegas facing another tough matchup. This time, it's No. 20 Texas A&M awaiting the Ducks in the Players Era Tournament. The Aggies are 4-1 on the year with a lone loss to UCF to begin the season.

Oregon, on the other hand, is 5-0 on the season and one of just four undefeated teams left in the Big Ten. The Ducks are coming off a big win over Oregon State and they're looking to carry that momentum into this matchup on Tuesday afternoon.

Let's get bold.

1. Jackson Shelstad finally has breakout game

As a freshman last season, Jackson Shelstad averaged 12.8 points per game and shot 45 percent from the field. So far this season, he's shooting under 35 percent from the floor and he's averaging just 8.8 points per game through five contests. It's time he finally breaks out.

Everyone expected him to become a star in year two but he's off to a slow start.

Shelstad scored 15 against Oregon State and that means he may have turned a corner. He'll finally have his first breakout game of the season against Texas A&M on Tuesday afternoon, scoring over 20 points and shooting over 50 percent from the floor.

2. Nate Bittle records second straight 20-10 double-double

Nate Bittle was a superstar against Oregon State last week, scoring 23 points with 14 rebounds. It was his first 20-10 double-double on the season and, well, he's going to follow that up with another 20-10 double-double on Tuesday.

Bittle has had a huge senior season thus far but he's only recorded one 20-10 double-double which is rather surprising given the fact that he averages a double-double this season.

Against Texas A&M, he'll grab 12 rebounds and score 22 points.

3. Oregon pulls off the upset

Texas A&M has been solid this season, but UCF showed that the Aggies are beatable and Oregon just needs to get off to a quick start and make them play catch-up and dictate the style of play.

The Aggies play some really good defense so if Oregon can wear them down on that end early on, I can see the Ducks building a comfortable lead and then holding on when the inevitable Texas A&M surge comes. This one will be close and Vegas has this one as almost a toss-up, but I believe that Oregon will still be riding high after that road win over Oregon State.

Oregon makes a statement in round one of the Players Era Tournament, upsetting the Aggies.

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