After blowing a 14-point lead, the Oregon Ducks are on an abysmal five-game losing streak in conference play and currently sit at 11th in the Big Ten standings. While the Ducks had a miraculously good start to their season, the men's basketball team is falling apart at the seams at the worst possible moment.
As March Madness rapidly approaches, Oregon fans have started to lose hope in an exciting postseason run because of the downward slide. However, those same fans may need to be a bit more nervous about the conference tournament that is currently looming overhead.
For the first time ever, because of the conference expansion that happened in 2024, the Big Ten Tournament will only include 15 of the 18 teams in the conference.
So, currently, the Ducks are safe from being left behind when the conference members meet in Indianapolis this spring. However, with just seven Big Ten games remaining in the regular season, Oregon must find a way to win their games.
Over the last few weeks, the Ducks struggled as they dropped five consecutive games against conference opponents, despite being within range or even leading throughout the matchups.
Oregon Ducks remaining Big Ten schedule
- vs. Northwestern Wildcats – Feb. 11
- vs. Rutgers Scarlet Knights – Feb. 16
- at Iowa Hawkeyes – Feb. 19
- at No. 21 Wisconsin Badgers – Feb. 22
- vs. USC Trojans – March. 1
- vs. Indiana Hoosier – March 4
- at Washington – March 9
Indiana, Rutgers, Iowa, Northwestern, and Washington are five of just seven teams who trail the Ducks in the conference standings and those matchups should be relatively easy wins for Oregon, especially the ones at home. However, the Ducks have dropped a few sure wins while playing at Matthew Knight Area despite excelling on the road throughout a lot of the season.
Also read: Another double-digit loss has Oregon Duck fans nervous about women's basketball team
The game against the Wisconsin Badgers, especially since it will be in Madison, is going to be the most difficult matchup for the rest of the regular season.
Oregon and Northwestern are scheduled to tip off at 9 p.m. PT from Matthew Knight Arena in Eugene, OR. The game will be broadcast on the Big Ten Network.