Wisconsin basketball squanders a 16-point second-half lead to Oregon Ducks on Saturday afternoon.
Wisconsin basketball looked to be in line for a sixth straight victory on Saturday. With 12:11 remaining in the second half, Kamari McGee’s layup gave the Badgers a 55-39 lead. However, the Ducks would storm back, finishing the half on a 16-2 run over the final 6:04 of the second half. Yes, you read that correctly. The Badgers scored just two points in the final six minutes of regulation. Oregon was able to capitalize on their momentum in overtime, as their defense continued to stifle Wisconsin en route to a 77-73 OT win.
Takeaway #1: Wisconsin saw the finish line too early
The Badgers have been playing good basketball, having won five in a row coming into their matchup against Oregon. It seemed as if the Badgers were on cruise control in the second half, and all of a sudden, they became complacent. There was less ball movement. Oregon began applying a full-court press, and it worked. Wisconsin committed a season-high 17 turnovers, six of which were given up by Steven Crowl. Wisconsin’s big men did not have an answer for Nate Bittle, whose 23 points led the way for Oregon.
Wisconsin also lost a part of their identity in the second half. They took a few contested mid-range jumpers, which is fully antithetical to head coach Greg Gard’s system. They opted to take contested threes with time remaining on the shot clock rather than continue to move the basketball, as they went 7-for-28 on their three-pointers.
Takeaway #2: Badger fans, do not panic
After reading about all of the things Wisconsin did terribly on Saturday, let us take a step back. The Badgers still played about 25-30 minutes of good basketball and got caught off guard by an Oregon team that hit another gear in the second half. Out of Wisconsin’s four remaining games, they should be heavy favorites in three (with the exception being a road contest in East Lansing).
Losses can be a good thing for a team prior to the postseason. Wisconsin got exposed in the paint in a way in which we have not seen since they played Michigan (who have two seven-footers, Danny Wolf and Vladislav Goldin). They should be able to clean up their ball security, having averaged just 10.1 turnovers per game. Wisconsin needs to use these miscues as an opportunity to improve late in the season.
Takeaway #3: Oregon has reestablished itself as a threat in the Big Ten
Oregon had a rocky start in 2025, losing five in a row from late January to early February. However, four straight wins, with their last two coming on the road, have positioned Oregon as a possible contender in the Big Ten Tournament.
Oregon’s stars shined in Madison. Nate Bittle played a big role down the stretch. Jackson Shelstad, who was inconsistent, showed up when it mattered most, tying the game with 14 seconds to go with a deep three. The Ducks got a lot of big performances from their role players against Wisconsin. T.J. Bamba, despite having just six points, locked down John Tonje late in the second half. Kwame Evans Jr. and Jadrian Tracey combined for 21 points off the bench.
This is an Oregon team that is returning to form after knocking off Texas A&M and Alabama early in the season. Do not be surprised if and when they make a run in March.
Next up for Wisconsin basketball (21-6, 11-5): vs. Washington (13-14, 4-12) – Feb. 25 at 8 p.m. CST
Next up for Oregon basketball (20-8, 9-8): vs. USC (14-13, 6-10) – Mar. 1 at 1 p.m. PST