Michigan basketball gears up for short-handed Oregon: Prediction, preview

EUGENE, OR — Some Michigan basketball players were still in their jerseys after their win over Washington on Wednesday, Jan. 14, but their minds had already shifted to Oregon.

The Wolverines made their first Big Ten trip to the Pacific Northwest to face the Huskies and Ducks, and after dispatching the former, 82-72, they turned to the latter, all that was standing between them and their third sweep in the western US in the past 10 months.

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“Yeah that’s one,” point guard L.J. Cason said. “Looking to make it two.”

Michigan Wolverines guard L.J. Cason (2) advances the ball while guarded by Washington Huskies forward Bryson Tucker (8) during the second half at Alaska Airlines Arena in Seattle on Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2026.

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The No. 3 Wolverines (15-1, 5-1 Big Ten) face the Ducks (8-9, 1-5) on Saturday, Jan. 17 (4 p.m., NBC) in what is the first time in a long time Oregon has struggled under coach Dana Altman. As good as the Wolverines were in a Thanksgiving-week tourney in Las Vegas, trouncing Auburn and San Diego State, the Ducks were that bad, falling to those joint foes in the Players Era Festival as part of a six-game skid and a 4-9 run since opening the season with four straight wins. Oregon’s only win in Big Ten play this season is over winless Maryland – and even that was a struggle for the Ducks, who won by 10 at home.

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The Wolverines will likely provide their stiffest test yet, and to make matters worse for the Ducks, Altman announced Friday that his team will be without its two best players.

One was not a surprise: Jackson Shelstad – who hit a winning 3 with 1.4 seconds left against Michigan in December 2023 – broke his right hand during practice in October and though he suited up for his team’s first 12 games, he has missed the past four.

But now Oregon will also be without Nate Bittle, its leading scorer (16.3 points per game), rebounder (6.7) and rim protector (2.3 blocks per game). The…

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Publish date : 2026-01-17 16:41:00

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