Oregon’s Match Pedigree Meets Liberty’s Taking pictures Prowess in First-Spherical Conflict
March. The month when previous resumes matter far lower than current type. When a season’s work comes right down to 40 minutes. And when groups, constructed for the lengthy street, should first survive the opening step.
For Oregon (24-9, 12-8 Huge Ten) and Liberty (26-7, 14-5 Convention USA), that second arrives within the first spherical of the NCAA Match—a sport that pits event expertise in opposition to a staff constructed for an upset.
Tipoff is about for Thursday, with Dana Altman’s Geese seeking to lengthen a outstanding streak: eight straight first-round wins within the NCAA Match.
However Liberty? They arrive as a harmful mid-major with the capturing contact to make this one attention-grabbing.
Quickly in Seattle. #GoDucks pic.twitter.com/CKKyTzTQyA
— Oregon Males’s Basketball (@OregonMBB) March 18, 2025
Oregon vs. Liberty Picks and Greatest Bets
All Oregon vs. Liberty odds are from BetOnline and are appropriate as of Wednesday, Mar. 19.
SpreadOregon -6.5
MoneylineOregon -300, Liberty +250
Over/Under139.5
Recreation Time10:10 p.m. ET
LocationClimate Pledge Area | Seattle, WA
How To WatchTruTV
The Geese: Balanced, Battle-Examined, and At all times a Menace
Oregon is a staff that doesn’t dominate anybody space of the sport however finds methods to win in March.
High 40 in each offensive and defensive effectivity (KenPom).
Wins over Alabama, Wisconsin, and Texas A&M.
A deep rotation that doesn’t rely too closely on one participant.
What the Geese lack in elite scoring, they make up for in cohesion and training. Altman’s groups are recognized for peaking on the proper time, and whereas this group won’t have the firepower of previous Oregon squads, they know methods to survive and advance.
The most important query? Who steps up.
Oregon is an ideal 4-0 up to now in March this season.
Since 2010-11, his 1st 12 months in Eugene…
Dana Altman now has a 75-30 (.714) document within the month of March.
It’s the BEST March win whole nationally throughout that span.
Greatest basketball at the most effective time. pic.twitter.com/An9G5utvoU
— Ben Stevens (@BenScottStevens) March 13, 2025
Sophomore guard Jackson Shelstad has shot the ball nicely from deep, however he hasn’t turn out to be the go-to scorer many anticipated. Veterans TJ Bamba and Keeshawn Barthelemy present stability, whereas Nathan Bittle shoulders the rebounding load.
Bittle’s presence will probably be particularly essential in opposition to Liberty, a staff that lacks dimension within the frontcourt. If he can management the paint, Oregon ought to have a big edge inside.
The Flames: Precision Taking pictures, Stifling Protection, and the Upset Blueprint
Liberty isn’t a staff that overwhelms you bodily. What they do, they do nicely.
38.5% from three-point vary (High 15 nationally).
Even higher contained in the arc, rating among the many nation’s most effective two-point groups.
A protection that permits simply 62.8 factors per sport.
What makes the Flames so harmful? They dictate tempo.
Liberty slows the sport down, forcing opponents to function in low-possession, high-pressure conditions. That’s the way you pull off an upset—turning the sport right into a rock combat, making each possession depend.
staff scored early, usually, and effectively
pic.twitter.com/TyK3mGOlXa
— Liberty Males’s Basketball (@LibertyMBB) March 19, 2025
If Taelon Peter and Colin Porter get sizzling from deep, the Flames might push Oregon to the brink. However their lack of dimension is a priority—they rank 358th in two-point makes an attempt nationally, relying nearly totally on perimeter scoring.
That’s a high-risk method in opposition to a staff like Oregon, which has the size and athleticism to contest these photographs.
Greatest Bets: Oregon -6.5
Liberty hasn’t confronted a Quad 1 staff all season. Their finest wins? Kansas State and McNeese. That’s a far cry from the gauntlet Oregon has confronted.
That’s the place expertise issues.
Oregon has performed at this degree, overwhelmed high quality opponents, and gained these kinds of video games earlier than. Liberty is a staff able to pulling an upset however is untested in opposition to this caliber of competitors.
McKay’s squad will attempt to drag Oregon right into a slower-paced sport, restrict possessions, and switch this right into a battle of execution. However the Geese have the personnel, the flexibility, and the teaching to regulate, stand up to the strain, and discover a approach by. The Ducke get it accomplished tomorrow.
Oregon doesn’t blow groups away. They don’t have a famous person. They aren’t elite in anybody statistical class.
However they win in March.
Altman’s eight straight first-round victories weren’t accidentally. Oregon has been examined. They’ve performed by adversity. They’ve survived in opposition to high-level competitors.
Liberty will make this a combat. However the Geese? They’ll make it to the weekend.
