Instant Recap: #16 Oregon loses to Nebraska 71-77

Coming into tonight, Oregon is on a two game losing streak. Those two losses were to a Quad 2 Minnesota squad, and Quad 1 UCLA team. Oregon desperately needs a bounceback win in this one, as another Quad 2 loss to Nebraska could really hurt the Ducks for the tournament. The Ducks rank No. 33rd in NET, and No. 38 in KenPom, while the Cornhuskers rank No. 55 and No. 49, respectively. As I did in the last recap, I’m including team ratings from EvanMiya.com again. Oregon ranks 42nd and Nebraska is 56th according to those rankings.

Ra’Heim Moss, Dezdrick Lindsay (Season), Andre Warren, and Jamari Phillips are out tonight. The Lindsay and Warren injuries aren’t new, but Moss and Phillips being out is surprising. Oleksandr Kobzystyi is also questionable. Jamari Phillips has been observed in a walking boot on the sideline prior to the game.

Starting Lineups:

Oregon is making a change to their starting lineup today; Barthelemy, Shelstad, Bamba, Angel, and Bittle.

Nebraska will start Sam Hoiberg, Brice Williams, Juwan Gary, Berke Buyuktuncel, and Andrew Morgan.

First Half:

Nate Bittle gets things started for the Ducks on the first possession with a dunk. Oregon would go scoreless after that opening dunk until the 16:20 mark with a TJ Bamba layup. Keeshawn Barthelemy has already been subbed out for Jadrian Tracey at the 15:39 mark. Ducks trail at the first media timeout 4-9.

Oregon is again going cold, not scoring again until under 13 minutes left in the first half. Nate Bittle then misses 3 shots all in the paint, on the same possession. Ducks trail 6-14 with 11:51 left in the first half. Nebraska is on a 12-4 run over the last 6:39 and Oregon has no answers on offense.

Jackson Shelstad knocks down a 3-pointer, finally the Ducks have a pulse. Kwame Evans Jr drives and initiates contact, drawing a foul. Evans gets 1/2 to fall but the ball is knocked out off of Nebraska. Keeshawn Barthelemy pays off the effort from the rest of the team, and the Ducks are back within two.

Dana Altman calls timeout after another ugly stretch, Ducks down 14-23 with 7:44 left in the first half. Nebraska now on a 9-2 run over the last 2:51.

TJ Bamba gets a nice and-one to fall right out of the timeout, and coverts the free throw. Ducks go with a full court press and Mookie Cook has come into the game to help with that. With that in mind, Mookie immediately gives up a 3-pointer.

This is absolutely pathetic, Oregon is trailing by 15 in the first half against an 8 loss Nebraska team.

Ducks have gone on a 6-0 scoring run after the last 55 seconds, and the full-court pressure forces Nebraska to call timeout.

Oregon is now on an 11-0 run over the last 2:20 and it’s a four point game with a minute to play. Brice Williams throws down a dunk to stop the Oregon run before the half. The Ducks trail 28-34 at the half.

First Half Stats:

Oregon is shooting a measly 10/31 (32.3%) from the field in the first half, and is 2/8 (25%) from deep. They are losing the rebound battle 16-20, and have given way too many easy looks to the Cornhuskers. Nebraska is shooting 13/25 (52%) from the field, but only 3/13 (23.1%) from downtown. The Huskers have gotten 5/9 (56.6%) free throws to fall, while the Ducks have made 6/7 (85.7%). Three of the Ducks top scorers, Bittle, Shelstad, and Barthelemy are struggling again tonight, shooting a combined 4/17 (23.5%). Brandon Angel is scoreless on 0/2 shooting through one half. TJ Bamba, Nate Bittle, Andrew Morgan, and Rollie Worster all have two fouls.

Second Half:

TJ Bamba picks up his third foul with 18:11 left in the game, not good for Oregon’s chances. Oregon trailing again by 10 points.

Ducks down 32-40 with 15:56 to play, as we head into a media timeout. Jadrian Tracey will shoot two out of the break. Tracey sinks both, back to a 6 point game. Jadrian Tracey makes a hard drive to the hoop and scores again, still a 6 point game.

TJ Bamba gets called for his fourth foul, and it looked like a flop by Brice Williams. Regardless, zero reason to make any contact.

Oregon is playing more physical, and playing better offensively. That said, they still trail 41-48 with 11:47 left in this one. The defense has fallen off a bit, and both Brice Williams and Juwan Gary are playing very well.

Ducks shooting 2/13 from deep, and have fired it on two straight possessions.

Jackson Shelstad hits a huge transition three, down 48-54 with 8:08 to play. Ducks need to play fantastic defense the rest of the way.

Shelstad cuts the deficit to six and then the Ducks play some awful defense. Jackson Shelstad is able to answer however with a 3-pointer. Dana Altman calls timeout, Ducks trailing 53-58 with 6:02 to go.

Keeshawn Barthelemy needs to stop shooting the ball, it’s really hurting the team right now. Oregon is now down 8 with 3:38 to play.

Brandon Angel hits a massive three to cut the deficit down to 6 again, just over two minutes to play.

Dana Altman calls Oregon’s final timeout with 1:37 to play, Ducks down 61-67.

Jadrian Tracey picks up a foul with 1:34 to go, Nebraska is in the bonus, free throws coming. Brice Williams makes both, Oregon down 8 and Jackson Shelstad misses a layup. TJ Bamba gets a steal for a quick Brandon Angel slam. Angel fouls Juwan Gary, who makes 1/2 free throws. On the other end TJ Bamba out muscles Brice Williams and is able to get an and-one. He can cut it to 4 with a make at the line here, and he does.

Jadrian Tracey fouls Juwan Gary again with 50.2 seconds remaining, Gary makes both. Shelstad misses a mid range and TJ Bamba fouls out of the game. Ducks down 66-72 with 38.9 seconds left. Brice Williams made both free throws before Keeshawn Barthelemy hits a mid range shot to cut the game back to a 6 point difference. 68-74 Nebraska leads as Jadrian Tracey intentionally fouls, his fourth. Connor Essegian hits both free throws, his first two points of the game.

Jackson Shelstad hits another long two and immediately fouls. At this point it just seems like false hope for the Ducks. Rollie Worster makes 1/2 at the line. Jackson Shelstad drives at the rim, but can only make 1/2 at the line. Nebraska calls timeout, the Huskers’ last. Oregon will let Nebraska dribble the clock out.

Oregon is now 5-6 in conference, and 16-6 overall. They will be unranked tomorrow as they are in the middle of a three game losing streak. Things won’t get easier for the Ducks as they face two Quad 1 opponents soon, Michigan and Michigan State.