Late Breakdowns Cost Ducks In Finale

Tuesday, March 21

Eugene, OR

6:00 PM

University of Oregon

21-15,12-8Pac-12

Wisconsin

20-14,9-11Big Ten

Wisconsin

Oregon

Photo by: Eric Evans/GoDucks.com

03/21/23 | Men's Basketball

Box Score

Oregon's season came to an end Tuesday in the NIT quarterfinals with a 61-58 loss to Wisconsin.

By: Rob Moseley

EUGENE, Ore. — Wisconsin got some late three-pointers to fall and Oregon couldn't get a free throw to fall most of the night, a combination that led to the Badgers beating the Ducks, 61-58, in their NIT quarterfinal Tuesday night, ending the UO men's season before 3,384 fans in Matthew Knight Arena.

The Ducks (21-15) led 54-48 with just over three minutes to play. But the Badgers made their last three three-point attempts, while Oregon missed a couple free throws down the stretch — two of the Ducks' eight misses on the night.

"We played hard, we did some good things," UO coach Dana Altman said. "Just a real disappointing way to lose when you don't execute down the stretch, and you don't hit free throws.

"It was a problem to start the season, we ironed it out a little, but that's really disappointing. I told them on Oct. 1 and I've told them 20 times since, there's nothing more disappointing than to play hard and lose one at the line."

The Oregon Ducks take on the Wisconsin Badgers in round two of the 2023 NIT Tournament at Matthew Knight Arena in Eugene, Oregon on March 21, 2023 (Eric Evans Photography)

Keeshawn Barthelemy scored 15 points to lead the Ducks and Quincy Guerrier added 14, including a basket with 1:27 left to give Oregon its last lead at 57-56. Wisconsin's third three-pointer in the final 3:14 put the Badgers back in front, and a three from Barthelemy missed to end Oregon's three-game run in the NIT.

"Honestly it was some of the best basketball we played all year, in terms of how hard we played," Barthelemy said of the NIT run. "In all three games we held our opponents under 65 points; we just played so hard. But at the end of the day I took a couple bad ones there at the end, I didn't manage the game as I should and it cost us."

How It Happened: Barthelemy had two early buckets as Oregon went out to an early 9-7 lead. Wisconsin answered with a 10-2 run, which Barthelemy ended with another basket. Lök Wur made the Ducks' first three-pointer to get them within 19-16, and Tyrone Williams hit a couple shots to keep Oregon within a possession. Guerrier fought for a couple of offensive rebounds on the same possession and finally put one back to give the Ducks a 24-23 lead, but Wisconsin took a 27-26 lead into halftime.

The first field goal of the game by Nate Bittle came nearly five minutes into the second half, and got it back to a one-point game at 34-33. After Wur scored on the next possession for a 35-34 lead, Wisconsin went back in front with a three-point play. But then Oregon took control, putting together a 10-0 run featuring threes by Williams, Bittle and Rivaldo Soares.

The Oregon Ducks take on the Wisconsin Badgers in round two of the 2023 NIT Tournament at Matthew Knight Arena in Eugene, Oregon on March 21, 2023 (Eric Evans Photography)

That eight-point lead at 45-37 was the biggest of the night by either team, but the Ducks missed their next six shots. Wisconsin fought back to make it a two-possession game, and the first of their three late threes got the Badgers within 54-51. Another three gave them a 56-55 lead, and though Guerrier got Oregon back in front momentarily, yet another Wisconsin three put the Badgers up for good.

Notable: The Ducks played their third straight game without injured starters Will Richardson, N'Faly Dante and Jermaine Couisnard. … Oregon blocked eight shots, a total exceeded just three times this season. … The UO men were 39-of-68 from the free-throw line in three NIT games, or 57.4 percent.

Quotable:
UO junior Keeshawn Barthelemy on playing point guard in the NIT
"For me, these last three games have been a blessing in disguise so to speak, with the guys. I was able to kind of like put my imprint on some of the guys on the team, and it was a great opportunity for me to show that I can run a team and I can facilitate, l can score if needed. My teammates had my back as well — they fed off what I did, and I fed off what they did. They really embraced me as a point guard out there."

UO coach Dana Altman on breakdowns that cost the Ducks
"Our attention to detail wasn't what it needed to be. Even the last possession where Chucky (Hepburn) hit the three. We figured he was gonna take it, we said don't leave him, and we left him. And that was out of a timeout. So that's really disappointing, when we can tell them exactly who we want to guard and we leave him. Had a lot of easy looks inside; they didn't have shot blockers and we were adjusting shots. Again, we just didn't get it done. We had our opportunities, and guys played hard — we had 40 deflections, so I mean, we were playing hard. We just, we didn't play very smart."