Wisconsin vs. Oregon final score: 3 things we learned from the Badgers’ 72-65 win
Wisconsin is the third No. 1 seed in the Sweet 16 with an impressive win over Oregon.
No. 1 Wisconsin survived a second-half drought against Oregon and rode Sam Dekker's 17 points and Frank Kaminsky's 16 for a 72-65 win and a trip to the Sweet 16.
Oregon tied the game for the first time at 52-52 on a Dwayne Benjamin three just under the six-minute mark. The Badgers -- drudging through an offensive slump at the time -- saw themselves through thanks to the patience and poise of Kaminsky, who guided the offense to an 8-2 run over the next three minutes. Wisconsin stretched its lead to 60-54 with just over two minutes to play.
The Badgers never put the game out of reach; their largest lead was at 20-9 with 9:54 to play in the first half, but Oregon spent most of the game hanging within a four- to eight-point window. But when the Ducks finally tied the game in the game’s final six minutes, their offense seized. Whereas Wisconsin remained patient with the ball despite just three points in 3 1/2 minutes, Oregon took quick shots from distance and committed careless turnovers.
Wisconsin moves on to face No. 4 North Carolina on Thursday at 7:47 p.m. ET. No. 2 Arizona and No. 6 Xavier are the other two teams playing in Los Angeles for a trip to the Final Four.
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3 things we learned
1. Wisconsin doesn't panic. It fought off Oregon without much problem in the first half and early on after halftime, but when shots wouldn't fall and the Ducks finally caught up, nothing changed about how Wisconsin ran its offense. The same was true in Wisconsin's win over Michigan State in the Big Ten championship game a week ago today, though Oregon was coming from behind in that instance rather than holding on to a lead when shots wouldn't fall. Kaminsky's skill as a passer was evident in spacing the floor and creating quality looks for Wisconsin, and once the shots started to fall, that lead suddenly reappeared. It didn't hurt that Sam Dekker started feeling it, finishing 5-of-7 from the floor in the second half.
2. Looking ahead to Wisconsin-Arizona is tempting, but North Carolina isn’t a pushover. North Carolina is a much more disciplined defensive team than Oregon, and discipline is what defines Wisconsin’s offense. The Tar Heels aren’t great on defense, ranking 52nd in KenPom’s adjusted defensive efficiency compared to Oregon’s 123rd spot in the rankings. Wisconsin’s offense ranks as the most efficient in college basketball. Arizona is both disciplined and athletic on defense, which is why that matchup has been anticipated since Selection Sunday. But the two teams aren’t there yet, and Wisconsin’s hurdle is significant.
3. Joseph Young did all he could. But even his 30 points on 12-of-25 shooting couldn't give the Ducks the spark they needed to pull the upset. Instead, Oregon's season ended in the round of 32 with a loss to Wisconsin for the second straight year, and Young's excellent college career came to a close.
Young is not profiled as a surefire NBA prospect — Draft Express has him as the No. 77 prospect in the 2015 draft class — so like many undersized guards, he’ll have to fight his way into the top level of professional basketball, either through the Summer League or playing overseas. But his emotion after the game, shown on television embracing his father in the stands while Wisconsin’s alma mater played in the arena, wasn’t about the uncertainty ahead but the excellent college career that had just ended.
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