Oregon at Stanford 2/25/21 - College Basketball Picks & Predictions

Two evenly matched Pac-12 teams will go to war when the Oregon Ducks travel on the road to Maples Pavillion to take on the Stanford Cardinal. Oregon is coming off a road-loss to a red-hot USC team, the Ducks fell 72-58 and dropped to 14-5 (9-4 conference). Stanford was upset in triple-OT by Washington State and dropped to 14-7 (10-7 conference).

Stanford has played solid basketball this season when they’re 100% healthy, the problem is that hasn’t happened often over the last six weeks. The Cardinal are scoring 71.9 points per game ranking 168th in the country in scoring offense, they’ve struggled from three shooting 16.1 per game, 336th in the nation, and making just 31.5% from beyond the arc. To combat those struggles, they’ll work it inside where they shoot 54.5% from inside the arc.

A huge reason for their offensive success, especially inside the arc is star senior forward Oscar Da Silva, no doubt one of the best big men in the Pac-12. Da Silva is averaging a team-high 18.8 points and pulling down 6.8 boards per game. 

The injuries have caused a revolving door of players, none more important than senior Daejon Davis who has played in just 10 games but is dishing out a team-high 3.4 assists and adding 12.1 points. Highly touted freshman Ziaire Williams has been a solid contributor averaging 10.9 points and 5 rebounds per game.

Oregon stuttered their last time out mustering just 58 points against the USC Trojans but for the most part has been a good-enough offense in the Pac-12 this season. The Ducks are averaging 73.3 points per game ranking 133rd in scoring offense; they’re shooting 45.9% from the field and 35.7% from three, 81st and 91st respectively.

Two seniors have carried the load on the offensive end for the Ducks; in the backcourt, it’s Chris Duarte averaging 16.8 points on an incredibly efficient 53% from the field and 42% from three. Duarte is second on the team with 2.5 assists per game. In the frontcourt the Ducks lean on Rutgers transfer Eugene Omoruyi, he’s also averaging 16.8 points and pulls down 5.3 rebounds per game.

These teams also matchup similarly on the defensive end, Stanford is giving up 68.7 points per game ranking 132nd in the scoring defense. The Cardinal defense is holding opponents to 40.4% from the field, 40th in the nation, and when you account for their pace they’re 26th in KenPom adjusted defense.

Oregon is 81st in scoring defense allowing 65.5 points per game whilst holding opponents to 41.7% from the field and 32.2% from beyond the arc, ranking 105th and 117th nationally. The advanced metrics haven’t shown a ton of love to the Ducks who are 36th in KenPom adjusted defense.