Oregon's journey to the postseason kicks off Tuesday afternoon in Chicago, with a familiar foe standing in their path. The Ducks are set to face off against No. 17 seed Maryland in the first round of the 2026 Big Ten Tournament at the United Center.
Tipoff is scheduled for 2 p.m. PT on Peacock.
The winner will advance to take on No. 9 seed Ohio State early Wednesday morning.
Oregon's head coach, Dana Altman, is keeping the focus simple: "We just got to go beat Maryland, or whoever we play," he emphasized. His message to the team echoes the sentiment he shared after Oregon's thrilling comeback win over Washington on Senior Day. Instead of getting overwhelmed by the six-game gauntlet ahead, the Ducks are zeroing in on the task at hand-winning the next game.
This matchup is a rematch from earlier in the season when Oregon traveled to College Park and defeated Maryland 80-65 at the XFINITY Center. That victory was marked by a balanced offensive effort and stout defense, showcasing one of the Ducks' most complete performances in conference play.
Heading into the tournament, Oregon holds a 12-19 overall record and a 5-15 mark in Big Ten play. A deep run in Chicago is crucial to keeping their NCAA Tournament dreams alive.
Altman has been clear with his team: focus on one game at a time. It's all about Tuesday, not the championship.
"If we're fortunate enough to win, we just get ready for the next one at 11 o'clock the next morning," Altman said.
Maryland, under head coach Buzz Williams, comes in with an 11-20 overall record and a 4-16 tally in league play. Like Oregon, the Terrapins are battling to extend their season and are eager to avenge their earlier loss to the Ducks.
For Oregon, the season has seen a late surge, stabilizing with four wins in their last seven games after enduring a 10-game losing streak in Big Ten play. Key victories over USC and Wisconsin, along with wins against Penn State and Washington, have provided a much-needed boost.
Oregon Projected Starters:
- G - Drew Carter, 6-foot-2, SR: 2.7 ppg, 1.2 rpg
- G - Takai Simpkins, 6-foot-4, SR: 12.6 ppg, 3.0 rpg, 2.3 apg
- F - Kwame Evans Jr, 6-foot-9, JR: 13.3 ppg, 7.4 rpg, 2.0 apg
- F - Sean Stewart, 6-foot-9, JR: 6.6 ppg, 5.3 rpg, 1.2 apg
- C - Nate Bittle, 7-foot, SR: 16.8 ppg, 6.9 rpg, 1.9 bpg
Maryland Projected Starters:
- G - David Coit, 5-foot-11, SR: 13.5 ppg, 1.8 rpg, 2.8 apg
- G - Andre Mills, 6-foot-4, FR: 12.4 ppg, 4.1 rpg, 1.5 apg
- F - Elijah Saunders, 6-foot-8, SR: 9.0 ppg, 4.4 rpg, 1.0 apg
- F - Solomon Washington
- C - Collin Metcalf, 6-foot-9, SR: 1.1 ppg, 3.1 rpg
With everything on the line, both teams are ready to leave it all on the court in this high-stakes showdown.