The No. 5 seed in the East Region Oregon Ducks(24-9) are set to take on the No. 12 seed Liberty Flames(28-6) in the 1st Round of the 2025 NCAA Tournament. This game will take place in Seattle, Washington Friday night.
Oregon upset No. 6 seed Creighton in the 1st Round of the 2024 NCAA Tournament. The Ducks went on to lose a 2 OT thriller to Creighton in the following game. Liberty is returning to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2021. This 5/12 matchup should be a close one. Who wins?
Oregon Season Summary
The Ducks struggled to find its footing during their first year in the Big Ten. They finished 12-8 in conference play. They lost to Michigan State in the Big Ten Tournament Quarterfinals. The team has a middling offense. They are 111th in points scored, 121st in field goal percentage, and 185th in three-point percentage.
Oregon’s defense was also mediocre. They are 147th in points allowed, 134th in opposing field goal percentage, and 76th in three-point percentage. The Ducks have a solid offense with four players averaging in double figures. Center Nate Bittle is the team’s leading scorer.
Liberty Season Summary
The Flames had a great season in Conference USA. They followed it up by winning the conference tournament. Liberty has a solid offense. They are 104th in points scored, sixth in field goal percentage, and sixth in three-point percentage.
Their defense is also stellar. They are 10th in points allowed, 18th in opposing field goal percentage, and third in three-point percentage. Liberty has a balanced offense with seven players averaging 8+ points per game. This balanced approach has helped the Flames offense be one of the nation’s best.
Final Thoughts
Even though Liberty is the better team on paper, the Oregon Ducks are a slight favorite. A reason for this could be their 16-9 record against Quad 1 and 2 teams. The Ducks are 28th in Strength of Schedule while Liberty is 122nd. Liberty’s strong offense and defense must play up to their potential. This game should be one of the best on the Friday slate.
