The opening round of the Big Ten Tournament brings together two teams trying to salvage difficult seasons as Maryland meets Oregon on March 10 in Chicago. Both programs finished near the bottom of the conference standings, but tournament basketball creates a fresh opportunity to spark a miracle run to March Madness. Maryland enters with an 11-20 record and just four conference victories, while Oregon finished slightly ahead at 12-19 with five league wins. Here, I’ve got you covered with my Maryland vs Oregon prediction to start the Big Ten Tournament.
Our Maryland vs Oregon Pick
Pick:
Confidence: 2 out of 5
Game Snapshot
- Matchup: Maryland Terrapins vs Oregon Ducks
- Date & Time: Tuesday, March 10, 5:00 PM ET
- Venue: United Center, Chicago, Illinois
- Broadcast: Peacock
Key Storylines
This game features the 17 seed Terrapins against the 16 seed Ducks in the Big Ten Tournament opener. Oregon won the earlier meeting between the teams this season and holds a 2-0 advantage in the all-time series. That previous win gives the Ducks confidence entering the rematch.
Another storyline is recent form. Oregon has shown signs of improvement late in the season with wins against Washington and Wisconsin in recent weeks. Maryland has struggled more consistently, particularly in conference play, where the Terrapins went 4-16. But neither of these teams have been impressive at all this year and it’s hard to feel much confidence in one direction or the other.
The neutral floor at this tournament also adds intrigue. Both teams were significantly weaker away from home during the regular season, so playing in Chicago levels the environment and may produce a competitive contest. Geographically, Maryland has to travel far to the West, while Oregon has a long trip East, which should even out somewhat.
Key Players
Oregon Ducks
- Nate Bittle – The Ducks center leads the team with 16.8 points per game while shooting 46.5% from the field. He also contributes 7.4 rebounds and serves as the focal point of Oregon’s offense in the paint.
- Keeshawn Evans Jr. – Evans provides strong rebounding production with 7.4 boards per game. His activity on the glass helps Oregon control possessions and create second chances.
Maryland Terrapins
- David Coit – Maryland’s leading scorer averages about 13.5 points per game while shooting over 40% from the field and 86.2% from the free throw line. He also leads the team in assists at 2.8 per game.
- Selton Miguel – Miguel supplies perimeter scoring and outside shooting. Maryland relies on his ability to hit three-point shots during scoring runs.
- Jordan Geronimo – Geronimo contributes energy on defense and rebounding. His activity around the rim can help Maryland stay competitive against Oregon’s size.
Stat Comparison
| Stat | Maryland | Oregon |
|---|---|---|
| Points per game | 69.9 | 71.2 |
| Points allowed per game | 77.2 | 74.1 |
| Team Field Goal % | 41% | 43% |
| Rebounds per game | 35.4 | 34.6 |
| Assists per game | 10.5 | 14.4 |
Head-to-Head & Betting Trends
- Oregon won the earlier meeting between these teams this season and leads the all-time series with the Terrapins 2-0.
- Maryland is 14-17 against the spread this season.
- Oregon is 12-19 against the spread this season.
- Maryland games have gone over the total 17 times with 14 unders.
- Oregon games have produced 14 overs and 17 unders.
Maryland vs Oregon Model Projection
Score Projection:
Win Probability:
Final Thoughts
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