Top-ranked Michigan State's dominant defense clashes with struggling Oregon. Can the Spartans extend their win streak on the road?
WHO: No. 10 Michigan State Spartans (16-2, 6-1) vs Oregon Ducks (8-10, 1-6)
WHERE: Matthew Knight Arena — Eugene, OR
WHEN: Tuesday, January 20th at 9 PM EST / 6 PM PST
WATCH: Fox Sports One
The Spartans have officially made their way back into the top 10 of the NCAA polls. They spent the past few weeks sitting at No. 12 following a soul-crushing two-point loss to Nebraska. Since then, Michigan State has gone on a roll, winning four straight games—all by double digits.
Over that stretch, the Spartans have posted wins by 29, 19, 17, and 10 points. Along the way, they’ve emerged as the No. 1 defensive team in the country according to KenPom rankings, overtaking Michigan for the top spot.
A major reason for that rise has been the continued emergence of Jeremy Fears. All season long, Fears has proven his worth with his high basketball IQ and “eyes-in-the-back-of-his-head” vision, helping him rank top two nationally in assists per game.
Now Fears and the rest of the Spartans head into the second game of their two-game West Coast trip, which began with a convincing 80–63 win over Washington. On paper, Oregon is the weaker team and appears to be a favorable matchup. However, this is Big Ten basketball and another true road test for Michigan State—something that, outside of the Washington game, has been a question mark this season.
Saturday’s win inspired confidence, but this will mark the Spartans’ first back-to-back true road games of the year.
Michigan State’s success has come from contributions across the roster, from starters to role players, with everyone stepping up when needed. Still, no one has been more impactful than “The Kohler Bear.” Jaxon Kohler recently dipped just below a double-double average, with his rebounds falling to 9.9 per game—tied for 19th nationally and second in the Big Ten. He also leads the Spartans in scoring at 13.9 points per game. Meanwhile, Fears remains second nationally in assists at 8.6 per game, trailing only Purdue’s Braden Smith (9.4).
As a team, Michigan State holds a clear advantage in two crucial areas: rebounding and assists. At “Rebounding U,” crashing the boards is mandatory, and the Spartans deliver. They rank eighth nationally, averaging 39.1 rebounds per game, and are tied for 24th with 11.9 offensive rebounds per contest. Ball movement has also been a strength, as Michigan State ranks tied for 13th nationally in assists at 18.7 per game—both figures well above Oregon’s averages.
Oregon enters this matchup with just one conference win and has struggled mightily on both ends of the floor. The Ducks score 75.2 points per game, placing them in the bottom tier nationally. Their shooting woes are even more concerning, ranking 291st in the country at just 43.2% from the field. They rely heavily on three-point attempts, but only 33.5% of those shots fall. Oregon also averages over 12 turnovers per game—rare territory, even compared to Michigan State.
The Ducks come into this contest with nearly everyone doubting them, likely including their own fan base. A win here would be the kind of statement that could spark a turnaround for both their season and program. Michigan State is the most highly touted team on Oregon’s schedule, and as a result, every opponent treats a matchup with the Spartans like a national championship game.
For Oregon, it’s survival mode—floating in frozen water, desperately searching for space on a broken door just to stay alive a little longer.
Prediction: Michigan State 88 Oregon 69