The Oregon Ducks, under the astute leadership of head coach Dana Altman, enter the 2025 NCAA Tournament as the No. 5 seed in the East Region, boasting a 24-9 overall record that reflects a season marked by resilience, strategic adaptability, and a commitment to both offensive versatility and defensive tenacity. Transitioning seamlessly into the Big Ten Conference, the Ducks have demonstrated their ability to compete at the highest level, securing a 13-9 conference record and showcasing a balanced approach that has become a hallmark of Altman’s tenure. Offensively, Oregon averages 76.2 points per game, employing a multifaceted attack that leverages the skills of key players such as Nate Bittle and Jackson Shelstad. Bittle, a Third-Team All-Big Ten selection and All-Defensive team honoree, has been instrumental in the Ducks’ success, averaging 17.5 points and 7.9 rebounds over the last ten games, while shooting an efficient 51.2% from the field. His ability to stretch the floor with perimeter shooting and dominate the paint provides Oregon with a dynamic offensive weapon. Shelstad, the team’s floor general, contributes 13.2 points per game and orchestrates the offense with precision, facilitating ball movement and creating scoring opportunities for his teammates. The Ducks’ offensive strategy emphasizes spacing, ball movement, and shot selection, often relying on their ability to exploit mismatches through isolation sets, pick-and-roll actions, and inside-out ball reversals that create open looks for shooters and slashers alike.

Supporting Bittle and Shelstad are veteran wings like Jermaine Couisnard and Keeshawn Barthelemy, who add depth, defensive versatility, and timely shot-making, making Oregon’s perimeter attack more multidimensional and difficult to scout. The Ducks also benefit from their bench depth, with players like Lok Wur and Brennan Rigsby stepping into key rotational roles, allowing Altman to keep fresh legs on the floor and adjust schemes based on opponent tendencies. Defensively, Oregon ranks among the top 50 nationally in adjusted defensive efficiency, allowing just 67.4 points per game while holding opponents to 41.2% shooting from the field, using a blend of man-to-man pressure, zone rotations, and full-court traps to force turnovers and disrupt rhythm. Their ability to switch screens and contest shots on the perimeter, combined with Bittle’s rim protection, makes them particularly effective at closing out games when leading late. While Oregon’s 15-16-2 ATS record suggests some inconsistency in covering spreads, much of that can be attributed to early-season injuries and a challenging conference slate, both of which they’ve navigated with increasing cohesion down the stretch. The Ducks ride a 7-3 record over their last 10 games into the tournament and have demonstrated an ability to win both high-scoring affairs and grind-it-out defensive battles, which will serve them well in March where matchups and momentum dictate outcomes. Entering this matchup against Liberty, Oregon’s focus will be on controlling tempo, using their length to disrupt the Flames’ perimeter shooting, and leveraging their athleticism to own the paint and the glass. Rebounding will be particularly critical—Oregon averages 38.1 boards per game, and Bittle, Couisnard, and center Nate Rawlins-Kibonge are all expected to play pivotal roles in limiting Liberty’s second-chance opportunities. Additionally, transition defense will be a point of emphasis, as Liberty is known for striking quickly off turnovers and defensive rebounds, and the Ducks will look to limit live-ball turnovers that could fuel those fast-break chances. Altman’s ability to make in-game adjustments and manage possessions effectively has been a key part of his program’s sustained success, and with a veteran-laden roster and a cohesive system in place, Oregon is well-positioned to avoid the dreaded 5-12 upset and potentially make a deep run in the East Region. The key will be starting strong, maintaining discipline on the perimeter, and ensuring that their stars get quality touches in high-leverage moments. If the Ducks can do that while maintaining their rebounding and defensive intensity, they not only have the tools to beat Liberty but to signal to the rest of the bracket that they are a team built for March.