Both teams look to remain unbeaten as the No. 25-ranked Oregon Ducks (3-0) meet the Valparaiso Crusaders (5-0) at Matthew Knight Arena. The game gets underway at 6:00 pm ET on Sunday, Nov. 22 and will air on PAC.
The Ducks won big over Savannah State 77-59 on Friday. Chris Boucher was the game’s high scorer with 17 points on 7-for-10 shooting. The Crusaders, meanwhile, are coming off an 89-42 win against Trinity Christian on Thursday. Vashil Fernandez had a good performance, accounting for 11 points and 10 rebounds to claim his first double-double of the season.
Oregon, a five-point favorite, will look to capitalize at home against Valparaiso. The Over/Under (O/U) for the matchup is sitting at 140 points. The Ducks will look to keep their unbeaten streak alive after starting the season 3-0 Straight Up (SU) and 1-0 Against The Spread (ATS). Opposing teams know they’re in for a battle when they play Oregon’s stingy defense. The Ducks are one of the top teams when it comes to defense, allowing just 59.3 points per game. Opponents have consistently had their shots rejected by the Ducks, ranking 39th in the country in blocks per game with 6.0.
As for their opponent, the Crusaders have a record of 2-1 ATS and 5-0 SU. The Crusaders are one of the top defensive teams in the nation, essentially shutting down opponents to the tune of 51.8 points allowed per game.
This game marks the first time Oregon and Valparaiso have played one another in recent seasons.
Predictions: SU Winner – Oregon, ATS Winner – Valpo, O/U – Under
Notes
Oregon is 11-2 SU in its last 13 games.
Oregon is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games at home.
Valparaiso averages 77.2 points per game, placing the team just 151st in the nation. Oregon ranks 31st in points allowed, giving up 59.3 points per game.
Ranked ninth, the Valparaiso Crusaders have one of the top defenses in the country, giving up just 75.5 points per 100 possessions. The Oregon Ducks rank 100th in offense, scoring 112.6 points in the same number of possessions.
Valparaiso beats Oregon in both possessions per game and points per possession. The Crusaders average 68.5 possessions and 1.127 points per possession, while the Ducks average 68.4 possessions with 1.126 points per possession.
This season, Oregon has averaged 22.0 three pointers and Valparaiso has averaged 18.0. When Oregon and Valparaiso attempt at least 20 three pointers, both teams are undefeated. The Oregon Ducks are 2-0 and the Valparaiso Crusaders are 3-0.
Oregon ranks 90th in the nation with an assist-to-turnover ratio of 1.27. Valparaiso is ranked lower at 142nd with an A/TO of 1.13.
Valparaiso, the 84th-ranked team in rebounding, registers an average of 42.6 rebounds per game. Oregon does worse, ranked 216th with 36.7.
Oregon makes 6.7 steals per game. In games where it gives up 6 or more steals, Valparaiso is undefeated at 3-0.
