Oregon, Northwestern Each Peaking Down the Stretch

Saturday's matchup could determine who avoids the Big Ten tournament's opening round

Published on Feb. 28, 2026

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Oregon and Northwestern are both playing well heading into their matchup on Saturday, with the Ducks coming off an upset win over Wisconsin and the Wildcats fresh off a victory over Indiana. The game could be important for determining which team avoids having to play in the opening round of the Big Ten tournament.

Why it matters

Neither Oregon nor Northwestern are close to the NCAA Tournament bubble, but this game could have significant implications for their seeding in the upcoming Big Ten tournament. The winner will have a better chance of avoiding the opening round and earning an extra day of rest before the tournament continues.

The details

Oregon has won three of its last four games after a 1-12 start in Big Ten play, including an 85-71 upset of Wisconsin in which the Ducks scored 55 second-half points. Northwestern has won its last two games, including a 72-68 comeback victory over Indiana in which the Wildcats held the Hoosiers to just 26 second-half points. Nick Martinelli leads Northwestern in scoring and rebounding, while Oregon has found a third scorer in Takai Simpkins to complement Nate Bittle and Kwame Evans Jr.

  • Oregon and Northwestern are currently tied near the bottom of the Big Ten standings, with three teams likely to play in the opening round of the conference tournament in a couple of weeks.
  • Saturday's game between the two teams will be played in Evanston, Illinois.

The players

Nick Martinelli

Northwestern's leading scorer and rebounder, averaging 22.6 points and 6.1 rebounds per game.

Nate Bittle

Oregon's center, who has battled injuries this season but scored 20 points in the Ducks' upset win over Wisconsin.

Takai Simpkins

Oregon's third scorer, who has been active at both ends of the floor for the Ducks.

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What they’re saying

“Just play hard defense and our shots were going to come. They started to cool off, and we just have a lot of energy.”

— Jake West, Guard (statenews.net)

“There's a lot of teams that can fold in situations like we've been in this year. But every day guys come in prepared, practice hard. The last couple games, we've played really hard, and, you know, it's paying off.”

— Nate Bittle, Center (statenews.net)

What’s next

The winner of Saturday's game between Oregon and Northwestern will have a better chance of avoiding the opening round of the Big Ten tournament in Chicago in a couple of weeks.

The takeaway

This matchup between two teams near the bottom of the Big Ten standings could have significant implications for their seeding in the upcoming conference tournament. Both Oregon and Northwestern have been playing well lately, making this an important game for determining which team will have to play an extra game in the tournament's opening round.