Wisconsin Badgers Suffer Costly Loss to Oregon Ducks

Badgers' offense struggles in 85-71 defeat, raising concerns about NCAA Tournament prospects

Published on Feb. 26, 2026

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The University of Wisconsin Badgers suffered a disappointing 85-71 loss to the Oregon Ducks on Wednesday night, a game in which the Badgers struggled in nearly every facet of the game. Wisconsin's offense was out of sync, shooting a season-worst 33.3% from the field and attempting a school-record 45 three-pointers. The Badgers also struggled defensively, allowing Oregon to shoot 70.8% in the second half and score 85 points, the most the Ducks have scored against a Big Ten team this season. The loss is a costly one for Wisconsin, which was looking to pad its NCAA Tournament resume with a win over the Ducks.

Why it matters

This loss is a major setback for Wisconsin, which was considered a sleeper team for the NCAA Tournament. The Badgers have now suffered two late-season losses to teams with losing records, raising questions about their ability to perform against top competition. The loss also likely takes Wisconsin out of contention for a bye in the Big Ten Tournament, making their path to the NCAA Tournament more difficult.

The details

Wisconsin's offense was an impatient mess, as the Badgers struggled to find any rhythm against Oregon's zone defense. The Badgers settled for a school-record 45 three-point attempts, making just 14 of them. Wisconsin's guards had trouble getting to the rim, and the team's big men were unable to establish a presence in the paint. Defensively, the Badgers had no answer for Oregon center Nate Bittle, who scored 13 points in the second half after being held in check in the first. The Ducks also took advantage of 9 Wisconsin turnovers in the second half, scoring 24 points off those miscues.

  • The game was played on February 25, 2026 at Matthew Knight Arena in Eugene, Oregon.

The players

Nate Bittle

A senior center for the Oregon Ducks who scored a team-high 13 points in the second half.

Takai Simpkins

An Oregon guard who shot 12-of-17 from the field and had several key assists.

John Blackwell

A junior guard for the Wisconsin Badgers who led the team with 22 points, but took a season-high 18 shots, mostly from three-point range.

Nick Boyd

A Wisconsin guard who struggled, going 3-of-12 from the field and having several shots blocked by Oregon's interior defense.

Greg Gard

The head coach of the Wisconsin Badgers, whose team failed to execute on both ends of the floor in this costly loss.

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What they’re saying

“We must learn from this game and be better prepared for the challenges ahead. This loss is disappointing, but we will regroup and focus on finishing the season strong.”

— Greg Gard, Head Coach, Wisconsin Badgers (Wisconsin State Journal)

What’s next

The Badgers will look to bounce back in their next game, a home matchup against the Minnesota Golden Gophers on March 2nd. A win there would be crucial for Wisconsin's NCAA Tournament hopes.

The takeaway

This loss is a major setback for the Wisconsin Badgers, who were considered a sleeper team for the NCAA Tournament. The team's struggles on both ends of the floor raise concerns about their ability to compete against top competition. If the Badgers don't learn from this defeat and make the necessary adjustments, their stay in the NCAA Tournament could be a short one.