Oregon Aims to Extend Perfect Road Record Against Surging Minnesota

MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. — The No. 15 Oregon Ducks (16-3, 5-3 Big Ten) will put their undefeated road record on the line Saturday afternoon against a resurgent Minnesota Golden Gophers (10-9, 2-6) at Williams Arena. Oregon, one of only six Division I teams without a true road loss this season, seeks its first-ever victory in Minnesota, where it has lost all three previous matchups.

The Ducks, coming off a win against Washington, have relied on their depth and resilience away from home. Five different players have led the team in scoring during their eight road games, with guards Jackson Shelstad and TJ Bamba emerging as key contributors. “We all bought in and how much we actually like each other,” Bamba said, emphasizing the team’s chemistry.

Minnesota, meanwhile, enters the game with newfound confidence after back-to-back wins against Michigan and Iowa. The Golden Gophers, led by forward Dawson Garcia (19.1 points, 7.5 rebounds per game), have climbed from No. 137 to No. 104 in the NET rankings, turning Saturday’s matchup into a Quadrant 2 game for Oregon.

Oregon coach Dana Altman acknowledged the challenge of playing in Williams Arena, known for its raucous atmosphere. “Old building, really good basketball building,” Altman said. “They’re on a roll. We’re going to have a team that’s playing with a lot more confidence than they were a couple of weeks ago.”

The Ducks’ success on the road has been a bright spot in a season that has seen them drop three home games. Forward Brandon Angel highlighted the team’s focus away from Eugene: “Wherever we are, we’re all we got and frankly all we need. When we’re on the road, we’re going to come locked in to every game.”

Minnesota, despite its recent surge, faces a tough task against Oregon’s athleticism and depth. The Golden Gophers will need to contain Shelstad, Bamba, and center N'Faly Dante, who leads the Ducks in scoring and rebounding. Defending the perimeter and controlling the pace will be critical for Minnesota to pull off the upset.

Tip-off is scheduled for 1 p.m. CST, with the game airing on the Big Ten Network. Oregon, projected as a 3-seed in the NCAA Tournament, looks to solidify its resume, while Minnesota aims to build on its recent momentum.