• Oregon update: At one point not so long ago, the Ducks looked like they might be Big Ten contenders. But they’ve lost four straight and five of six, a slide that reached its low point with an eight-point loss at Minnesota, followed by a 26-point defeat at UCLA. Wednesday night’s 80-76 loss at Michigan was Oregon’s best showing in a while. This is a team that beat Maryland, won at Ohio State, beat USC and fell to UCLA by two the first time around. The capability is there. The Ducks’ problem begins on the offensive end, where in conference play they rank 17th in the Big Ten in offensive efficiency, though they’ve also had some notably poor defensive performances of late.

• Matchup analysis: The Ducks should be better than they’ve been playing, given their personnel and their start to the season. Sophomore Jackson Shelstad is a gifted lead guard, though perhaps hasn’t taken the step that was projected for him after a promising freshman season. Still, he’s a dangerous scorer and outside shooter, who’s averaging 15.3 points per game in conference play and shooting 48% from beyond on the arc. Beating Oregon begins with defending him. Nate Bittle, a 7-foot senior, is a quality offensive player. He has good hands and can score around the rim. But what makes him a tough cover is that he can stretch the floor with his outside shot. He’ll be a challenge for MSU’s big men. His size suggests this is a good matchup for Szymon Zapala, but Zapala’s strength is not defending the perimeter, so Carson Cooper, Jaxon Kohler and Xavier Booker will likely be on him most. TJ Bamba, a Villanova transfer, is a physical wing and good two-way player. Oregon also has some guys around Shelstad who can create in guard Keeshawn Barthelemy, who’s moved into the starting lineup, and Stanford transfer Brandon Angel, who’s a skilled wing/4-man. Collectively, however, the Ducks are not a great outside shooting team and they don’t rebound all that well. And in a couple recent games, they were simply outworked.