Oregon vs. Duke prediction and preview. Who’s Got Next analyzes the NCAA Tournament’s Sweet 16 matchup between the Ducks and Blue Devils.

How they got here

Oregon beat No. 16 Holy Cross 91-52 in the first round, beat No. 8 Saint Joseph’s 69-64 in second round; Duke beat No. 13 UNC Wilmington 93-85 in first round, beat No. 12 Yale 71-64 in second round.

Why Oregon will win

Oregon’s versatility is what has made the Ducks the top seed in their bracket. Forward Elgin Cook doesn’t try to do too much on the floor, and that’s one of his strengths. Cook is a beast who can score at the bucket, he plays through contact, he can rebound and he’s a quality passer. Forward Dillon Brooks can score inside and out, and he showed his explosiveness by going for 25 in the second round vs. St. Joe’s. Guard Tyler Dorsey will be critical vs. Duke. He, along with fellow guard Casey Benson, will be key to keeping Duke’s athletic guards out of the lane on defense, and Dorsey can make an impact from beyond the 3-point line. Oregon isn’t blessed with great size, but the Ducks make up for it with quickness and athleticism, and they love to push the tempo and take teams out of their comfort zone. Their long arms, however, make the Ducks disruptive on defense.

Why Duke will win

The Blue Devils aren’t blessed with experience from top to bottom, but this is a mature team that has a different focus right now. Guards Grayson Allen and Brandon Ingram can both score inside and out, and Allen’s range forces opponents to guard him from deep, creating room to roam for his teammates. Ingram uses his outside game to set up his drives to the bucket, and on defense, his length makes him a disruptive presence. Center Marshall Plumlee was a factor in the first two rounds, and he has to stay out of foul trouble to keep Dukes’ way-too-thin bench from getting stretched. If Duke plays solid defense and hits some early shots, the Blue Devils will be in good shape.

Oregon vs. Duke Prediction

Oregon is exactly the kind of team that gives Duke fits. The Ducks are athletic and are willing to run with the Blue Devils, but they also can clamp down on defense when they need to. Duke is going to push Oregon to the limit, but look for Cook and Brooks to take over late and pull out a win.