Oregon Ducks Men's Basketball Faces Challenges Ahead of Big Ten Opener

The Oregon Ducks men's basketball team is experiencing a tumultuous start to the 2025 season, marked by inconsistent performances and a lack of cohesion. After a narrow victory against Hawaii and a close win over Rice, the Ducks managed a 4-0 record that raised more questions than confidence. However, their performance at the Players Era Festival was particularly concerning, culminating in an 0-3 record that included high turnover rates and poor shooting percentages. The Ducks now prepare for their Big Ten opener against the No. 24 USC Trojans, who are currently undefeated at 7-0 and averaging 91.9 points per game.

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Head coach Dana Altman has openly acknowledged the team's struggles, attributing the issues to his coaching. He stated, “We’re a poorly coached team. This is all on me... There’s no facet of the game that we’re playing well in right now. Really disappointed in the way we’re playing.” Altman emphasized the need for trust between the players and coaching staff, noting that the current disjointedness is a reflection of his inability to connect with the team. He pointed out that the Ducks are among the worst shooting teams in the country and have been ineffective defensively, often failing to capitalize on opportunities to drive to the basket.

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The Ducks' success hinges on the performance of key players such as Nate Bittle, Jackson Shelstad, and Kwame Evans Jr. However, Altman expressed concern over the contributions from other roster members, including Devon Pryor and Dez Lindsay, who have yet to find their rhythm. Wei Lin's performance has also been disappointing, with a shooting percentage of just 17.2% from the field. Altman noted that Lin's struggles have led to reduced playing time, although recent improvements in practice have raised hopes for better performance.

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As the Ducks prepare for their matchup against USC, they face additional challenges with injuries to Bittle and Pryor, both of whom are questionable for the game. Following the USC game, Oregon will also face UCLA and Gonzaga, making the upcoming month critical for the team's development. Altman has urged his players to focus on improvement rather than analytics, as the Ducks currently rank 192 in the NCAA's NET metric, the lowest since its inception in 2019-20.

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Altman has reiterated the importance of the upcoming games, stating, “We got to worry about getting better and take the next step... This is an important month for us to get better and we’re going to have to make some strides.” His focus remains on fostering a better team dynamic and ensuring that all players understand their roles moving forward.

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• “We’re a poorly coached team,” — Dana Altman, Head Coach

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• “There’s no facet of the game that we’re playing well in right now. Really disappointed in the way we’re playing. That’s on me. Attention to detail, not there. When we play hard we don’t play smart. There were times in transition defense where we didn’t play hard and that’s also on me. It’s my job to get them to play hard.” — Dana Altman, Head Coach

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• “We got to worry about getting better and take the next step,” — Dana Altman, Head Coach

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The Oregon Ducks are at a pivotal moment in their season, and their ability to address these challenges will determine their success in the competitive landscape of college basketball.

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