Oregon Ducks Aim for Success in Second Big Ten Season with Key Returnees

The Oregon Ducks are gearing up for their second season in the Big Ten, aiming to build on last year’s performance where they finished with a record of 25-10 and reached the second round of the NCAA Tournament. This season, the Ducks will be led by senior center Nate Bittle, a 7-footer who considered entering the NBA before deciding to return to Oregon. His leadership will be crucial as the team seeks to improve on its eighth-place finish in the conference last year.

Under the guidance of head coach Dan Altman, who has amassed 780 career wins and is entering his 16th season with the Ducks, the team is poised for a competitive year. With six returning players, an incoming freshman, and seven transfers, Oregon is undergoing significant changes designed to bolster its performance.

Key Players and Fresh Faces

Bittle was a standout player last season, averaging 14.2 points per game and leading the Big Ten with 2.1 blocks per game. He also contributed 7.6 rebounds per game and received All-Big Ten honors. Jackson Shelstad, a junior guard standing at 6 feet, averaged 13.7 points, 2.9 rebounds, and 2.7 assists last season, though he is currently recovering from a broken hand.

Another player to watch is Kwame Evans Jr., a junior forward who averaged 6.1 points and 4.6 rebounds off the bench last season. Evans, a top 15 recruit, is expected to take on a larger role in his senior year.

The Ducks have also made notable additions through the transfer portal, welcoming Takai Simpkins, who averaged 16.4 points last season for Elon, and junior forward Devon Pryor from Houston. Additionally, Wei Lin, who has three seasons of professional experience in China, joins the roster, as does Ege Demir, a 6-foot-11 center from Nigeria with professional experience in Turkey.

Upcoming Schedule and Season Outlook

Oregon’s season kicks off with four non-conference games, starting with a matchup against Hawaii on November 4. The team is scheduled to participate in the Players Era Festival in Las Vegas later in November. Key games include a visit to No. 12 UCLA on December 6 and a neutral site game against No. 21 Gonzaga in Portland on December 21. The Ducks’ Big Ten season begins on the road against Maryland on January 2, and the regular season concludes at home against rival Washington on March 7.

Last season, Oregon reached a ranking as high as No. 9 in the AP Top 25. The team has consistently won 20 or more games in each season since 2010-2011, when Altman took over as head coach. They have also advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament in the past two years, with a Sweet Sixteen appearance in 2021 marking their best season since 2020.

While the team has made significant strides, they will be without Efe Vatan, a 6-foot-10 forward from Turkey, at the start of the season due to a foot injury. As the Ducks prepare for a challenging season ahead, their blend of returning talent and new additions will be key to achieving their goals in the Big Ten.