It’s not always easy to find the benefits of participating in the NIT, especially a team that came into the season with as high of expectations as Oregon had.
But for Dana Altman and the Ducks, postseason basketball provides an opportunity for some of the team’s young players to step into bigger roles on a relatively big stage – without the pressure of an NCAA Tournament loss hanging in the balance.
Oregon took care of business in the first round of the NIT, defeating Utah State without the assistance of either Will Richardson or N’Faly Dante, who both remain out with (non-COVID) illnesses.
Dante’s absence gave Oregon fans a chance to see their two young big men, Franck Kepnang and Nathan Bittle, in extended action – offering a nice glimpse into the future of the program down on the blocks.
Kepnang is the most familiar of the pair, appearing in 34 games this season for the Ducks, while averaging five points and three rebounds in about 15 minutes per contest. He stepped into a starting role against Utah State, and the sophomore responded with nine points on 4-7 shooting, while tacking on nine boards and a pair of blocks in 24 minutes.
The No. 36 overall prospect in the class of 2020, Kepnang is awaiting his turn once Dante moves on – and he showed he is more than capable of being Altman’s go-to guy in the paint against the Aggies.
Most of the rest of the big man minutes went to Bittle, a five-star freshman from Central Point, Oregon who only averaged 6.7 minutes per game this year, buried on the depth chart behind Dante and Kepnang.
He saw 14 minutes of action against Utah State, and drilled a three pointer while grabbing four defensive rebounds and blocking three shots – showcasing the kind of unique skill set that made him one of the most coveted big man in the Class of 2021.
The Ducks are advancing to take on Texas A&M on Saturday morning, in College Station no less, and win or lose it is a great opportunity for Oregon’s youngest players to experience postseason basketball in a hostile road environment, which can only be a positive thing for their development heading into 22-23 and beyond.
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