Tag: oregon basketball

Oregon basketball stand near top of early Big Ten Conference rankings for 2024-25

CBS Sports has already published its “way too early” predictions for Big Ten men’s basketball for the 2024-25 season.

This upcoming 2024-25 season in all sports is going to be a strange one and it’s going to take a while to get used to.

Oregon is set to officially join the Big Ten Conference on July 1 and the Ducks are going to have a new set of opponents and rivals to play.

With that comes some weird predictions from media outlets that will look out of sorts. Even the graphics look out of place. But it’s the new world of college athletics.

In CBSsports’ “way too early” predictions for the Big Ten men’s basketball season, writer Isaac Trotter published his first power rankings six months before the season and of course, he says that traditional Big Ten power of UCLA will win its new league in the very first season.

Trotter has the Ducks finishing fourth in the new 18-team league with Indiana and Purdue second and third, respectively.

According to the rankings, it could be a rough adjustment for Washington and USC, however. The Huskies are expected to finish 14th and the Trojans 15th.

But the season is so far away that the phrase “way too early” definitely applies here. It should be a fun season on the hardwood and it can’t get here quick enough.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]

North Carolina transfer guard Deja Kelly commits to Oregon out of transfer portal

Deja Kelly, a four-year guard at North Carolina, has committed to the Oregon Ducks after entering the transfer portal this offseason.

It’s been a rough few seasons for Kelly Graves and the Oregon Ducks women’s basketball team. This year’s Ducks ended the season on a 14-game losing streak, won just 11 games all season, and for the second year in a row, Graves lost all of his top players to the transfer portal.

But at last, Graves and the Ducks have won a round in the transfer portal by picking up Deja Kelly, a fifth-year senior guard who earned All-ACC honors three times at North Carolina.

Kelly’s strong season with the Tar Heels, a season in which she averaged 16.3 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 3.2 assists per game, came to a disappointing end. For the second year in a row, UNC was knocked out in the second round of the NCAA tournament, this time in an 88-41 rout by the South Carolina Gamecocks, the eventual national champions.

After the damage the transfer portal has done to Oregon’s roster, Kelly is coming to a team in a desperate search for a best player, and with her college experience, Kelly leading the Ducks’ backcourt seems like a natural role for her to fill.

When she gets the ball in her hands, Kelly is always looking for ways to score, whether it’s with a drive to the rim or a jump shot she creates for herself. Her 16.3 points per game in 2023-24 is an impressive number, but she didn’t score with efficiency, shooting 34.6% from the field in 2023-24, which is, hopefully, something she can improve for her final season at Oregon.

Kelly isn’t the only transfer Graves has brought in this offseason, and she will fill the 15th and final roster spot on next year’s team. Another exciting transfer addition for Oregon is Alexis Whitfield, a 6’2″ forward who averaged 15.1 points and 9.8 rebounds per game at Santa Barbara last season, and she is a potential pick-and-roll partner for Kelly.

Oregon center N’Faly Dante receives invite to 2024 NBA Combine

N’Faly Dante has received an invite to the 2024 NBA Combine.

The future remains unclear for Oregon Ducks’ all-conference center N’Faly Dante, but he certainly has his options open ahead of him.

In April, The Oregonian’s James Crepea reported that Dante and the Ducks are seeking a waiver from the NCAA for an additional year of eligibility for center N’Faly Dante stemming from his ACL injury during the 2020-21 season. This means that there is a possibility that Dante returns to Eugene for one more season to lead what is turning into a talented Oregon team in 2024-25.

However, Dante also has been invited to the 2024 NBA Combine, where he can work out in front of NBA general managers, coaches, and scouts, in hopes of upping his draft stock and potentially being selected in the 2024 NBA Draft at the end of June.

Currently, Dante has been projected as a second-round pick in the draft, but there is a chance that he could improve that with a solid workout and performance at the combine.

While we wait to hear what the NCAA’s decision is on Dante’s waiver, we will see if he participates in the combine, which takes place from May 12-19.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]

Villanova transfer TJ Bamba commits to Oregon

The Oregon Ducks men’s basketball team secured a commitment from senior wing TJ Bamba, who played for Villanova and Washington State.

Dana Altman and the Oregon Duck men’s basketball team have secured a commitment from Villanova transfer wing TJ Bamba, according to a report from James Crepea of The Oregonian. Bamba will have one year of eligibility remaining.

Earlier this month, the Ducks picked up Stanford forward Brandon Angel and Toledo guard Ra’Heim Moss in the transfer portal, but the addition of Bamba is even more exciting. After losing senior guard Jermaine Couisnard this offseason, the Ducks have a true two-guard to play in the backcourt with sophomore point guard Jackson Shelstad.

In his four-year career, Bamba has averaged 9.8 points per game, 3.2 rebounds, and 1.2 assists. Bamba has increased his scoring ability in the last two years, averaging 12.86 points per game on 42.8% shooting since Fall 2022.

Bamba isn’t a stranger to playing out west, spending three seasons at Washington State before transferring to Villanova for the 2023-24 season. In March 2022 — the last time he played Oregon — Bamba scored 19 points in the Cougars’ losing effort to the Ducks in the Pac-12 Championship.

Playing with Shelstad, Bamba will have to take on a less ball-dominant role than he has in the past, but playing off the ball is one of the areas where he excels. At 6’5″, Bamba shoots a good clip from three (38% in his career) and he becomes even better on open catch-and-shoots. With Shelstad’s ability to drive the ball and draw help defense, Bamba could be a dangerous kickout threat on the wing.

Oregon Ducks get commitment from Toledo guard transfer Ra’Heim Moss

Dana Altman’s 2024-25 roster is coming together after the addition of former Toledo guard Ra’Heim Moss.

The roster is really starting to come together for Dana Altman and the Oregon Ducks, with a big piece being added on Monday morning.

Former Toledo guard Ra’Heim Moss announced that he would be joining the Ducks for the 2024-25 season in Eugene, their first as members of the Big Ten. Moss averaged a career-best 15.5 points, 5.4 rebounds and 3.0 assists last year, and has one more year of eligibility remaining.

Moss brings some solid shooting to the table, having averaged 46.2% from the field during his career, plus 30.8% from deep and 75.3% from the line.

Moss is the second addition that the Ducks have made via the transfer portal after adding former Stanford big man Brandon Angel earlier in the month. Oregon is also reportedly waiting to hear back from the NCAA in regards to an appeal that all-conference center N’Faly Dante submitted earlier this month, looking to get one more year of eligibility.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]

Kwame Evans Jr. announces return to Oregon for 2024-25 season

Big-time returner for the Ducks in 2024.

Kwame Evans Jr., a freshman power forward for the Oregon Ducks men’s basketball team, will return to Oregon for the 2024-25 season. Evans announced the news Tuesday morning on Twitter.

After the Ducks lost Creighton in the round of 32 of the NCAA tournament and their season came to a close, Evans left his future at Oregon ambiguous, telling Oregonian reporter James Crepea that it was “hard to tell,” what his future looked like.

Evans was a key player for the Ducks throughout last season, and he could be even more impactful going forward. As a freshman, Evans averaged 7.3 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 1.1 assists per game, while also averaging more than one steal and one block each game.

In 2023-24, Evans did experience some struggles finding consistency in his game. Smoked layups and defensive breakdowns weren’t uncommon for the freshman. But what has never been in doubt is Evans’ talent and potential to grow. Even from the start of the season to the end, Evans transformed his game, and there’s no cap on what he can do going forward.

Evans came to Oregon as a 5-star recruit in the class of 2023, and he was joined by Jackson Shelstad and Mookie Cook — two Portland natives who were also highly sought after in their recruiting class. Shelstad and Cook have both announced their intent to return to Eugene in the fall, and now that the trio of elite recruits has a year of experience, Oregon could be a dangerous team come fall.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]

Stanford transfer F Brandon Angel commits to Oregon

Big-time transfer pick up for the Ducks.

It was bound to happen at some point.

After losing several key rotation players to the transfer portal this offseason, the Oregon Ducks have finally made an addition from the portal: Brandon Angel, a fifth-year forward from Stanford, according to a report from 24/7 High School Hoops.

In 2023, Angel averaged 13 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 1.7 assists, per game. From the field last season, Angel shot 56.7% on eight attempts per game and 44.8% from three on 2,5 attempts per game. As a scorer, Angel consistently hits his catch-and-shoot threes and is an excellent finisher.

With the Ducks losing center N’Faly Dante this offseason, the addition of Angel is a big one, and it will give the Ducks multiple big men options next season. At 6’8″ and 210 lbs., Angel can hopefully be an impact player on the defensive side of the floor as well as on offense. His 0.9 defensive win shares last was the second most on the Cardinal.

 

Andrej Stojakovic, one of Angel’s teammates at Stanford last year, is another player in the portal who’s been tied to Oregon. Stojakovic has yet to announce his commitment, but now, coming to the Ducks would offer him the chance to reunite with his former teammate.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]

Oregon named as top school for Villanova transfer guard TJ Bamba

TJ Bamba, a fifth-year senior guard in the transfer portal, has named the Oregon Ducks as one of his top six schools.

After losing several key rotation players to the transfer portal, Dana Altman and the Oregon Ducks men’s basketball team now have a chance to bring in a key piece from the portal. According to a report from 24/7 High School Hoops, TJ Bamba, a fifth-year senior guard, has narrowed his search to six schools, one of which is Oregon.

Since the end of the 2023-24 season, the Ducks have lost guards Kario Oquendo and Brennan Risgby to the transfer portal, and Vyctorious Miller, an incoming recruit, was released from his letter of intent. Oregon is also losing star guard Jermaine Couisnard this offseason since he is out of eligibility, leaving the Ducks without much guard depth.

Bamba has experience playing on the West Coast. Before transferring to Villanova last season, Bamba played three seasons with the Washington State Cougars. With the Wildcats last year, Bamba was second in scoring, averaging 10.1 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 1.8 assists per game. All four years of Bamba’s college career have been full seasons, leaving him with just his Covid-year of eligibility.

At 6’5″ and 208 lbs., Bamba has good size for a guard, which helps him get downhill and finish through contact at the rim. Bamba also shoots the ball efficiently from the perimeter, especially when moving off the ball, looking for catch-and-shoot attempts.

One of the guards who is returning for Oregon in the fall is Jackson Shelstad, who already seems like the Ducks’ next star. As a freshman, Shelstad averaged 12.8 points per game and scored 20+ points five times. If Bamba chooses Oregon, he and Shelstad could be a dangerous duo in the backcourt, especially with Bamba’s affinity for moving off the ball to get open for threes.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]

Oregon’s ugly basketball court no longer exists, will be replaced

Oregon fans, Pac-12 fans, and college hoop fans are happy to see Oregon’s ‘Deep In The Woods’ court get removed.

The Oregon Ducks are “Deep In The Woods” in Eugene, but those four words call to mind one of the ugliest college basketball courts in the country. Thankfully, that court design will be relegated to the history books. It is no more. Oregon’s men’s basketball tweeted a picture of the court design being removed, indicating a change will soon take place.

Ducks Wire has more on this story:

“When all is said and done, the new floor at Matthew Knight Arena will be among the most expensive college basketball courts in the nation, and somewhere between 3-4 times more expensive than the average basketball court at the NCAA level. The process of redesigning an average basketball court takes approximately 10 days, while this could take upwards of 30.

“The reason for this is because of the detail of the design, and the time that it takes to incorporate all of the intricacies.”

We hope the new design won’t become too complicated. Keep it simple, Ducks.

Visit our friends at Fighting Irish Wire, Buffaloes Wire, and Ducks Wire. Follow our newest sites, UW Huskies Wire and UCLA Wire.

Ducks named among top landing spots for USC’s Bronny James

A transfer to Oregon seems like a realistic possibility for Bronny James.

The college basketball world got a jolt of energy on Friday morning when it was officially announced that USC Trojans freshman Bronny James was entering his name in the 2024 NBA Draft while also keeping his NCAA eligibility and entering the transfer portal.

The initial belief is that James, the son of NBA legend LeBron James, will go through some draft workouts and make a decision on returning to school or trying to go professional after receiving some feedback. While the NBA is a possibility, there is a feeling that he will likely end up back in school for the 2024-25 season.

[lawrence-related id=59729]

But what school will that be?

On Friday, I made my case for why I think the Oregon Ducks are a legitimate option, especially after James seriously considered them the first time around. Our good friend Andy Patton at College Sports Wire agrees, listing Oregon as one of his top landing spots for James:

Oregon, like Ohio State, was heavily involved in Bronny’s recruitment out of high school, and the James family is deeply connected with Phil Knight and the Nike brand.

Coach Dana Altman has thrived when navigating the transfer portal, coming off a surprise run in the NCAA Tournament, and adding Bronny to a backcourt with fellow rising sophomore Jackson Shelstad would make must-see basketball in Eugene next season.

Patton also listed Ohio State, Duquesne, UCLA, SMU, and Jackson State as potential options, as well as a return to USC under new coach Eric Musselman.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]