Dana Altman’s breakthrough at Oregon began in obscurity. The Ducks were not ranked in the 2012-13 Associated Press preseason poll and, in fact, didn’t receive a single vote at the start of a journey that would culminate in the Sweet 16.
The same scenario unfolded two years later, when the Ducks went from nowhere to the Elite Eight.
Since the middle of the 2010s, Altman’s program has spent substantial time in the spotlight. The Ducks recruit at a high level, with five-star prospects and coveted transfers frequently relocating to Eugene.
Now closer to the end of his Oregon tenure than the beginning — he just turned 68 — Altman must navigate a new neighborhood in 2024-25, albeit from a familiar position.
The Ducks have been relegated to a secondary position in the Big Ten race, which includes preseason favorites Purdue, Indiana, UCLA and (dare we say it) Rutgers.
All of which prompts us to wonder: Does Altman have ’em right where he wants ’em?
Don’t sleep on the Ducks, folks.
Not with a sneaky-good rotation that features blue chip talents poised to flourish.
Not with a Hall of Fame-caliber coach who can match wits with anyone in the conference.
Not in an 18-team race that lacks a clear favorite and could prove hospitable for dark-horse teams.
The Big Ten preseason media poll is months from being released. When that day comes, likely in early October, the Ducks could find themselves on the second tier — perhaps in fifth place but more likely sixth or seventh.
Presumably, that would suit Altman just fine. After all, his best work often unfolds in the shadows.
Our projections for the Big Ten race …
1. Indiana. We aren’t convinced of Indiana’s status as clear-and-obvious frontrunner, but the Hoosiers appear to have fewer flaws than other contenders thanks, in part, to three impact transfers from the Pac-12 in guard Myles Rice (Washington State), guard Kanaan Carlyle (Stanford) and center Oumar Ballo (Arizona). Add a solid returning core that includes forward Malik Reneau, and IU possesses the quality depth required to withstand the grind.
2. Oregon. Had the NCAA approved N’Faly Dante’s eligibility request, the Ducks would have been impossible to overlook. Without Dante, their focus will shift to a perimeter unit that includes gifted returnee Jackson Shelstad and Villanova transfer TJ Bamba, plus elite wing Kwame Evans Jr. The man in the middle, Nate Bittle, is a former five-star recruit who missed most of last season with an injury and illness. Oregon will have the flexibility to play big and small, fast and slow — and to win on the road
3. Purdue. Veteran guards Fletcher Loyer and Braden Smith will form the pillars of a roster intent on proving it was more than Zach Edey. We don’t expect a steep regression in West Lafayette, but some backsliding is inevitable. The extent depends partly on Will Berg, a 7-foot-2, mini-Edey from Sweden who played sparingly last season.
4. UCLA: Renewed optimism in Westwood is rooted in the return of every top scorer except big man Adem Bona. But the core of coach …read more
Source:: The Mercury News – Entertainment
