Charles Fischer

EUGENE, Ore. – They may have been without two quality veterans from last season, but the Oregon men's basketball team showed Monday it will feature a quantity of capable options in 2024-25. Kwame Evans Jr. scored 23 points to lead six Ducks who finished with at least eight points in a 91-76 victory Monday over UC Riverside at Matthew Knight Arena. The UO men opened the season without their two leaders from the memorable 2023-24 postseason run, N'Faly Dante and Jermaine Couisnard, but the Ducks' depth looks much improved over a year ago. "We made a lot of mistakes, but a lot of them are correctable," UO coach Dana Altman said. "We've just got to get everybody on the same page — offensively, defensively, get better connected. And that should happen, if you've got guys that really want to be part of the team and make things happen." Newcomer Brandon Angel scored 17 points in his UO debut, and Nate Bittle had a double-double with 16 points and 11 rebounds in his return from an injury marred 2023-24 season. Transfer TJ Bamba scored 12 points, Jackson Shelstad added nine points and Jadrian Tracey scored eight. "Everybody can score on this team," Shelstad said. "I think our chemistry's looking really good." How It Happened: Oregon's balance was on display from the outset. Evans scored 12 points in the first half, while Bamba, Angel and Bittle added nine each. Evans scored eight in the first five minutes, including a three-point play to give Oregon an early 11-9 lead. "When he plays hard, he's really talented," Altman said. "… When he's active and on those toes and going hard, he's pretty good." UC Riverside was up 28-26 when the Ducks took the lead for good. Bamba scored the first and last baskets of a 10-0 run for Oregon, with Angel completing a three-point play and Shelstad hitting a three-pointer in between. It was 40-34 when the UO men mounted another run, scoring nine straight on the way to a 51-36 halftime lead. Mookie Cook came off the bench to help spark that run with his defensive intensity. It was 53-38 early in the second half when UC Riverside used a 12-4 spurt to cut the UO lead to seven. Bittle scored to end that run, on a night he finished with a double-double after appearing in just five games last season. "Nate's really made a good jump," Altman said. "He's in a really good place here. He's listening, takes criticism, tries to turn it around. He just needs to keep playing hard." With Oregon up 75-68, the Ducks scored eight straight to regain some cushion. Another six straight in the waning minutes gave the UO men their biggest lead of the night, 91-73, before UC Riverside closed the night's scoring with a three-pointer. Up Next: The Ducks host Montana on Friday (7 p.m., Big Ten Network).

I LOVE this! I am going to be laughing my head off for a long time as I reflect upon how EVERYONE, including yours-truly thought we had a real issue joining this league. The disadvantage is with them! Especially if they play one of the "Fresno States" of the conference and have the late TV slot.

Unknown. Has not played this year at all, and I sense his foot injury is for the season.

Like the tweet stated...."The B1G got Oregon and three Fresno States."

Playing UC Riverside at MKA at 7:30 PST tonight, and it is not on TV, but for those who have season football tickets, and grabbed the free B1G+ subscription in August, (Like yours-truly) you can watch for free. But you can buy a subscription for $90.00 a year, as there are two other games on it this season. When mine comes due--I will renew and pay because I am sure a ton of Baseball games will be on it, and tons of other Oregon Sports that will not be on TV. We will have a large number of Oregon Mens Basketball games on the B1G Network, so I'm glad they got that issue cleared up! In the article below--they have a link to be able to listen to the game for free. SIDEARM Integrations GODUCKS.COM Ducks take the court for the first time this season.

Well, my experience is that I've learned a TON from Social Media, and I've posted hundreds of tweets here that are informative over the last couple of years. No, it is not always right, but overall my experience is different from yours.

To be honest....I was pretty concerned when they hired Riley, as it looked like a good fit. It just goes to show how hard it is to find and hire good football coaches, and then retain the good ones. So glad we got Danno!

No late kick-offs now! (4:30 PST) We are in PRIME-TIME, Baby!

Well, I guessed wrong again!

On another site....their insider information indicated that Tez is out until the Playoffs for certain. What the injury is...is unknown, although collarbone is likely. They may have had him in surgery today in order to speed things up. I believe we will be fine for the regular season without Tez, and could do well without him in the B1G Championship because of how much Holden and Lowe are emerging. Since it is the end of the season--this is the time to use our senior tight ends more, and Sadiq everywhere. Unfortunately, Marcus Harper is out 3-4 weeks, and I do not know if this includes the B1G Championship Game. Again...injury unknown, but this is the inside scoop. I learned about these yesterday, but withheld until now to honor their subscribers who pay over there to learn the important news sooner. When many were defending Kawika Rogers in this forum versus Michigan, and I was critical--my comments were not just based on this game. He comes in late in the game often, and he comes in for the 4th down situations as an extra lineman. I have winced watching him get blown up, and we lost 4th downs by his missed blocks. Late in the game when the reserves come in, and we have been stuffed for a TFL...it is often from his man. Why didn't I write about this before? No need to pick on a newbie when it was not crucial; we won regardless and I mention it now because the context is important. Thus why I stated that we have NOBODY adequate to back up any offensive line starter who goes down. Can Rogers do well enough over the next three games? Perhaps,...we could run more to the left, roll-out passes, etc. This changes the game-plans for Will Stein, as well as the selection of plays he will use. I was hoping that Bedford had not played because they were preserving his redshirt, but I learned he has already used his redshirt. So I am hoping he can come back this week, and even if he is game-rusty...it is a perfect game for that versus Maryland. Only Purdue is weaker among B1G teams on our schedule, IMHO, thus a good game to bring him up to speed. If he can play, that is. I think we can survive with Rogers, but beating Ohio State in the B1G Championship with their defensive tackles would be very, very difficult. Is Tez Hinting at Surgery?

That top photo of the article is from a new photographer who will shoot occasionally for us when others are unavailable. Naji Saker is a superb photographer who uses great judgement in the composition of his photos, and that top featured photo is a great example. Players celebrating in the Big-House....gotta love it!

Because of the advertising on both sites, and backlinks in FishDuck articles...there was enough revenue to pay for TWO photographers at the Big-House, thus we have some epic pictures. This was fun....when fans agree!

I thought more than a few would find the one above as funny as I did!

This is parody, made with AI, is not really Dan Lanning, but it is funny-as-hell, but it has MANY forbidden four-letter words, so don't watch if you cannot stomach...

We really turned around the sacks against us since the first game and a half!

Yes, that is from the Mighty Oregon, our fight song, and below are some cool stats...

OK....this is fun!

OMIGOSH! These SEC fans are crazy!

Good for Dilly!

If Oregon wins the conference, there ARE going to be a lot of B1G-Butthurts out there!

Wow. Whatever IPA he's drinking to arrive at this USC cope....I want it!