30Duck Moderator No. 1 Share Posted February 7 Let's count the ways. What's wrong with Oregon men's basketball? Ducks on a four-game losing streak AUTZENZOO.COM The Oregon Ducks lost their fourth consecutive game when the No. 24 Michigan Wolverines stalled their comeback attempt. So... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Duckdude No. 2 Share Posted February 7 It’s a patchwork group of talent who don’t really complement each other well. Shelstad is a good general, with few soldiers to help. Bamba has trouble with finishing. Angel is a complimentary piece, not a leader. Tracy has regressed. Barthelemy is streaky. Bittle is……well……more mediocre than “5 star savior”. Supreme is strong, but limited offensively. Evans and Mookie have been MIA so far. Together? Well, they usually make up for lack of cohesive talent with maximum effort, but…..frustratingly, for all concerned, while effort is important…..it takes a team with talent that complements each other, to be a consistently winning team. Altman can only “mold the clay he is given”. And, try as he might, the clay he’s been given just won’t meld. Must be very frustrating for him, as well. But…..such is the life of a Coach 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jon Joseph Moderator No. 3 Share Posted February 7 Called 'soft' on today's B1G Today. Fair? I don't know. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
30Duck Author Moderator No. 4 Share Posted February 8 On 2/7/2025 at 3:47 PM, Jon Joseph said: Called 'soft' on today's B1G Today. Fair? I don't know. I don't know a better description. The lack of cohesion, communication, bad shooting aren't soft, but lack of rebounds, giving up offensive rebounds, shooting 3's early in the shot clock. They thought it was impressive that they came from behind for wins. But then they didn't against UCLA. The slow starts continued, Illinois blew them out. The next games weren't as bad as Illinois, but Oregon consistently was out of games before halftime; and the B1G teams are good, but not great, Michigan won because they hit shots, rebounded, moved the ball. Whether offense ignites defense, or the other way around doesn't matter, the Ducks aren't playing either well enough to compete. If you're going to snag Quad1 wins, it's going to be early in a season when teams are working things out. 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Kamikaze Kid Moderator No. 5 Share Posted February 8 Since the Final Four appearance, Altman to me has seemed confused and out of step with the direction of the modern players. I have always hated the five star one and done mentality. It seemed like he felt forced to go in that direction when the UO final four brand was at it's hottest. Coddling teenage primadonna's isn't Altman's thing. He seems more comfortable coaching three star gym rats. like at Creighton or the early days at UO. I don't really know just what the answer is but for the last few years, it just seems like such a struggle for the teams to get on track and be competitive. Dante stepping up his game last year elevated the team into March Madness. I have been a huge fan of Dana and was also a big fan of Ernie Kent. As much as I loved Ernie, when it was time to go, it was time to go. I think we are approaching a similar spot with Dana. I don't think he should be fired. I still think he's a great coach just maybe not matched up well with the players he brings in. I'd like to see him maybe move up into UO athletics administration or possibly simply retire. I think the Ducks could use some young up and coming Dan Lanning type coaches energy at this point. 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
30Duck Author Moderator No. 6 Share Posted February 8 On 2/7/2025 at 5:45 PM, The Kamikaze Kid said: I'd like to see him maybe move up into UO athletics administration or possibly simply retire. I think the Ducks could use some young up and coming Dan Lanning type coaches energy at this point. I have the same feeling. Altman doesn't fit anymore, the team isn't responding. He absolutely shouldn't be fired, but next season would be better for him, and the team moving forward with a new coach. I agree that Altman would have more fun coaching a team with players who just wanted to play basketball. Power 4 basketball isn't that place anymore. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grandpa Duck No. 7 Share Posted February 8 Basketball is best played by selfless teamwork. This group cannot even define those words. 1 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jemangi No. 8 Share Posted February 8 I think it's largely players paid, performance or not. I have no answers. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
GeotechDuck No. 9 Share Posted February 8 (edited) I am not sure why Dana keeps recruiting kids who can’t shoot, then continues to complain that we have “shot takers, not shot makers”. Whose fault is that? Altman was so successful recruiting and getting great scoring guards / wings to transfer into the program until around COVID. Since COVID, it has been a complete mess. Compare: Ennis, Joseph, Calieste, Young, Benjamin, Emory, Cook, Bassit, Boucher, Brown, Duarte, Mathis, and White To: Hardy, Figueroa, Estrada, Eric Williams, Harmon, Guerrier, Soares, Jacob Young, Rigsby, Couisnard, Key, Tyrone Williams, Wur, Tracey, Oquendo, Zarzuela, Lindsey, Moss, Bamba, and Angel. If you had to start a team, which guys are you taking? Almost every single player in the first group is better than everyone in the second. I’m not taking anyone from the second group except maybe Key. You could make an argument for Couisnard too, as he had a great two months at the end of his senior year. But he was still a sub 40% volume shooter for his career. Overall since COVID, I am going to go out on a limb and say the transfer portal players have mostly been a bust. I am still in Altman’s corner and will continue to support him. He is an excellent coach and IMO the best in Oregon history. But clearly he needs help evaluating transfer talent right now. Most of those guys in the second group are obvious misses. Edited February 8 by GeotechDuck Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
30Duck Author Moderator No. 10 Share Posted February 8 On 2/8/2025 at 2:52 PM, GeotechDuck said: I am still in Altman’s corner and will continue to support him. He is an excellent coach and IMO the best in Oregon history. My opinion is that he just needs help evaluating transfer talent right now. Little to argue with. It shouldn't be as simple to say that when the shots go in, the Ducks win. But with this team in particular, it's true, and that's why "Soft" fits. The shots were going in in the 1st half, and they were more physical, the defense was active, the ball was moving. they were causing turnovers and converting them into points. But the first shots in the 2nd half didn't drop and everything fell apart. The shots weren't working for State in the 1st half, but they got it going in the 2nd and everything else got better. Shelstad is lost as a point guard, when he steps back, tries to get other players involved, they miss, so that doesn't work. Key hit the big shot at the buzzer but previously missed 3 open shots. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
spartan2785 No. 11 Share Posted February 8 He needs to adjust, we can't keep having a roster entirely made of transfers every season, there has to be a little more continuity. Out of the guys you listed the only ones I think I like are Cousinard (which really was only during his second season his first was bad), Williams, and finally Figueroa was pretty decent, everyone else has been mediocre to straight up bad. If we bring in a guard they have to be a 38% shooter from 3 or better, it just has to be like that. We can't keep bringing in "scorers" who are volume shooters who play for bad teams. I'm talking Oquendo, Moss, Zaruzuela, Estrada, and others. They aren't good, they are simply the best of a bad bunch. Take some freshman and let them develop a bit! 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
idontrollonshobbas No. 12 Share Posted February 8 (edited) My concern pre-season is showing up in B1G conference play.....soft and unathletic in the paint. That used to work in the Pac-12 well enough to get a berth or make a conference tourney run. Dan Lanning came to the Ducks and he preached physicality. Dana needs to do the same. Get some East Coast wide body bangers to set screens, box out, deny the block and hammer driving guards that dare enter the paint. Like Boeheim used to build Syracuse back in the day. A couple of bangers and a couple of pogo-stick elastic types to rotate and counter opponent bigs. Edited February 8 by idontrollonshobbas typos 1 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
JabbaNoBargain No. 13 Share Posted February 9 (edited) Yep. Bad shooting, soft, low-motors, non-athletic, small guards. Other than that… Edited February 9 by JabbaNoBargain 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
GeotechDuck No. 14 Share Posted February 9 (edited) On 2/8/2025 at 3:32 PM, spartan2785 said: If we bring in a guard they have to be a 38% shooter from 3 or better, it just has to be like that. We can't keep bringing in "scorers" who are volume shooters who play for bad teams. I'm talking Oquendo, Moss, Zaruzuela, Estrada, and others. They aren't good, they are simply the best of a bad bunch. Take some freshman and let them develop a bit! . Not only are they bad perimeter shooters, but most of that second group cannot create shots, score consistently, and are below average jump shooters. When your starting shooting guard takes a wide open 3 and you find yourself yelling “Noooooo!” at the TV, that is no bueno. Edited February 9 by GeotechDuck 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nevada Dawg No. 15 Share Posted February 9 This thread made me sit down and watch the Ducks game today against MSU. First half--quite OK. But I have to admit that the second half was hard to watch. Don't know enough about the Ducks BB team to know what exactly is wrong, but after MSU's 8-0 run to start the second half, the Ducks started playing scared and began to look like a beaten team even while still having a 6-8 point lead. To be honest, I don't really follow Ducks basketball,and maybe I should just butt out now. But for the sake of all y'all who do, I hope that they find a way to turn it around in a big hurry. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
30Duck Author Moderator No. 16 Share Posted February 9 On 2/8/2025 at 10:19 PM, Nevada Dawg said: Don't know enough about the Ducks BB team to know what exactly is wrong, but after MSU's 8-0 run to start the second half, the Ducks started playing scared and began to look like a beaten team even while still having a 6-8 point lead. Looks like you have it down. The transformation from the 1st half to the 2nd half that you noted was exactly what we all feared, expected, would happen. Scared, soft, either works. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Duckdude No. 17 Share Posted February 9 On 2/8/2025 at 2:52 PM, GeotechDuck said: I am not sure why Dana keeps recruiting kids who can’t shoot, then continues to complain that we have “shot takers, not shot makers”. Whose fault is that? Altman was so successful recruiting and getting great scoring guards / wings to transfer into the program until around COVID. Since COVID, it has been a complete mess. Compare: Ennis, Joseph, Calieste, Young, Benjamin, Emory, Cook, Bassit, Boucher, Brown, Duarte, Mathis, and White To: Hardy, Figueroa, Estrada, Eric Williams, Harmon, Guerrier, Soares, Jacob Young, Rigsby, Couisnard, Key, Tyrone Williams, Wur, Tracey, Oquendo, Zarzuela, Lindsey, Moss, Bamba, and Angel. If you had to start a team, which guys are you taking? Almost every single player in the first group is better than everyone in the second. I’m not taking anyone from the second group except maybe Key. You could make an argument for Couisnard too, as he had a great two months at the end of his senior year. But he was still a sub 40% volume shooter for his career. Overall since COVID, I am going to go out on a limb and say the transfer portal players have mostly been a bust. I am still in Altman’s corner and will continue to support him. He is an excellent coach and IMO the best in Oregon history. But clearly he needs help evaluating transfer talent right now. Most of those guys in the second group are obvious misses. I suspect that Dana would prefer to get better shooting recruits as well. But maybe he has to SETTLE for what he CAN get. And…..this group is “it”. Not optimal, and……. that’s why this team is where it’s at. Shelstad is a great piece to start with. Now, he needs to get some pieces that can: take a feed and finish or make a secondary pass to a finisher. Bittle: ONE rebound v. MSU?! ONE?! For a 7 footer?! OMG! if Altman stays on, you can bet he’s going to try to get the best pieces for his team. Hopefully, it’ll work out. If not……well you have a middling team like the current one. Hopefully, Mookie and Evans will show vast improvement next year. There’s always hope! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
30Duck Author Moderator No. 18 Share Posted February 9 Oregon is 16-7, Kansas is 16-7, Oregon is 16-7. Looks like a Q1 win has been taken away from Oregon, so now 7-5, Kansas is 5-8. The big difference is Oregon is 9-2 in 2,3,4 while Kansas is 11-1. The losses to Minnesota and Nebraska definitely hurt more than the wins over Alabama and A & M helped. No.1 Auburn lost yesterday, so did No.2 Duke, which will probably have Alabama be No.1 in the next poll. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jon Joseph Moderator No. 19 Share Posted February 14 Those were the days my friends ... Oregon Ducks Expected To Play In NIL Players Era Festival: $24 Million In NIL Payments WWW.YARDBARKER.COM In the first annual Players Era Festival in 2024, $9 million dollars in Name, Image, Likeness or NIL payments was split up between all the tournament participants, including the Oregon Ducks. So let's get back, get together, and do it again, right? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
spartan2785 No. 20 Share Posted February 14 (edited) Maybe we need to tell them they'll get a bonus for every win for the rest of the season. I guess they're motivated by money rather than just money. Edit: motivated by money rather than just money...hmmmm I think I wrote this a bit too quickly. Obviously I meant rather than just trying to win. Edited February 14 by spartan2785 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
30Duck Author Moderator No. 21 Share Posted February 14 On 2/14/2025 at 1:48 PM, spartan2785 said: I guess they're motivated by money rather than just money. They did receive $$$ for winning the Players Era Festival in November, Quad1 wins over Texas A & M, San Diego State & Alabama. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
HDuck No. 22 Share Posted February 15 Read a remarkable stat today after Oregon State's road loss at U of Portland last night. Since the 2021 season ended with an Elite 8 appearance, the Beavers are 3-37 on opponents' home courts. Beavis has 3 more road games this season. Ducks are close to .500 in road games since 2021 which isn't stellar, but 3-37 - wowser. 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
GeotechDuck No. 23 Share Posted February 15 (edited) I have to admit, when I first glanced and saw 3-37, I immediately thought it was going to be about Bamba’s three point shooting. Edited February 15 by GeotechDuck 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Just Ducky No. 24 Share Posted Saturday at 05:00 PM Live by the 3 and die by the 3. Rebound the ball. Play defense. Seems pretty simple to me. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
