Injury Bug Bites Oregon Basketball, Bittle and Dante Out
Oregon Basketball saw some bad news on Friday. Two key players will be out an extended period of time after having surgery. This is not news that Head Coach Dana Altman wanted with the season just getting under way.
The Ducks will be without both N’Faly Dante who had knee surgery and will be re-evaluated in eight weeks and Nate Bittle who is out for after successful surgery on his left wrist. He will be re-evaluated in four weeks. With both out for an extended period of time, Oregon will look to youth for leadership in several key spots over the next month plus.
Altman and the Ducks have started the season strong with a 4-0 start and currently are playing in the Emerald Coast Classic with two games remaining vs Santa Clara and either Alabama or Ohio State before returning home to welcome Michigan to Eugene next weekend.
On Monday vs Florida A&M, Oregon had four players in double figures led by Jesse Zarzuela and Jadrian Tracey, Jermaine Couisnard and Keeshawn Barthelemy. Couisinard and Barthelemy will likely be leaned on more heavily over the next few months. Both have been in Altman’s system the longest and now have the most experience.
Dante has struggled at times as a Duck and has been a visitor to the injury list in his time with Oregon. However, when he has been on the court, he has been one of the most effective players. He entered the season with the potential to be the conference player of the year, or at least a leading candidate, which now will likely be derailed with missed time.
For Bittle, he came into the season in a key position to play key minutes for Dana Altman after coming off the bench last season. The injury will press several players into action over the coming months.
The Ducks expect to have Freshman Jackson Shelstad and Mookie Cook back in the coming weeks which will certainly help on the offensive end of the floor.
Oregon wraps up play in the Emerald Coast Classic on Sunday and will host Michigan at Matthew Knight Arena next Saturday at 12:30pm on FS1.
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