Within hours of Florida's win in the 2025 NCAA Men's Basketball National Championship, FanDuel released odds for 2026:
2026 National Champion Odds.
Duke +1000
Houston +1200
Louisville +1400
Purdue +1400
Kansas +1600
BYU +1600
Arkansas +1800
Auburn +1800
UConn +1800
Alabama +1800
Kentucky +2000
Florida +2500
TTU +2500
Michigan +2500
St. John's +2500
Oregon is further down, behind Gonzaga, Indiana and Baylor at +6000, meaning for each $100 bet, a Cinderella finish by the Ducks would achieve $6000 profit. An unsuccessful wager ticket would make a nice bookmark.
So far next year's team has collected two huge pieces over the last couple of days as second-leading scorer Jackson Shelstad and 6-9 forward Kwame Evans announced decisions to return to Oregon.
The Ducks are still waiting to hear from center Nate Bittle of Central Point, Oregon, who's elected to get an evaluation of his NBA draft prospects. On March 31, the 7-0, 240-pound leading score said on social media:
"After speaking with Coach Altman, and my parents, I am fortunate to have the opportunity to pursue another childhood dream of one day playing in the NBA," Bittle posted on social media. "Today, I am declaring myself for the 2025 NBA Draft while maintaining my college eligibility."
Scouts rate Bittle as a high second round draft pick, a guy who can stretch the floor (33.6 percent from three, 14.2 points a game but needs to get stronger under the basket.
Another year in college could benefit him, and the money for a top college player in the NIL world comes in at $2-3 million, better than the NBA minimum of $1.2 million.
In the league, he likely be carrying some veterans luggage and languishing on the bench for most teams. In the Big Ten, he'd be one of the stars of the league while refining his game, maybe a first-round pick in 2026.
Bittle's return gives Altman and the Ducks a potential three-headed monster. It's the sound move, but fans can't underestimate the pull of proving everybody wrong.
If Bittle does return and Evans works on getting better at creating his own shot and improving his accuracy from the arc (26.9 percent on threes) the Ducks have the foundation of a potent offense.
A sophomore in 2025-26, guard Jamari Phillips averaged 23.0 points a game as a sophomore at Modesto Christian High School in Sacramento, 1.4 points a game in 14 appearances for the Ducks this season, the No. 49 prospect in the country in 2024 according to Rivals.
Mookie Cook and Jadrian Tracey are gone. So far the Ducks lone addition in the portal is Texas forward Devon Pryor, 6-7, 185. Pryor played 12 minutes a game for the Longhorns and scored 3.2 points a game, 52 percent from the floor, 19 percent on three-point attempts.
As of April 3 1,729 players had entered the portal. Chances are Altman is biding his time, content to wait out Bittle's decision, learning what the budget is, weighing out options and needs, sifting through players.
Shelstad's return gives him a dynamic scorer at guard, while Evans opting in gives him the long wing who can rebound and defend. Shelstad can improve his confidence and go from being a very good to a great player. Evans must refine his offensive skills, but knowing a starting spot is waiting for him gives him motivation.
The pool is still large, and Altman's proven he can identify players who fit his system.
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