Dana Altman has enjoyed many proud moments in his 16 seasons coaching the Ducks, but 2026 isn't one of them.
When the team lost 84-66 to Iowa Sunday, they fell to last place in the Big Ten at 1-10 while losing their eighth game in a row. The Hawkeyes battered them for 44 points in the paint while shooting 59 percent from the floor, embarrassing an undermanned UO sqad in Matthew Knight Arena.
It gets worse. Saturday they travel to No. 12 Purdue. Backup center Ege Demir is out for the year, as is three-year starter at guard Jackson Shelstad and Texas transfer forward Devon Pryor. Senior center Nate Bittle hasn't played since January 13th at Nebraska, but he might be back for the Boilermakers.
“You know it was bad,” Altman said. “Bad threes and fundamentally were not sound at all. We’re playing guys that don’t have much experience, Efe [Vatan], Jamari, [Oleksander Kobzystyi], Luke [Jackson], Drew, those guys haven’t played much for us.”
Ducks plagued by poor shooting and worse shot selection
It's an ugly brand of basketball. Against Iowa Kwame Evan and Takai Simpkins led the team with 18 and 16 points, but combined with sophomore guard Jamari Phillips, they shot 3-16 from three-point range.
Nine games remain in the season, and at 8-14 the Ducks are well out of contention for postseason play. They last won at 8-13 Maryland on January 2nd. Just a year ago Altman's squad finished 25-10 and made the round of 32 at the NCAA Tournament. At 67, he's in the midst of painful career reassessment, coaching a team without soundness or purpose.
After a loss to USC on December 2nd, Altman said,
“I don’t know if it’s their girlfriends, their agents or their parents. I am not sure who’s advising them right now, but I know I’m about seventh on the list.”
The pattern has continued over the season. It's a squad that shoots too quickly and lacks discipline. Injuries haven't helped.