College sports have undergone a ton of changes with the entry of NIL, Revenue Sharing, and the Transfer Portal into the landscape. It's never been more appealing for players to stick around in college given the money they're making, and it's been a major headache for the NCAA. When this offseason was filled with players fighting in court for injunctions, it was clear the rules on eligibility were going to need to change to combat the issue.
Earlier this offseason, the NCAA attempted to fix its issue by changing the eligibility rules to give players a flat 5 years of eligibility, eliminating redshirts and other loopholes. Instead of fully fixing the rules, it opened more loopholes, and on Friday night, the hole was blown open when a Colorado judge granted a class-wide preliminary injunction allowing every player from the 2022 recruiting class another year of eligibility.
The change has instantly led to hundreds of players who were seemingly done playing college basketball exploring their options. For Dana Altman and the Oregon Ducks, the change could be massive given the fact that the team has roster spots still open.
Oregon tied to elite guard Dug McDaniel after eligibility ruling
As the players are quickly exploring a return to college basketball, teams are also moving quickly to round out their rosters with players no one expected to be back in the mix. In the early stages of the new ruling, the Oregon Ducks appear to be looking for additional guard help as Dana Altman's team has showed interest in Memphis guard Dug McDaniel.
Dug McDaniel has received interest from Arizona State, Stanford, Auburn, Iowa State, USC, Cincinnati, NC State, Utah, Oregon and Duquesne, his agent Scott Nichols told @thefieldof68.
— Jeff Goodman (@GoodmanHoops) August 1, 2026
McDaniel spent his first two seasons at Michigan, junior campaign at Kansas State and last year…
Dug McDaniel first emerged as a solid player during the 2022-23 season with the Michigan Wolverines, scoring 8.6 points per game. After exploding as a Sophomore for 16.3 points per game, McDaniel looked to be a star, and he transferred to Kansas State. The lone season at Kansas State was disappointing as McDaniel shot a career low from 3, averaging just 11.4 points per game.
This season, McDaniel made the move to Memphis, where he rebounded nicely for head coach Penny Hardaway. Averaging 13.9 points per game with a 32.9% mark from 3-point range, McDaniel returned to being a solid scorer, which will make him attractive to teams looking for additional guard depth.
The Ducks have a solid backcourt with unique pieces, with Fred Payne, Tyrone Riley, Jerry Easter, Jasper Johnson, and potentially Wei Lin all in the mix. Adding a player like McDaniel, who can knock down 3s at a high rate, would only help this group's upside, especially if he can return to his Michigan form.
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