Dana Altman’s first look at his rebuilt Oregon team came with a scoreline that told the whole story. The Ducks opened their Canada exhibition trip on Saturday with a 121-40 rout of the University of Fraser Valley Cascades, and even with the level of competition considered, there was plenty for Altman to sort through after a busy offseason.
One of the most interesting details came before the game even settled in: Oregon’s starting five didn’t match the group many had expected. Fred Payne, Tyrone Riley IV, Dwayne Aristode, Luke Johnson, and Sean Stewart got the nod to begin, while Taylor Bol Bowen and Jasper Johnson, both widely viewed as likely starters, were not in that opening group. That alone suggests Altman may have more flexibility with this roster than the preseason assumptions indicated.
The Ducks also took the floor without Malique Ewin. That wasn’t a surprise given how recently he joined the program, but it was still notable.
Ewin was one of the bigger names to gain another season through the NCAA’s latest eligibility ruling, and Altman moved quickly to bring him in on August 3rd. He simply wasn’t part of the debut rotation.
If there was a clear individual standout, it was Andrew Meadow. The Boise State transfer came off the bench and did damage immediately, finishing with 24 points in just 17 minutes.
He shot 9-12 from the field and 2-3 from 3-point range, a performance that made a strong case for an expanded role. At minimum, he looks like someone who can stretch the floor and give Oregon a reliable scoring punch.
What stood out beyond Meadow’s big night was how many Ducks contributed. Twelve of the 13 players who saw the court scored, and seven players reached double figures.
That kind of balance matters for a team that doesn’t have an obvious headliner carrying everything. On this roster, the offense looks built to come from a lot of places.
The most watched debut belonged to Tajh Ariza, the highly touted freshman and top 40 recruit. He finished with 5 points on 2-7 shooting, along with 7 rebounds, 3 assists, a block, and a steal in 19 minutes.
The shot wasn’t falling, but the rest of the line showed why he’s such a buzzed-about addition. Even on an off shooting night, he found ways to affect the game.
For Oregon, the first exhibition offered more than just a blowout. It gave Altman his first real look at how the pieces fit, and at least early on, there’s already evidence this group can score in waves.
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