College basketball season is here, and Oregon is set to open things Monday night against Montana with a new face in charge. Tony Stubblefield takes over after Dana Altman’s surprise retirement, and the Ducks begin the season hoping to make a run to the expanded NCAA Tournament.
The timing of the change adds another layer to a roster that already looks very different. Oregon is coming off the worst season of the Dana Altman era, and Altman spent time reshaping the group before stepping away. The result is a transfer-heavy roster that will need time to come together, with Stubblefield and his staff tasked with pulling the most out of a team built on upside.
Here’s how Oregon’s starting five could look when the Ducks tip off the season.
Tyrone Riley IV looks like the kind of scorer Oregon went into the portal to find. He posted 12.2 points, 4.8 rebounds and 1.2 assists per game while shooting 47.2% from the field and 36.8% from 3-point range.
Riley’s numbers don’t jump off the page, but there were stretches when he took over games and simply couldn’t miss. The jump to the Big Ten will be a major test, but his ability to get to the basket should translate.
Jasper Johnson brings a different kind of intrigue. After arriving at Kentucky as one of the most sought-after players in the country, he heads to Eugene after an uneven season.
His line last season was 4.9 points, 1.1 rebounds and 1.6 assists per game, with shooting splits of 40% from the field and 34.1% from deep. Johnson has the most raw talent on the roster, and if Oregon can unlock him, it could change the shape of the offense.
The 3-point shot is the big swing skill here.
Andrew Meadow has already worked his way into the mix. Oregon added the Boise State forward this offseason, and though he opened exhibition play on the bench, he has played his way into a starting role.
Meadow scored 24 points off the bench against the University of Fraser Valley Cascades and has made it clear he can be a major piece. He averaged 12.1 points, 3.6 rebounds and 1.0 assists while shooting 51% overall and 38.6% from 3.
At 6-foot-7, he also gives the Ducks a useful defensive presence.
Dwayne Aristode is another high-upside piece in the frontcourt. The former five-star recruit started at Arizona and now gets a fresh chance with Oregon, where extended minutes could help him finally show what he can do.
He averaged 3.8 points, 1.7 rebounds and 0.7 assists per game while shooting 49% from the field and 46.2% from 3. At 6-foot-8, he gives the Ducks size and athleticism that should fit better in Big Ten play.
Sean Stewart appears likely to round out the front line. He is one of the few returning players on the roster and should open the season as a starter.
Malique Ewin was just ruled eligible ahead of the final exhibition game, so the staff is expected to bring him along before putting him in the starting lineup. Stewart averaged 6.5 points, 5.2 rebounds and 1.2 assists while shooting 50.9% from the field, and a step forward from him would matter as Oregon leans heavily on perimeter shooting this season.
All five have the talent to start in this league, and the Ducks may end up proving that as the season unfolds.
In Other News...
Oregons Win Brought Back Chip Kelly And A New Offensive Concern
Oregons comeback win over Northwestern at Autzen carried a little extra edge because Chip Kelly was back on the sideline, this time as the Wildcats offensive coordinator and not the coach who once helped define the Ducks modern identity. After Oregon pulled out the 34-26 victory, Kelly spent time postgame with Dan Lanning and Dante Moore, a reminder of how much history still hangs around these matchups even when the uniforms have changed.
The bigger concern for Oregon may have been what happened on the field, where running back Jordon Davison left with a leg injury and is expected to have his status updated soon. In a game the Ducks had to climb back into, any injury in the backfield adds another layer of uncertainty as they move deeper into the season, especially with the offense still trying to settle in after a physical opener. [Read more 🡒]
Oregon Just Landed A Surprising New Name In Its OC Search
Florida States decision to fire Mike Norvell after the loss to Clemson has already sent ripples through the coaching carousel, and it comes at a moment when Oregon is trying to steady its own offensive staff. The Ducks recently moved on from offensive coordinator Drew Mehringer, leaving Dan Lanning with a major hire to make as the program continues to chase stability and continuity on that side of the ball.
Norvells name has now surfaced in the discussion around Oregons opening, largely because of his previous working relationship with Lanning. It is still only speculation, but it adds an unexpected wrinkle to a search that figures to draw plenty of attention, especially if Oregon wants an experienced voice with ties to its head coach rather than a more conventional outside candidate. [Read more 🡒]
Arizona Suddenly Has A Real AP Poll Problem
The latest AP Poll is headed for a shakeup after USC, still unranked, stunned No. 2 Ohio State and sent ripples through the top of the rankings. Oregon and Iowa, both of whom had fallen out of the poll, also took care of business in their recent games, putting themselves back in the conversation as voters sort through a weekend that featured wins from Georgia and Texas Tech along with a handful of losses elsewhere.
For Oregon, the timing matters. A strong response after dropping out of the rankings can quickly change the tone around a team in a crowded Big Ten race, and the Ducks now have a realistic path back into the poll when the new rankings are released. With so many results moving in different directions, the bigger question is how far the reshuffle goes and which teams get caught in the middle of it. [Read more 🡒]