Oregon’s summer trip to British Columbia has already given Dana Altman a fresh look at a roster that barely resembles last season’s group.
The Ducks opened the exhibition slate with a 121-48 rout of the University of Fraser Valley in Abbotsford, then followed that up with a 112-71 win over Trinity Western in Langley. Those two games featured different starting groups, with Altman mixing and matching as he sorts through a roster full of new arrivals.
That’s the reality for Oregon right now. Eight newcomers have arrived via the NCAA transfer portal on the 2026-27 roster, and there could still be more movement before everything settles. Altman, entering his 17th season in Eugene at age 68, is working with only three returning players from last season: senior forward Sean Stewart, walk-on redshirt freshman guard Rian Gonzales, and junior forward Luke Johnson.
The Ducks are using the trip north as part of their buildup for a season that will matter in the Big Ten, even if the level of competition makes the read a tricky one. Altman is clearly using the tour to test combinations and see what fits early.
Oregon’s final exhibition in Canada comes Tuesday, Aug. 11, against Thompson Rivers at the Collingwood Morven Campus in Vancouver, British Columbia. Tipoff is set for 4 p.m. PT.
There may still be another frontcourt piece on the board, too. Villanova forward/center Duke Brennan is considering a fifth year in college and has entered the transfer portal, trimming his options to a final five that includes a possible return to Villanova, Pennsylvania.
Brennan, a 6-10, 250-pound big man, began at Arizona State in 2022-23 before moving to Grand Canyon for the 2023-24 and 2024-25 seasons. He played for Villanova in 2025-26 and has appeared in 133 college games overall.
This past season with the Wildcats, Brennan averaged 12.4 points while shooting 65.8 percent from the field in 32 starts. He also put up 10.3 rebounds per game, including 4.1 on the offensive end.
He spent July with the Brooklyn Nets in NBA Summer League in Las Vegas.
Oregon currently has all 15 available roster spots filled, and freshman forward Kendre Harrison is set to join the program after the college football season ends. Harrison will play tight end for Dan Lanning this fall.
With the transfer portal and eligibility rules still creating uncertainty across college basketball, Oregon’s roster picture could keep shifting through August.
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Oregons case starts with the kind of continuity that poll voters tend to notice this time of year. Dante Moore is back at quarterback, the Ducks bring back key receivers and most of their defensive starters, and the foundation from last season is still intact. The wrinkle is on the sidelines, where Oregon will have new coordinators after coaching departures, leaving the Ducks with plenty of proven talent and just enough uncertainty to keep the top of the rankings interesting. [Read more 🡒]
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For Thomas, the situation also carries a longer view. He has the kind of profile that could eventually make a starting job elsewhere tempting if the path stays crowded in Eugene, but for now he is focused on helping the Ducks in whatever role they need. That kind of internal competition says plenty about Oregons ceiling, because it suggests the staff is trying to balance immediate production with future upside at the most important position on the field. [Read more 🡒]
Markus Dixon Returns To Oregon With One Big Role To Prove
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What makes Dixon worth watching is how much remains unsettled about his fit. Oregon brought him in to help the tight end group, but his exact assignment is still being determined as camp unfolds, leaving him with a clear chance to carve out something bigger than a reserve role if he can quickly show the staff where he belongs. [Read more 🡒]