Oregon’s season opener under Tony Stubblefield gave the Ducks a win, but it also handed out an early snapshot of what this team can be - and what still needs work.
The Ducks were supposed to handle Montana on Monday night, and they did enough to get the job done. Still, the Grizzlies kept things uncomfortable at times, forcing Oregon to answer a few different tests before walking away with the victory. That makes the opener a useful starting point, even if it doesn’t settle much.
One of the clearest positives was how balanced the offense looked. Oregon didn’t lean on one player to carry the scoring load, and that kind of spread-out production can make life miserable for opposing defenses. Taylor Bol Bowen was the only starter who didn’t reach double figures, but the Ducks still had five players finish with 10 points or more, including Wei Lin, who added 10 off the bench.
The shot selection was another encouraging sign. Oregon spent plenty of the night carving up Montana with lobs, ball movement and easy looks at the rim.
The Ducks piled up 54 points in the paint and shot 60% from the field, while Montana managed just 38%. That kind of efficiency won’t come this easily every night, but the Ducks clearly looked intent on finding high-percentage shots.
There was also something to note in the way Oregon responded after timeouts. Montana had stretches where it started to build momentum, but when Stubblefield had a chance to reset his team, the Ducks came out of the break looking sharp and in control. Against stronger opponents, those moments will matter even more, but on Monday, Oregon handled those adjustments well.
The concerns are just as easy to spot.
For one, Oregon didn’t show much interest in the three-point shot. In a game that featured a lot of work inside, the Ducks attempted only 11 threes, which stood out in a modern game where perimeter shooting usually shapes everything. Oregon made 45% of those attempts, so there’s reason to believe the Ducks could make that part of the offense more central going forward.
The perimeter defense needs attention too. Montana stayed in the game by getting hot from deep, opening with four straight made threes and finishing 13-for-30 from beyond the arc.
Some of those looks were wide open, and Stubblefield said after the game that he wished the team defended the perimeter better. That issue is going to get more attention as the schedule toughens.
Then there was the free throw line, where Oregon left points behind. The Ducks finished just 12-for-19, a 63% clip that won’t hold up when the competition gets sharper. It wasn’t just one segment of the roster missing; the struggles were spread around, and the staff will need to clean that up in practice.
So Oregon opened the Stubblefield era with a win and a few encouraging signs, but the first game also made the next steps pretty clear. The Ducks can score in bunches, move the ball and adjust well in-game. They also need to shoot better from deep, defend the arc more consistently and take advantage at the line.
In Other News...
Na'eem Offord Gets His Biggest Oregon Test Yet Against Ohio State
After the win over Northwestern, Oregons attention turns quickly to a far bigger measuring stick: an 11th-ranked Ohio State team that will bring plenty of national attention and a familiar storyline with it. Cornerback Na'eem Offord sits right at the center of it, not just because of the matchup, but because he was once an Ohio State recruit before flipping to Oregon and becoming one of the more interesting figures on this weeks radar.
For Ducks fans, it adds another layer to a game that already carries weight. Offord now gets a chance to show what he can do against the program that once wanted him, and hell be doing it against an Ohio State offense that is missing key players. However the matchup plays out, it gives Oregon one of its most intriguing individual tests of the season and a spotlight moment for a defender whose path to Eugene already made him a talking point. [Read more 🡒]
Bucky Irving Just Gave Oregon Fans Another Reason To Dream
Bucky Irving keeps giving Oregon fans plenty to track on Sundays, and his latest outing was the kind that turns heads far beyond Tampa Bay. In a 16-0 win over the Atlanta Falcons, the former Ducks standout carried the offense in a way that felt almost old-school, piling up career highs with 27 carries and 170 rushing yards while finding the end zone once.
The Buccaneers also made franchise history with 323 rushing yards, and they did it in a game where they did not complete a pass, a rare feat in the Super Bowl era. For Irving, it was another sign that his rookie-to-second-year surge is real, with his season now on pace to be his best yet as he continues to build a reputation as one of the leagues most reliable young backs. [Read more 🡒]
Oregon Heads Into Ohio State With A Worry Fans Cant Ignore
Oregon got past Northwestern, but the win came with the kind of injury fallout that can linger into a much bigger week. The Ducks took hits at running back and on special teams, with Jordon Davison leaving with a leg injury, Dierre Hill Jr. getting banged up and returner Dakorien Moore also dealing with an issue as the team turned its attention to Ohio State.
Dan Lanning said Davison will need further evaluation, while Hill is still being described as a little banged up. Moore, though, is expected to be ready for the Buckeyes, and Jeremiah McClellan is back practicing as he works his way back from a broken foot. Even with some encouraging signs, Oregons depth is about to be tested in a game where every healthy body matters. [Read more 🡒]