Oregon men’s basketball leaps to No. 12 in latest AP Top 25

Published 11:10 am Monday, December 2, 2024

The Oregon Ducks men’s basketball team made a massive leap into the Associated Press’ Top 25, going from unranked to No. 12 in the latest poll release Monday, Dec. 2. 

Oregon put the men’s college basketball world on notice with its performance at the Players Era Festival tournament over Thanksgiving week, winning the tournament outright with wins over then-ranked No. 20 Texas A&M and No. 9 Alabama as well as San Diego State. 

After dealing with injuries and sharing minutes with N’Faly Dante in 2023-24, center Nate Bittle has come into his own this season. The senior is nearly averaging a double-double, with 14.6 points and 9.4 rebounds per-game. Villanova transfer guard TJ Bamba has also been an immediate impact for the Ducks, averaging 13 points per game, while point guard Jackson Shelstad has averaged nearly four assists and 9.8 points per outing. 

The 8-0 start to the season by the Ducks is the second-best start by an Oregon team in head coach Dana Altman’s 15-year tenure. The 2013-14 season still holds the best start under Altman, when his Ducks began the season 13-0 before their first lost. 

According to Sports-Reference.com, Oregon’s debut at No. 12 is the highest the Ducks have ever risen through the AP poll after not being ranked amongst the Top 25 in the preseason. The 1975-76 season was the previous record holder, where the Ducks first checked in at No. 17 in the week 14 issue of the poll.

A five-game roadtrip for the Ducks comes to an end with a trip to Los Angeles to take on USC. Tipoff against the Trojans is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 4.