Oregon’s next three games of the Big Ten Conference after splitting the series with the L.A. schools have been anything but ordinary. This stretch of games showcased the highs and lows of Dana Altman’s Ducks, revealing both their potential and vulnerabilities. Starting with a historic loss at home to Illinois, rebounding with a victory against Maryland, and culminating in a hard-fought road win over Ohio State, the Ducks have navigated a turbulent introduction to life in their new conference.
Here’s how this pivotal three-game stretch unfolded—and what it means for Oregon moving forward.
Game 1: A Blowout Loss to Illinois (January 2, 2025)
The Ducks’ New Year’s debut against Illinois was a nightmare on their home floor, with the Illini dismantling Oregon 109-77 at Matthew Knight Arena. It was a historic loss, marking the most points allowed in the Dana Altman era. After a manageable 45-38 halftime deficit, Illinois completely dominated the second half, draining threes at will and exposing Oregon’s uncharacteristic defensive lapses.
Illinois’ balanced attack was led by guard/forward Tre White, who scored 20 points on a blistering 72.7% shooting from the field. Guard Kylan Boswell contributed 15 points, despite shooting a less efficient 35.7%, while guard Kasparas Jakucionis added 16 points, shooting 54.5% from the field and 66.7% (2-of-3) from three-point range. Forward Ben Humrichous torched Oregon from beyond the arc, knocking down 4-of-7 threes en route to an 18-point performance on 63.6% shooting.
Oregon struggled to keep up offensively, with Supreme Cook standing out as a rare bright spot. The forward scored 20 points on an impressive 72.7% shooting. Center Nathan Bittle chipped in 13 points but fell short of his usual production, and the Ducks’ offense lacked the cohesion that has typically been their strength this season. The loss raised major concerns, particularly about Oregon’s defense, which has been a consistent strength and where that night was clearly a one-off. Offensively, Oregon doesn’t have a consistent scorer, but they are usually at their best when their offense is cohesive, when multiple players score in double figures, and sometimes when an Oregon player steps up, has a good night, and takes over the game.
Game 2: A Rebound Against Maryland (January 5, 2025)
Three days later, the Ducks regrouped for a critical matchup against Maryland and delivered a much-needed 83-79 victory. Oregon’s offensive identity returned, with five players scoring in double figures, led by sophomore guard Jackson Shelstad. Shelstad was unstoppable, scoring 23 points on an 80% shooting performance, including a perfect 5-of-5 from beyond the arc.
Center Nathan Bittle rebounded from his underwhelming performance against Illinois, scoring 16 points on 60% shooting and hitting 2-of-5 threes. Guard Keyshawn Barthelemy added 14 points, shooting 62.5% from the field and 50% from three (2-of-4). Forward Kwame Evans and guard/forward Jadrian Tracey rounded out the double-figure scorers with 10 points apiece.
More importantly, Oregon’s defense tightened up, regaining the form that has been its hallmark for most of the season. While the Ducks still showed signs of inconsistency, their balanced offense and improved defensive effort were enough to secure a hard-fought win, easing the sting of the Illinois loss.
Game 3: Road Resilience at Ohio State (January 9, 2025)
Oregon’s second Big Ten road game and first Big Ten road game outside of the West Coast came against Ohio State in Columbus, where the Ducks showed a different kind of fight. This time, the offense relied on two standout performances, with Shelstad and Bittle leading the way to a 73-71 victory.
Shelstad continued his scorching streak, pouring in 24 points on 72.7% shooting, including an impressive 4-of-6 from three-point range (66.7%). Bittle elevated his game even further, scoring 21 points while shooting 50% from the field and from beyond the arc (4-of-8). While the rest of the team struggled offensively, Shelstad and Bittle carried the load, delivering clutch performances that secured the narrow victory.
Defensively, Oregon looked more like the team fans have come to expect under Dana Altman. They limited Ohio State’s scoring opportunities down the stretch and held their ground in a hostile environment, proving they can win gritty, low-scoring games when necessary.
What We’ve Learned About Oregon
This three-game stretch revealed the Ducks’ strengths and weaknesses. Offensively, Oregon thrives when multiple players contribute, as seen in their balanced performance against Maryland. However, their lack of a consistent go-to scorer can leave them vulnerable in high-pressure situations. Shelstad’s emergence as a star and Bittle’s steady contributions offer hope, but the Ducks need more consistent production from the rest of the roster.
Defensively, the Illinois loss was an anomaly in an otherwise solid season. The Ducks’ ability to bounce back against Maryland and Ohio State speaks to their resilience, but the team will need to maintain that defensive intensity to contend in a challenging Big Ten Conference.
For now, the Ducks sit at 3-2 in the Big Ten Conference, with the highs of Maryland, Ohio State, and USC easing the lows of the blowout loss against Illinois and the heartbreaker against UCLA. The question moving forward is whether Oregon can string together consistent performances—or whether this rollercoaster stretch will define their season.
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