Oregon Ducks Positioned for Big Ten Bounce Back in Preseason Rankings
AI-generated image · US National Wire
A revamped roster and an expanded NCAA Tournament field provide a path for Oregon to climb from its previous 16th-place conference finish.
The Oregon Ducks men's basketball program is preparing for the 2026-27 season with a roster overhaul designed to improve its standing within the Big Ten. According to reporting from Ducks Wire, the program is looking to recover from a previous campaign where it finished 16th in the conference with a 5-15 record.
In preseason power rankings released by CBS Sports' Jon Rothstein, the Ducks are slotted at No. 12. Rothstein previously identified Oregon as his sleeper candidate for the Big Ten. In the current rankings, the Ducks sit behind the Iowa Hawkeyes and ahead of the Maryland Terrapins, as reported by Ducks Wire.
Head coach Dana Altman will lead a significantly altered squad. Ducks Wire reports that the team has seen the departure of Nate Bittle to the NBA and transfer Jackson Shelstad. Additionally, every role player on the team has departed through the transfer portal, leaving starting forward Sean Stewart as the sole remaining piece. To fill these gaps, Altman has integrated veteran contributors and several former four-star recruits into the lineup.
The competitive landscape is further influenced by changes to the postseason. While eight Big Ten teams reached the 2026 NCAA Tournament, Ducks Wire notes that the tournament field is expected to expand to 76 teams. This expansion is anticipated to benefit power conference teams, potentially placing the Ducks on the fringe of tournament eligibility.
For the Ducks, achieving a 12th-place finish and meeting the expectations set by Rothstein would be considered a successful outcome for the upcoming season, as reported by Ducks Wire.