Dana Altman Talks Surging Ducks On 750 The Game
750 The Game Staff
Three games remain for Oregon men’s basketball in the regular season and the Ducks seem to be hitting their stride at the right time.
Coming off last week’s dramatic overtime comeback victory at No. 11 Wisconsin, Oregon has won four straight. They host USC on Saturday at 1 p.m. at Matthew Knight Arena before hosting Indiana the following Tuesday and concluding regular season play Sat. March 8th at Washington.
Ducks head coach Dana Altman joined John Canzano (Afternoons 3-6 p.m. on 750 The Game) on Friday and said he was proud of his team’s effort in the comeback in Madison.
“I was really happy for them, John,” Altman said on 750 The Game. “They really played well. Didn’t give into it. We had plenty of opportunities to fold. Guys showed some toughness. Made big stops on the defensive end. Hit some big shots on the offensive end. Traditionally it’s a tough place to play, and this year it’s been really tough.”
Altman received good news earlier in the day with the NCAA approving another year of eligibility for star big man Nate Bittle. Bittle was limited to playing in just five games last season due to injury and illness.
“I think that Nate really has fought through adversity,” Altman said. “He came in, he wasn’t strong enough to battle inside, and as he got stronger, he was ready to go last year, he was going to have a phenomenal year for us last year. Really got himself ready. And then he broke his wrist three games into the season and missed the year which was really disappointing for him and disappointing for us.
“To get him back this year and have him perform the way he’s performed. He’s leading the league in blocked shots. He’s changed twice as many as he’s blocked. Just guys looking for him and him extending and using his length to change shots. He’s scoring baskets when he gets inside and uses that jump hook at seven foot, long reach, he’s hard to stop. He’s worked on his body, he’s put on fifteen to twenty pounds. He’s really been a dominant player this year. And we’ve been a much better team when he’s going.”
Altman says the team will feed off a strong home atmosphere at Matthew Knight Arena for the next two home games with USC and Indiana.
“I think the team has played really hard, I hope our fans acknowledge that,” Altman said. “It sure would be nice to have a big crowd. We’re going to need the energy.”
Listen to the full conversation with Dana Altman including his comments on his hometown of Wilber, Nebraska, the value of coaching and developing out of JUCO players, his pride in Payton Pritchard’s NBA ascent, and his favorite competitors while coaching at Oregon.
John Canzano delivers the Bald Faced Truth afternoons 3-6 p.m. exclusively in Portland on 750 The Game.