The Oregon Ducks men’s basketball team is in a state of crisis as they prepare to host the No. 24 USC Trojans in a pivotal Big Ten conference opener at Matthew Knight Arena. Oregon’s season has spiraled following an 0-3 trip to the Players Era Festival in Las Vegas, leaving head coach Dana Altman to shoulder the blame for a disjointed squad. ‘We’re a poorly coached team,’ Altman stated bluntly. ‘This is all on me. Our parts are better than what we’re playing right now.’ The Ducks, now 4-3, are one of the worst shooting teams in the country, struggle defensively, and are prone to turnovers, leading to a program-low NET ranking of 192.
Meanwhile, the USC basketball program is soaring under Eric Musselman, arriving in Eugene with a perfect 7-0 record and the Southwest Maui Invitational title. The Trojans’ rebuilt roster, a potent mix of portal veterans and elite freshmen, is averaging a blistering 91.9 points per game. The catalyst for their hot start has been graduate transfer forward Chad Baker-Mazara, the Maui Invitational MVP. The Dominican-born star, who helped Auburn reach the Final Four last season, is averaging 20.3 points and 5.4 rebounds for USC, having already set new career scoring highs twice this season. His 23-point performance was key in USC’s recent tournament victory.
Oregon’s task is made monumentally harder by the absence of senior center Nate Bittle, who will miss his second straight game with an ankle injury suffered against San Diego State. Guard Devon Pryor (groin) is also questionable. The Ducks’ core of Jackson Shelstad, Kwame Evans Jr., and Bittle has yet to click simultaneously, and the supporting cast of Takai Simpkins, Pryor, Dez Lindsay, and Wei Lin has struggled to find consistency. ‘We got to have other guys step up and we’ve got to get them comfortable with their role,’ Altman said, acknowledging the team’s lack of defined roles and practice time due to injuries.
For USC, Baker-Mazara headlines a formidable starting five that includes interior forces Ezra Ausar and shot-blocker Jacob Cofie. The Trojans’ high-powered offense will test an Oregon defense that Altman says lacks communication, paint protection, and attention to detail. Despite the Ducks’ current woes, they hold a five-game winning streak over USC, a historical advantage they will desperately need to tap into to halt their slide. This game sets the immediate tone for both programs in their new conference and serves as a critical inflection point for an Oregon team searching for an identity. A trip to UCLA follows on Saturday, with a non-conference showdown against Gonzaga looming later in December, making this a crucial month for the Ducks to find answers.