NATE BITTLE, COMMIT OREGON’S NATE BITTLE, COMMIT

Jackson Shelstad Embrace Head

Jackson Shelstad Embrace Head

COACH DANA ALTMAN’S CHALLENGES

COACH DANA ALTMAN’S CHALLENGES

Oregon commit Jackson Shelstad and forward Nate Bittle expressed their willingness to lead a more hard-working group next season, and teased the potential of Bronny coming to Eugene; and what that would mean for the program.

BY AARON HEISEN

him during his 13-year (and ongoing) stint at Oregon because they’ve worked hard and been able to knock down 3-pointers. It’s certainly what he’s known for preaching across the state of Oregon. Shelstad and Bittle are aware of that.

They grew up idolizing stars who embodied it; guys such as Dillon Brooks, Tyler Dorsey, E.J. Singler and Payton Pritchard made a name off hard work and an ability to shoot.

though, a lot of things became clear; a number of which he hopes to change.

“Guys weren’t holding guys accountable this last year. I think we need to do a better job of that; guys weren’t in the gym enough,” he said. “I’m going to try to do a better job of holding myself accountable this year and show these young guys how to get in the gym.”

But will it really be as easy as getting in the gym to turn this thing around? And should it fall on an incoming freshman in Shelstad to set that example?

It might just have to.

A new face at the helm means a new message and, hopefully, for Oregon’s sake, a new buy-in.

The last few times we’ve heard from Dana Altman, he’s shared his sorrows and issued a number of challenges.

The most recent one being Oregon fans. Before that, regarding himself and his coaching staff’s necessity to improve. And about a month ago, directed rather pointedly at his players.

Thankfully for him, a few of them who have secured their place on the 2023-24 roster have responded to those concerns.

At the Nike Hoops Summit scrimmage on Friday, Oregon natives, forward Nate Bittle and 2023 commit Jackson Shelstad, addressed how they want to be part of the program turnaround following consecutive seasons in which the Ducks missed the NCAA Tournament.

They’re in sync with Altman on what went wrong this past year and what has to be accomplished in order to rebuild.

First, there was the lack of work ethic.

“The guys that choose to return, they’re going to have to make some decisions on how much time they want to spend in the gym,” Altman said after Oregon’s 75-56 loss to UCLA in the Pac-12 Tournament.

Then, there was the inability to shoot from three.

“If you’re shooting under 33%, you either gotta be really selective, or not shoot at all,” he said.

Boy, does he love his numbers.

But, there’s something to be said for Altman’s eccentric values. Many have succeeded under

“I’m just going to come in and bring a competitive spirit,” Shelstad said on Friday. “I like to be in the gym. I’m a gym rat. I’m going to try to get everyone in the gym. I mean that’s what Dana loves. Dana loves hard working dudes; so I’m excited to get up there and turn things around a little bit.”

Bittle added: “I’m really excited to get in the gym and work with him.”

In a year where injuries displaced consistency, the Ducks’ lacked connective tissue. There was nobody who set an example; nobody in the gym early, setting a standard and forcing others to meet it. As a freshman, Shelstad’s ready to provide that.

As for Bittle, he sat to Altman’s right in Las Vegas as the head coach called out his players, not batting an eye.

He’s been a reluctant sponge to this process. He came to Oregon as the No. 11 recruit in the 2021 class, according to ESPN’s top 100, and sat on the bench for the majority of his freshman year. He got his taste at an opportunity this past season and showed the positive side of that during the Ducks’ National Invitation Tournament run where he averaged 15 points and 7.7 rebounds over three games, while shooting 50% from three on 3.3 attempts per game.

It wasn’t exactly the plan to have the top recruit from that 2021 class brought along slowly, but here we are. During that time he sat on the bench,

One thing is for sure: Having three of the top kids being from Oregon — when you include commit Mookie Cook — they know what the standard is from watching it over the past decadeplus, and they have an added incentive to not let Oregon fail.

What comes from that regards Altman’s most recent quarrel.

“I think with three home Oregon kids, the crowd should be there,” Bittle said on Friday. “Hopefully people will come out next year and support us.”

Both Shelstad and Bittle know how that hope is solidified.

They teased it on Friday, when they were asked the looming question regarding LeBron “Bronny” James Jr.’s recruiting decision.

“I just think [Bronny] would fit really good with our recruiting class and the way that Dana likes to play at Oregon,” Shelstad said. “I think we have a lot of unselfish players. Oregon needs more shooters, and he can shoot the ball really well. I mean he would just help us out a lot.”

“Walking around campus, I get questions like, ‘Do you know him,’” Bittle said. “I see signs at our games: ‘Eugene wants Bronny.’”

They all know it would bring a circus. And, Altman’s not one for circuses. Shelstad confirmed it would be more than that: a good basketball fit; and Bronny’s a great teammate, he said.

So whether Altman likes it or not, maybe a circus is just what Oregon needs to fulfill his most recent grievance.

All candidates must be The Duck Store Members enrolled in the academic year of the position as of Spring Term 2023. Nominations are accepted during the Annual Meeting or by emailing elections@uoduckstore.com prior to the annual meeting.

April 18 April 20

On April 18, Natalia Molina an American Studies and Ethnicity professor from the University of Southern California will speak at the Ford Alumni Center, Giustina Ballroom in part of Oregon Humanities Center Belonging series “A Place in the Narrative: Telling Underdocumented Stories.” This conversation is based on searching for one’s identity while living and working in a new place. Molina will speak about her own identity as a Mexican-American growing up in Los Angeles and retelling the stories of her grandmother feeding Mexican workers longing for their place of origin. Molina will deliver her talk between 5:30–6:30 p.m. and it will be livestreamed as well.

On April 20, the Holden Center (EMU 047) will be hosting its first Social Justice workshop series called “Intersection of Identity and Leadership.” In this workshop, participants will learn why social justice is important, how one may experience it and the ways to adopt new social justice practices. The session is also a chance for people to gain new leadership skills. The workshop series continues with four more sessions every Thursday between 4:00–5:30 p.m

April 27 April 24

On April 24, the McDonald Theatre is hosting Tennis, an indie pop group from Denver, Colorado. The group members are Alaina Moore and Patrick Riley and they will be performing songs from their latest album Pollen which was released on February 10. Song recommendations from this album include “Gibraltar”— a soothing song with nice guitar solos and faded vocal tracks, “Pollen Song”— a poetic song about being allergic to pollen or “Let’s Make a Mistake Tonight”— a modern glam rock song of fooling around at night. The venue opens its door at 7 p.m. and the show starts at 8 p.m. The concert is $25 for general admission and $35 for lower balcony seating for individuals 21 and up.

On April 27, the William W. Knight Law Center is hosting an event called “Reforming Police for Racial Equality: Lessons from the Civil Rights Era” featuring Andrew McCall, an assistant professor of political science at Columbia University. McCall will discuss the solutions since the mid-20th century of community–police interactions. Micall discussion will take participants back to the origins of police violence in the United States and the reforms that have been made up to the present. The event is located in room 100 in the William W. Knight Law Center between 12–1:45 p.m. The event will be livestreamed as well. The event is part of the Wayne Morse Center’s Public Affairs Speaker Series.