All signs point towards a bounce back season for the Oregon Ducks men’s basketball program in 2026-27, as a revamped roster built through the transfer portal will look to stay above water in the Big Ten and compete for a spot in the NCAA Tournament.
Earlier this week, CBS Sports’ Jon Rothstein tabbed the Ducks as his sleeper candidate in the Big Ten. Now, he’s released his full power rankings entering the 2026-27 season, with Oregon slotting in at No. 12. They come in just behind the Iowa Hawkeyes and ahead of the Maryland Terrapins.
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Last season, eight teams in the conference made the 2026 NCAA Tournament. But with the expanded 76-team field that is expected to favor power conference teams, the Ducks very well could be on the fringe of making the tournament.
To make that happen, it’s imperative that Oregon improves upon its 5-15 conference record and 16th place finish in the Big Ten. The roster is completely different, with stars Jackson Shelstad (transfer) and Nate Bittle (NBA) having departed. Every role player outside of starting forward Sean Stewart also departed via the transfer portal.
In comes several former four-star recruits and veteran contributors that will walk into immediate roles with the Ducks under head coach Dana Altman — a proven problem-solver come March.
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Regardless of making the tournament field, a 12th place finish and living up to Rothstein’s expectations in the Big Ten would be a win for the Ducks next season.
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This article originally appeared on Ducks Wire: Ducks come in 12th in Jon Rothstein’s Big Ten Preseason Power Rankings
