Oregon Ducks crack early top 25 men's basketball rankings ahead of 2025 season
"Another new addition to the rankings, Oregon is looking to maintain success after an up-and-down season," Paul Myerberg, Jordan Mendoza, Eddie Timings and Erick Smith wrote. "Back are the top two scorers in Nate Bittle and Jackson Shelstad, who are consistent scorers. But they can't be the only ones producing, and the Ducks have to replace TJ Bamba."
"That appears to be answered in the transfer portal," they continued. "TK Simpkins led Elon in scoring last season and improved his 3-point shooting. Sean Stewart (Ohio State) also could be a breakout player as he finds a more elevated role."
Included in the rankings were six other Big Ten teams, demonstrating another year of tremendous competition in the Ducks' second year in the conference.
Oregon reached as high as No. 9 in the AP Poll a season ago after a blistering 12-1 start to the season. They cooled off once conference play began, but still put together a very respectable 12-8 record in Big Ten matchups and a 24-9 overall record prior to the NCAA Tournament.
After being named the No. 5 seed in the East Region, the Ducks took care of the 12th-seeded Liberty Falcons, defeating them by 29 points. The second round presented a tough matchup with the fourth-seeded Arizona Wildcats led by fifth-year senior Caleb Love.
Oregon was out-dueled by Love and the Wildcats, losing an 87-83 shootout.
Shelstad and Bittle showed no fear however, with the former scoring a team-high 25 points on nine of 14 shooting from the field and three of six from 3-point range. Bittle connected on seven of 13 field goals, scoring 16 points and grabbing a team-high 11 rebounds.
Both transfers in Simpkins (16.4 points per game last season) and Stewart (5.7 points, 5.8 rebounds per game) along with former Texas wing Devon Pryor, rated a four-star transfer per 247 Sports, should have a positive impact come the season.
But it will all come down to the performances of Shelstad and Bittle, who each have the abilities to lead the Ducks to a successful season and are worthy of the No. 24 ranking.
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