Through their first two games, the Oregon Ducks are 2-0 as they embark upon the 2025-26 season, both coming at Matthew Knight Arena. But anyone who’s watched has seen a team in disarray with immense turnover issues, a lack of three-point shooting and a concerning inability to put away inferior teams.
The first game, against the Hawaii Rainbow Warriors, was in jeopardy all the way down to the final seconds before transfer guard Takai Simpkins forced in the eventual game-winning layup. The Ducks committed 21 turnovers and converted on just two of 16 attempts from beyond the arc. It was ugly, to say the least — yet it also came without star point guard Jackson Shelstad, a third-team All-Big Ten selection last season as a sophomore. He was nursing a broken hand that caused him to miss the opener.
Shelstad has been the conductor of the offense for a majority of his first two seasons in Eugene and assumed that role once again for Oregon’s second game against Rice.
Though he provided more steadiness, as the Ducks turned the ball over just 12 times, Oregon narrowly came away with a 67-63 win over an Owls squad that was expected to lose by double digits, per betting lines. Center Nate Bittle, having been unlocked with the presence of Shelstad’s passing, scored a game-high 25 points while grabbing eight rebounds and blocking six shots.
As it stands, the Ducks have taken care of business with two wins, despite it coming in ugly, sloppy fashion. It was enough for them to receive votes in the latest USA Today Coaches Poll, released on Monday.
Oregon received 26 votes from the coaches, right behind Vanderbilt as the other top vote-getter. That would put them at No. 27, right outside of being recognized as a ranked team. There are currently six teams in the Big Ten that are ranked: Wisconsin (21), Michigan State (17), UCLA (15), Illinois (14), Michigan (5) and Purdue (1).
The Ducks are knocking on the door and could put themselves over the top with a convincing victory on Wednesday over South Dakota State, which will be played at 6:30 p.m. PST at Matthew Knight Arena. But if they eke out another close victory in a performance plagued by sloppiness, don’t be surprised if they’re on the outside looking in when the next coaches poll is released on Nov. 17.
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This article originally appeared on Ducks Wire: Oregon Ducks MBB receive votes in latest USA Today Coaches Poll
