Oregon Basketball: Key takeaways from the 2019 Battle 4 Atlantis

Oregon basketball might have just finished the most impressive 1-2 week in college hoops. What did we learn about the Ducks at the Battle 4 Atlantis?

Oregon basketball competed in arguably the nation’s best non-conference tournament in the country during this past week at the Battle 4 Atlantis. Over the course of their time in the Bahamas, the Ducks wound up playing in the three best and most competitive games of the event. In the opener, Oregon made an impressive comeback to defeat Seton Hall after trailing by as many as 19 points. The team then followed that up with disappointing losses to Gonzaga and North Carolina, albeit by a combined five points.

On the surface, Oregon’s 1-2 record this week doesn’t look all that great. Diving a bit deeper, though, the Ducks played far better than the results indicate. Oregon essentially went toe-to-toe with three of the best teams in the country while proving that they also belong in the national top-15. Considering their nearly impossible road at the event, their effort in the third-place game against UNC absolutely needs to be commended. They were essentially playing on dead legs in that contest after two hard-fought battles previously but still managed to push the Tar Heels to their limit.

Oregon now holds a 6-2 record to begin the season with wins over Houston, Memphis, and Seton Hall. Their lone losses have come to top-10 teams in Gonzaga and North Carolina. It is clear that head coach Dana Altman’s squad has faced a gauntlet to begin the year and they have come out looking like a very strong team. Perhaps their only major weakness is at the center spot and a five-star recruit is expected to join the rotation very soon to fill that spot.

With the Battle 4 Atlantis Tournament now complete, let’s dive a bit deeper into Oregon’s play at the event. Here were my biggest takeaways regarding the Ducks in the Bahamas.