10. Oregon (5-0)
While this marks the fifteenth season for Dana Altman at Oregon, the move to the Big Ten certainly makes this a very different situation. The Ducks have actually been a slight disappointment in recent years, despite the fact that they’ve won at least 20 games in all 14 of Altman’s seasons. Regardless, Oregon looks to be in slightly better shape this season though handling a slew of new league rivals is never an easy adjustment.
The first five games haven’t exactly been flawless, even if the Ducks boast an unbeaten record. They needed overtime at home against Portland last week, struggling on offense against their weakest opponent this season. Oregon then fought back from a hefty halftime deficit on Thursday night for a nice road win at rival Oregon State. They’ve had a few very strong performances on defense, but it’s all about building consistency.
Nathan Bittle has been the player to watch, averaging a double-double including a 23-point, 14-rebound effort against the Beavers on Thursday night. The 7-footer is joined in a talented lineup by Brandon Angel, TJ Bamba, and a few other transfers that Altman has lured to Eugene. As long as this rotation gels, Oregon can win games in the Big Ten, but it’s all a question on how they handle all of this season’s new challenges, especially when they haven’t exactly been lights out on offense.