Oregon men’s basketball senior center Nate Bittle granted fifth season of eligibility

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Oregon center Nate Bittle dunks the ball in the Ducks’ Feb. 11 home game against Northwestern. Bittle was recently granted an additional year of eligibility after playing just five games last season due to illness and injury.

Nate Bittle’s time at Oregon could last one more season — if the big man wants to stay.

Ducks men’s basketball coach Dana Altman said Friday that the senior center has been granted a fifth season of eligibility by the NCAA to make up for his 2023-24 season when he played just five games due to injury and illness.

The 7-footer from Central Point and former 5-star recruit who joined the Ducks in 2021-22 is leading the team in scoring and rebounding with per-game averages of 13.3 points and 7.1 rebounds heading into Oregon’s 1 p.m. contest on Saturday against Southern California at Matthew Knight Arena. He also ranks second in the Big Ten Conference with 58 blocks and an average of 2.07 per game.

Bittle has been a key reason why the Ducks (20-8, 9-8 Big Ten) have won four straight. Two of his five double-doubles have come in the past three games and he’s averaging 22 points, 8.0 rebounds and 3.0 blocks in the last two games, including a career-high 23-point performance in Oregon’s last game — an overtime win against then-No. 11 Wisconsin on Feb. 22.

Bittle, 21, could potentially enter the NBA Draft when the season ends. But the door is wide open for him to return to Oregon.

“I hope he wants to come back,” Altman said. “I want guys who want to be here so I sure hope Nathan wants to come back. He’s a big part of our program. … Our staff wants him back, that’s for sure. He’s been great to work with and we’ve been through some ups and downs together with injuries and sickness to just get him stronger. He’s been someone we’ve really relied on this year.”

Altman said the Ducks have also requested a waiver for sophomore forward Mookie Cook, who was limited to five games as a freshman last season due to injury, but no decision by the…

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Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/article/oregon-mens-basketball-senior-center-011919401.html

Author : The Register-Guard

Publish date : 2025-03-01 01:19:00

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