University of Oregon Ducks Men's Basketball: A Legacy of Excellence
The University of Oregon Ducks men's basketball team boasts a rich history filled with landmark achievements, legendary coaches, and unforgettable players. As a member of the Big Ten Conference, the Ducks compete in NCAA Division I, showcasing their talent at Matthew Knight Arena, a state-of-the-art facility with a seating capacity of 12,364. From their historic NCAA Championship victory in 1939 to their recent resurgence under head coach Dana Altman, the Ducks have consistently captivated fans with their exciting brand of basketball.
Early Years and the "Tall Firs" Era
The University of Oregon men's basketball team played its first season in 1902-03 with Charles Burden as the head coach. Only two games were played that season, both against Corvallis State Agricultural College, now known as Oregon State. Oregon lost both games, losing the first one 32-2 on the road, and the second one 24-22 at home. Oregon did not record a win until its fourth season in 1907 against Roseburg.
The program's trajectory shifted dramatically in 1935 with the arrival of Howard Hobson, an alumnus of the university, as head coach, following Reinhart's departure. Hobson's innovative strategies, including a fast-break offense and unorthodox hybrid defense, set the Ducks apart from their contemporaries. His ideas were considered cutting edge during his years at Oregon and he was well ahead of his time. He ran a fast break offense little used by anyone else in the country at the time and his defenses were an unorthodox hybrid defense.
Hobson's leadership culminated in the 1939 NCAA Championship, where the "Tall Firs," as they were known, defeated Ohio State to claim the title. In 1939, the Oregon Ducks became the first team to win the NCAA Basketball Championship. The season started with a long trip to the east coast for a series of games, ending with a loss to Stanford back west in San Francisco. The Ducks went 6-3 during that trip but gained valuable experience for the remainder of the season. Oregon went 14-2 to claim the North Division title in the Pacific Coast Conference, which set off a best-of-three playoff against the California Golden Bears. The Ducks returned to San Francisco for the NCAA regional series where they defeated the Texas Longhorns in the first game 56-41 then the Oklahoma Sooners 55-37. The Ohio State Buckeyes had defeated Wake Forest and Villanova in their regional series to earn their right in the championship game. On March 27, Oregon and Ohio State squared off to claim the national title.
The Post-Hobson Era: Navigating Ups and Downs
The six decades following the Tall Firs consisted of an eclectic mix of up and down years, with more down than up. From Hobson's departure in 1947 until 1970, Oregon made only two NCAA Tournament appearances, in 1960 and 1961 under head coach Steve Belko. Those were the days when only one team per conference (usually the conference champion) was guaranteed a bid to the NCAA Tournament. One of Belko's stars was Stan Love, a gifted shooter and rebounder, who led the Pac-8 in scoring for two straight seasons. He is the father of current NBA star Kevin Love. In 1971, head coach Dick Harter arrived at Oregon and achieved some consistency with the program.
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The "Kamikaze Kids" and the Ernie Kent Era
Harter's teams were dubbed the Kamikaze Kids and featured hard play, diving for loose balls, and swarming defense. They were also credited for inspiring the intimidating atmosphere at McArthur Court. While they never earned any conference titles due to UCLA's dominance of the Pac-8 (their best finish was second in 1976-77), they were not without accomplishments. Harter's only losing season in Oregon was his first. In 1997, Ernie Kent was hired to fill the vacancy at head coach left by Jerry Green. Kent had been one of Harter's Kamikaze Kids, and his teams were known for a similarly up-tempo style of play. In his third season as head coach, he took the Ducks back to the NCAA tournament where they fell in the first round. Oregon made a Final Four appearance in the NIT in 2004 but otherwise made little impact until 2007.
Kent's tenure saw a resurgence in the program's success, highlighted by the 2007 Pac-10 Tournament victory and a subsequent Elite Eight appearance in the NCAA Tournament. Oregon swept its 12 intersectional games to start 2007 and upset #1 ranked UCLA in the third Pac-10 game. The Ducks finished the regular season with a 23-7 record and defeated Arizona, California, and USC to win the 2007 Pac-10 Tournament. The Ducks earned a #3 seed in the NCAA tournament and advanced to the Elite Eight by defeating Miami (Ohio) 58-56, Winthrop 75-61 and University of Nevada, Las Vegas 76-72. Oregon was considered the favorite to land Class of 2007 high school stars Kevin Love and Kyle Singler, widely considered to be the greatest high school players to ever come out of Oregon. The Ducks were selected as a No. 9 seed in the 2008 NCAA tournament in the Southern Region. They lost to No.
The Dana Altman Era: A New Standard of Excellence
In April 2010, Dana Altman from Creighton University was hired to replace Ernie Kent after a monthlong search. On March 15, 2010, the university announced that the decision had been made to fire Ernie Kent as a result of poor performance in the previous two seasons, placing 9th and 10th in conference in the respective years. Altman led the Ducks to a CBI championship in his first year at Oregon and led the Ducks to the Sweet 16 during the 2012-13 season. Altman led the Ducks back to the NCAA Tournament in the 2013-14 season where they defeated BYU but fell to Wisconsin in the round of 32. It was their 12th NCAA tournament appearance and was the first time Oregon won tournament games in back to back seasons in program history. In 2014-15, Altman won his 2nd Pac-12 Coach of the Year in three seasons, as he had won the award in 2013. Altman also broke another school record as he became the first coach in Oregon history to go to three consecutive NCAA Tournaments (2013, 2014, 2015). Altman's success continued into the following season as Oregon won the 2015-16 regular season title, finishing 14-4 in league play. Altman also won the 2015-2016 Pac-12 Coach of the Year for the third time in four years. The 2015-16 season was very noteworthy, with the Ducks emerging victorious in the 2015-16 Pac-12 Conference Tournament. This led to the Ducks being the top seed in the West Regional of the 2015-2016 NCAA tournament, its first ever top seeding in the NCAA tournament. The Ducks defeated Holy Cross and Saint Joseph's in the first two rounds of the NCAA tournament to advance to the Sweet 16 in Anaheim, where they defeated the number four seed and defending national champion Duke Blue Devils, 82-68, to advance to the Elite 8. The following year, the Ducks would go on to be Pac-12 conference co-champions with Arizona, whom they lost to in the championship game of the Pac-12 Tournament.
Altman's arrival marked a new era of sustained success for the Oregon Ducks. He has consistently led the team to NCAA Tournament appearances, including a memorable Final Four run in 2017, marking the longest span between appearances in NCAA history (79 years).
Home Court Advantage: McArthur Court and Matthew Knight Arena
McArthur Court was constructed in 1926 and the first Oregon basketball game was played in the arena on January 14, 1927, defeating Willamette University 38-10. The arena is located across from Pioneer Cemetery and is named after Clifton McArthur, the first student body president. Even during the Ducks' lean years, it was known as one of the most hostile arenas in the Pac-10.
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In early 2009, the university broke ground on a new $227 million basketball arena designed by TVA Architects to replace McArthur Court. The new arena was named Matthew Knight Arena, after Phil Knight's son who drowned in a scuba diving accident in 2004. The arena is considered to be the front door to the university due to its high-profile location from where the majority of vehicular traffic into the university stems. A primary goal was to create the best collegiate basketball venue in the country though many criticisms arose due to the funding and price tag associated with the design. The hardwood court was named after Patrick Kilkenny, a booster for the university and the former interim athletic director. It had been the subject of much debate upon its opening, due to its unconventional and artistic design.
The Ducks have called two arenas home: McArthur Court, a historic venue known for its intimidating atmosphere, and Matthew Knight Arena, a modern marvel designed to be one of the premier basketball facilities in the nation.
NCAA Tournament and NIT History
The Ducks have appeared in 19 NCAA tournaments. They won the inaugural NCAA tournament in 1939, winning the National Championship vs. Ohio State. The Ducks have appeared in 13 National Invitation Tournaments. Saint Peter'sOral RobertsPrincetonSt. Oral RobertsSt. The Ducks have appeared in one College Basketball Invitational. Record vs. Record vs.
Statistical Leaders
The Oregon Ducks men's basketball statistical leaders are individual statistical leaders of the Oregon Ducks men's basketball program in various categories, including points, assists, blocks, rebounds, and steals. Within those areas, the lists identify single-game, single-season, and career leaders. Oregon began competing in intercollegiate basketball in 1902. However, the school's record book does not generally list records from before the 1950s, as records from before this period are often incomplete and inconsistent. The NCAA did not officially record assists as a stat until the 1983-84 season, and blocks and steals until the 1985-86 season, but Oregon's record books includes players in these stats before these seasons.
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