Oregon Basketball Makes Impression in First Two Exhibition Games in Canada

The upcoming Oregon Ducks group will look much different compared to last season.

Feb 7, 2026; West Lafayette, Indiana, USA; Oregon Ducks head coach Dana Altman motions toward his team during the second half against the Purdue Boilermakers at Mackey Arena. | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Eight new faces on the Oregon Ducks 2026-27 roster have come through the NCAA transfer portal at this point in early August. More might be on the way.

Coach Dana Altman, the 68-year-old preparing for a crucial 17th season in charge in the Pacific Northwest, will have just three returning faces from last season with senior forward Sean Stewart, walk-on redshirt freshman guard Rian Gonzales, and junior forward Luke Johnson.

Oregon head coach Dana Altman yells as the Oregon Ducks host the Wisconsin Badgers on Feb. 25, 2026, at Matthew Knight Arena in Eugene, Oregon. | USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect

The Oregon basketball program is preparing itself for the vital upcoming season in the Big Ten Conference with an international trip up North to British Columbia, Canada, this summer in three exhibition contests against members of the Canada West Universities Athletic Association.

In the Ducks' 121-48 over the University of Fraser Valley in Abbotsford, British Columbia, Altman came out with this first starting lineup, according to the Oregon Ducks Athletics website:

• Redshirt junior guard Fred Payne
• San Francisco Dons junior guard Tyrone Riley IV
• Junior forward Luke Johnson
• Arizona Wildcats sophomore forward Dwayne Aristode
• Senior forward Sean Stewart

Mar 4, 2025; Colorado Springs, Colorado, USA; Boise State Broncos forward Andrew Meadow (13) drives to the basket against Air Force Falcons guard Byron Brown (11) in the first half at Clune Arena. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

As for the second 112-71 victory against Trinity Western in Langley, British Columbia, on their Canadian tour, Oregon had a completely different change in its first five in the rotation.

• Guard Jerry Easter II
• Sophomore guard Jasper Johnson
• Senior wing Andrew Meadow
• Forward Tajh Ariza
• Senior forward Pharaoh Compton

Through the two games, the clear standout was Boise State Broncos transfer Andrew Meadow, who averaged 23.5 points on a 69.2 field goal percentage/55.6 three-point percentage and 5.0 rebounds in 18.0 minutes played per contest.

It's hard to get a read on a summer trip like this for Altman against this level of competition, but Altman is playing around early with what possibly could work and what doesn't. The third and final exhibition for the Ducks will conclude on Tuesday, Aug. 11, against Thompson Rivers on Collingwood Morven Campus in Vancouver, British Columbia, at 4 p.m. PT.

Mar 19, 2026; San Diego, CA, USA; Villanova Wildcats forward Duke Brennan (24) at press conference ahead of the first round of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament at Viejas Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Villanova Wildcats' Duke Brennan Announces Top-Five Schools

Oregon might not be done bolstering its frontcourt. Villanova Wildcats forward/center Duke Brennan is exploring a return to college for a fifth year. The 23-year-old entered the transfer portal and recently narrowed down to his final five destinations, which include a possible return to Villanova, Pennsylvania.

• Villanova Wildcats
• USC Trojans
• Oregon Ducks
• Ole Miss Rebels
• Oklahoma Sooners

The 6-10 and 250-pound big man started his career with the Arizona State Sun Devils in 2022-23, transferred to the Grand Canyon Antelopes for the 2023-24 and 2024-25 seasons, and most recently competed with the Wildcats in 2025-26. He has suited up for 133 games in his collegiate career.

With Villanova this past season, Brennan averaged 12.4 points on a 65.8 field goal percentage across 32 starts. He averaged a double-double with his 10.3 rebounds per game, 4.1 of which were on the offensive glass.

He also competed with the Brooklyn Nets in the NBA Summer League in Las Vegas, Nevada, this past July.

Oregon coach Dana Altman brings his team together before their game against Rice at Matthew Knight Arena in Eugene. | USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect

Current Status of Oregon Ducks 2026-27 Roster

The Ducks presently have 15 of their 15 available roster spots filled. Incoming freshman forward Kendre Harrison is planning to join the program at the conclusion of the college football season. He will suit up at tight end for coach Dan Lanning this fall.

With all the 5-on-5 eligibility chaos going around college basketball and the NCAA, nothing is for certain right now. Anything could change at any point in August.

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