Updated Top-25 College Basketball Rankings: Oregon Ducks Ranked Too Low?

The Oregon Ducks are ranked No. 21 in On3’s way-too-early college basketball rankings after NBA Draft decisions. Oregon got a huge boost when Nate Bittle announced earlier this week that he would be forgoing the 2025 NBA Draft and returning to Oregon for his fifth season.

Are the Ducks ranked too low?

Way-Too-Early College Basketball Rankings

Houston Cougars guard L.J. Cryer (4) passes the ball Friday, March 28, 2025, during the NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 game against the Purdue Boilermakers at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. | Alex Martin/Journal and Courier / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

The No. 1 team in On3’s ranking are the Purdue Boilermakers. The Houston Cougars are right behind them at No. 2. Here is On3’s full top 25:

No. 1: Purdue Boilermakers

No. 2: Houston Cougars

No. 3: UConn Huskies

No. 4: St. John’s Red Storm

No. 5: BYU Cougars

No. 6: Michigan Wolverines

No. 7: Louisville Cardinals

No. 8: Kentucky Wildcats

No. 9: Florida Gators

No. 10: Duke Blue Devils

No. 11: Texas Tech Red Raiders

No. 12: Tennessee Volunteers

No. 13: Alabama Crimson Tide

No. 14: Creighton Bluejays

No. 15: Auburn Tigers

No. 16: Arizona Wildcats

No. 17: Illinois Fighting Illini

No. 18: Kansas Jayhawks

No. 19: Baylor Bears

No. 20: San Diego State Aztecs

No. 21: Oregon Ducks

No. 22: Virginia Cavaliers

No. 23: UCLA Bruins

No. 24: Iowa State Cyclones

No. 25: North Carolina Tar Heels

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Oregon Ducks Get Key Returns, Transfers

Mar 23, 2025; Seattle, WA, USA; Oregon Ducks guard Jackson Shelstad (3) attempts a 3-point shot against Arizona Wildcats guard KJ Lewis (5) in the first half at Climate Pledge Arena. Mandatory Credit: Steven Bisig-Imagn Images | Steven Bisig-Imagn Images

Oregon will be getting their top two leaders scorers from the 2024-2025 season for 2025-2026. Those players would be center Nate Bittle and guard Jackson Shelstad.

Bittle led Oregon in points, rebounds, and blocks per game. He averaged 14.2 points, 7.6 rebounds, and 2.1 blocks per game. At the end of the season, Bittle announced that he would be entering the 2025 NBA Draft while retaining his college eligibility. In the end, Bittle decided that going back to Oregon for his fifth collegiate season would be in his best interests.

Junior guard Jackson Shelstad was second in both points and assistz per game for Oregon last season. Shelstad averaged 13.7 points and 2.7 assists. He has also been the Ducks go-to guy in crunch time.

Oregon will also be getting back forward Kwame Evans, who improved as the season went on last season. In the transfer portal, Oregon added TK Simpkins, Sean Stewart, Miles Stewart, Miles Goodman, and Devon Pryor.

Oregon Ducks' 2024-2025 Season

Mar 13, 2025; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Oregon Ducks center Nate Bittle (32) holds the ball while Indiana Hoosiers forward Malik Reneau (5) defends in the second half at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images | Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images

The Oregon Ducks will be entering their second season as a member of the Big Ten conference. Oregon finished 2024-2025 with an overall record of 25-10 and a mark of 12-8 in Big Ten play. They placed eighth in the Big Ten.

Dana Altman’s squad earned a No. 5 seed in the NCAA tournament. It was the highest seed Oregon had got in a NCAA tournament since the 2017, when the Ducks got a No. 3 seed and made the Final Four.

Oregon won their first round matchup against the No. 12 seeded Liberty Flames, but fell in the round of 32 to the No. 4 seeded Arizona Wildcats.