Dana Altman shares latest on the health of Nate Bittle

Nathan Bittle has been unavailable for Oregon for various reason for most of the season. Now, with one month left in the campaign, his junior season may already be over according to Dana Altman.

Altman provided an update on the latest regarding Bittle’s status during his press conference on Thursday. Bittle, who has been dealing with injuries and, as of late, an illness, hasn’t played in three weeks since a two-game return from a two-month absence. That illness will now keep him out of Saturday’s game versus Oregon State with upcoming tests potentially evidently being able to end his year.

“He has got a test coming up. He won’t play this weekend,” said Altman. “But he’s not feeling well. He hasn’t even been able to come to practice or go to class. He has been laid up.

The biggest issue at this point is the toll that this illness has taken on Bittle. At 220 pounds as a seven-footer, he didn’t have many pounds to give away anyways. Him losing that kind of weight may now hold him back considering it could hold him out for a few more weeks even under normal circumstances.

“With a month left? And he has lost weight?” Altman said. “He didn’t have any to lose. I wish I could lose 10 and give it to him so he could find it.”

“He has lost weight and is really weak right now,” said Altman. “It’d be just even a couple weeks before he could come back then.”

Bittle has played and started in five games this season, which means he’d be eligible for a medical redshirt. In those few outings, he has averaged 10 points, 4.4 rebounds, and a block in 17 minutes per game. This comes after playing in 51 games over his first two years, including 22 starts a season ago.

The Ducks have dealt with several injuries this season with Bittle among their largest losses. Whether he returns or not, though, Altman just wants him to start feeling better based on the results of his upcoming examination.

“He does have some tests coming up. Just making sure that he’s going to be feeling okay,” said Altman

Altman bemoans free throw shooting vs. Washington State

Following Oregon‘s six-point loss to Washington State on Saturday, the Ducks’ performance obviously upset Dana Altamn. Arguably the biggest letdown on the night for them was their missed opportunities with free throws.

After Oregon’s home loss to the Cougars, Altman addressed his team’s poor performance from the charity stripe.

“Yeah, the free throws. In a tight game like that, when you’re not shooting the ball? We went eight for 14 or, two front ends, you go eight for 16. That kills ya,” said Altman. “They didn’t shoot them great, 15-22. But they got the big rebound on the one they missed late.”

“We didn’t give ourselves an opportunity, made a lot of mistakes, and just simply didn’t get it done.”

Oregon finished the night by going 8-14 overall from the free-throw line. However, as Altman pointed out, two of their misses came on one-and-one opportunities, essentially making those two 0-2 trips to the free-throw line.