Jay Bilas blasts NCAA over denial of Oregon center N'Faly Dante eligibility appeal

ESPN’s Jay Bilas just took to social media to blast the NCAA for denying Oregon Ducks big man N’Faly Dante‘s petition for additional eligibility. In a brief statement, the college basketball expert laid out the groundwork for challenging the decision.

“The NCAA’s treatment of Oregon’s N’Faly Dante is simply outrageous,” Bilas said via X. “This young man is EVERYTHING the NCAA claims it wants in an athlete. Dante has been injured throughout his career, and has played two full seasons less than players like Armando Bacot, yet he’s denied an additional year due to injury, ending his career. Absurd. Dante is a model atvlete and person, wants to come back to play and advance his education, and has never asked his school for anything. When the NCAA says “athlete welfare,” it rings hollow. The NCAA needs to do the right thing…allow Dante his additional year. Immediately.”

Bilas believes the NCAA should award the Ducks big an additional year of collegiate eligibility due to the multiple injuries he has suffered, which have greatly limited his ability to play. During the 2020- 21 season, Dante missed the majority of the year after suffering a significant knee injury early in the season.

According to college hoops insider Jon Rothstein, the NCAA has denied Dante’s waiver to play in the 2024-25 season. However, the Ducks will appeal that decision.

Rothstein reported news of Dante’s waiver denial on Thursday morning in a tweet, where he also noted Oregon’s plans to appeal. Take a look at his post right here:

“Source: Oregon’s N’Faly Dante has been denied an additional year of eligibility by the NCAA. Dante only played six games during the 20-21 season due to a knee injury. Also only played 12 games in 19-20 when NCAA Tournament was cancelled. The Ducks will appeal the decision.”

As noted in the Rothstein tweet, Dante’s case rests on the fact that he missed large portions of two different seasons due to injuries. In his freshman season, he appeared in just 12 games, roughly 35% of the season. But in 2020-21, he appeared in only six games. He then would go on to play in 20+ games each of the last three seasons.