Oregon Ducks Basketball

Ahead of the Oregon Ducks' matchup against Utah in the quarterfinals of the Pac-12 tournament on Thursday night, the university announced Dana Altman will continue as head coach through the 2025-26 season. 

In a sport where turnover is unavoidable, Altman has provided consistency. Under Altman, the Ducks made it to the 2017 Final Four. Altman has been in charge at Oregon since 2010, and the Ducks have posted winning seasons in every year since—the first time the program has posted nine consecutive winning seasons since 1923-32.

Oregon finished the 2018-19 regular season 20-12 overall and 10-8 in conference play.

There had been rumors Altman may move on, specifically being linked to Nebraska, per Jeff Goodman of Stadium. While he's now in high demand, Altman admitted to the Oregonian in 2017 that he "never even knew if I would get into Division I." 

Prior to Oregon, Altman coached from 1994 to 2010 at Creighton where he became the all-time wins leader with a 327-176 record. He was inducted into the Creighton Athletics Hall of Fame in June 2018.

All of that said, the Ducks were given a two-year probation Dec. 5 after the NCAA found Altman did not properly monitor his director of operations. Given the length of Altman's new contract, he will have plenty of time to chase a championship once the penalty expires. 

The season-ending foot injury to Oregon center Bol Bol isn't likely to prevent NBA teams from taking a strong look at him if he declares for the 2019 draft. 

Per ESPN.com's Brian Windhorst, Bol remains high on the list of draft-eligible prospects even as they wait to go over his medical records:

"How well this works won't be known for a while, but in canvassing the league over the past few days, teams remain very high on Bol. While they all have to wait for the medical exams in the spring, a handful of executives said they could still see him going in the top 10 in June. Some of it, a few general managers admitted, is the upcoming draft is so top-heavy that a talent like Bol just won't fall that much."

Bol's lawyer, Bryan J. Freedman, told The Athletic's Shams Charania his client had surgery Jan. 3 for a non-displaced fracture of navicular bone in his left foot.

Charania reported Bol will use a walking boot and crutches for eight to 10 weeks before returning to basketball activities this summer. 

Bol announced on Twitter his freshman season at Oregon has come to a premature end as a result of his injured foot:

Speaking to B/R's Jonathan Wasserman, one scout said Bol has "Kristaps Porzingis ability," but "he could also get you fired" because the history of seven-footers with foot injuries succeeding in the NBA isn't high. 

In his most recent mock draft posted before Bol's season officially came to an end, Wasserman projected the Oregon center to be selected No. 6 overall by the Washington Wizards. 

Bol averaged 21.0 points and 9.6 rebounds while shooting 52 percent from three-point range in nine games for the Ducks. 

Oregon star Bol Bol has announced his collegiate career is over in an Instagram post.

The big man wrote Thursday:

"Playing for my dream school under my favorite Coach Altman has been the Best part of my life and sadly it has come to end sooner than I would Like but thank you for all those who rocking with me & all Oregon fans. I’m coming back 100x harder & for all the people who doubt me and hate on me keep on doing it #goducks."

Per 247Sports' Matt Prehm, one source said Bol's injury is a stress fracture and his recovery timetable would have kept him out for the remainder of the regular season and, if Oregon advances, NCAA tournament.

Bol will start rehabbing in preparation of the 2019 NBA draft, per Shams Charania of The Athletic and Stadium.

He's expected to be one of the top picks in this year's NBA draft. B/R's Jonathan Wasserman has the seven-footer going No. 6 overall to the Washington Wizards in his most recent mock draft. 

Bol hasn't played since Dec. 12 against San Diego when he scored 20 points and grabbed nine rebounds in 33 minutes. The 19-year-old led the Ducks with 21.0 points and 9.6 rebounds per game and a 52 percent success rate from three-point range.