The bad that got worse with injuries and now a six-game losing streak just got downgraded to catastrophic for Oregon men’s basketball (8-12, 1-8 Big Ten). 

The Ducks returned from yet another road trip, a 72-57 drubbing up in Seattle by Washington, more banged up than they left Eugene. Head coach Dana Altman announced on Tuesday morning that both guard Takai Simpkins and center Ege Demir would be out for at least the two upcoming home games. 

Snowballing injuries

Simpkins, along with forward Kwame Evans Jr., was one of two players left healthy that has averaged double-digit points this season. He also currently leads the team in minutes played with 620 — 87 more minutes (over two full games) than Evans, who’s second on the list. Simpkins’ 12.4 points are fourth on the team, but his impact on a team without Jackson Shelstad and Nate Bittle deserves some props. 

Having to adapt to being a primary ball handler is no easy feat, and Simpkins was able to do it with grace. His numbers improved as the season went on, and his usage increased when starters and key scorers went down. 

Simpkins twisted his ankle against the Huskies, according to Altman. Demir didn’t play in the previous matchup, but hurt his shoulder late in Oregon’s loss at home to No. 10 Michigan State. 

“(Demir) had some tests and is meeting with the doctors here in the next couple of days to decide what’s the best way to go forward. Takai twisted that ankle pretty good and didn’t practice yesterday,” Altman said. 

Despite forward Efe Vatan, another former overseas professional, making his Oregon debut against Washington, Altman mentioned that the Simpkins and Demir injuries (alongside freshman guard JJ Frakes’ decision to redshirt) leave the Ducks with just eight scholarship players.

Without Oregon’s backup center and primary scorers on all levels of offense at this point, Altman and his players’ focuses have been forced to shift with March Madness likely out of the picture. 

With Shelstad, his timeline remained the same, he will be out for the remainder of the season even after it was determined he would not need surgery. Bittle’s working hard to get back, and Altman named him questionable to return for the road trip next week.

Making the most of a floundering season

Nothing changes as it goes on throughout the season — Oregon needs to win. Whether it be to attract next year’s crop of talent or keep key contributors beyond this season, Altman still counts the wins and losses. 

“You play for pride,” Altman said. “It’s not easy on the guys. “It’s not an ideal situation and the guys are doing a good job.”

The Ducks can’t hope for a season defined by March heroics again; the heroes fell in battle and the team is about as far from bracketology as it can be. It’s not exactly rock bottom, but it’s not getting much better. 

Altman gives his players credit for being able to block out all that noise and play basketball. He noted both Evans and Sean Stewart’s focus on each task at hand is a big reason why the team hasn’t fully collapsed on itself. Given the fact that each had come from a more winning situation, Evans with the last two years in Oregon and Stewart with his time at both Duke University and Ohio State.

“I thought that KJ and Sean handled it remarkably well for their standard and where they’ve been (like) Montverde Academy,” Altman said. “They’ve battled it and kept their heads up, it shows a lot of character.”

Looking ahead to UCLA

Altman and his Ducks have lost four of the last five against head coach Mick Cronin, including a nine-point loss down in Los Angeles in December, and they’ll need to be perfect to curb that skid on Wednesday night. 

“We’re hoping to minimize their easy baskets, they’re good in transition. They’re old, all of those guys have been together. They’re experienced. We know what’s in front of us and we know we’ll have to play really well to put ourselves in a good position,” Altman said. 

Oregon, now shorthanded, looks to control the pace against the Bruins — that will become the key catalyst to making the contest competitive. Tempo also isn’t a key factor for UCLA this season, as the Bruins don’t rank highly in possessions or points per game. 

“(Controlling the pace) is really important,” Altman said. “We started the season going in transition, but we’re not in that position now. We try to slow down possessions a little bit and cut down the number. We are trying to control the tempo much more than in the past”

Once again, Altman expressed his team’s need for rapid, drastic improvement well beyond the capabilities that many of these players have shown. It’s next man up taken to the extreme, and Oregon’s latest test will begin at 8:00 p.m. on Wednesday at Matthew Knight Arena.