Oregon men’s basketball will reportedly have its starting center back by October. Jordan Bell, who broke his foot this past spring, is expected to return in time for the start of fall camp on October 4, head coach Dana Altman said. Bell averaged 5.1 points and 6.9 rebounds as a freshman, while also blocking 94 shots on the season – a school record. The story was first reported by Tyson Alger of The Oregonian/OregonLive.
Marcus Mariota added yet another award to his decorated collegiate career. The former Heisman-winning Ducks quarterback received an ESPY award for “Best Male College Athlete of the Year.” Mariota won the award over Wisconsin basketball player Frank Kaminsky, Boston University hockey player Jack Eichel, Ohio State wrestler Logan Stieber and Vanderbilt baseball player Dansby Swanson.
Oregon’s running back tandem of Royce Freeman and Thomas Tyner received some preseason recognition on Thursday. Each player was named to the 2015 Doak Walker Award watch list, given to the nation’s top running back. Freeman led the Ducks in rushing as a true freshman last season, tallying 1,365 yards and 18 touchdowns. Tyner added 586 yards and five touchdowns in his sophomore campaign. LaMichael James was the last Duck to win the award in 2010.
Oregon football added its first class of 2017 commitment on Thursday. Langi Tifua, a four-star defensive end from South Jordan, Utah, made it official after talking on the phone with head coach Mark Helfrich and linebackers coach Erik Chinander. The 6-foot-3, 200-pound defensive lineman will have two more years of high school to develop his size and intangibles before coming to Oregon. Tifua spoke to Andrew Nemec of The Oregonian/OregonLive on why he chose Oregon: “I’ve wanted to commit to Oregon since I got the offer, but my dad told me to wait a little bit to make sure I was making the right choice,” Tifua said. “Man, I love Oregon so much. I just wanted to go through with it.”
Two incoming freshman women’s basketball players will compete in the FIBA U19 Women’s World Championships. Point guard Maite Cazorla will be playing for Spain – her native country – and forward Lauren Yearwood is on the Canadian team.
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