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Eugene

Oregon to Host Montana in Basketball Opener

The Ducks face the Grizzlies in Eugene on November 2 as the team begins a new era under interim coach Tony Stubblefield.

Updated on Oct. 22, 2026 in Basketball

Expressive editorial sports illustration showing two basketball players in motion, one in Oregon green and yellow and one in Montana maroon.
The Oregon Ducks open their basketball season against the Montana Grizzlies on November 2 in Eugene, marking a new era under Tony Stubblefield. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Oregon hosts Montana for a basketball season opener on November 2 in Eugene. This matchup marks the start of the team's season following the retirement of longtime head coach Dana Altman.

Why it matters

The game represents a significant transition for the program after Dana Altman stepped down following a tenure that included 382 wins and a 2017 Final Four appearance. The team now looks to move past a 12-20 finish in the 2025-26 season with a roster featuring 10 new players.

Montana holds a 4-25 all-time record against Oregon. The Oregon roster enters the game after committing 25 turnovers in a recent 71-65 exhibition loss to Seattle.

The players

Tony Stubblefield

He is serving as the interim head coach for Oregon basketball following the retirement of the program's longtime leader.

Dana Altman

He concluded a decorated tenure as Oregon head coach that included 15 consecutive 20-win campaigns and nine NCAA tournament appearances.

Fred Payne

The new Oregon roster addition is a transfer who averaged 15.8 points per game at Boston College during the previous season.

Andrew Meadow

He joins the Ducks after averaging 12.1 points per game for Boise State last season.

The details

Oregon features an overhauled roster including Fred Payne, who averaged 15.8 points per game at Boston College last season, and Andrew Meadow, who averaged 12.1 points per game at Boise State. Montana enters the contest with 10 newcomers alongside five returning players and a preseason ranking of fourth in the Big Sky Conference.

Timeline

  1. Dana Altman's tenure as head coach began in 2010-11.

  2. Oregon reached the Final Four in 2017.

  3. Oregon finished with a 12-20 record in 2025-26.

  4. Oregon hosts Montana on November 2, 2026.

Season Trajectory

The program enters this season looking to regain its competitive standing following the 2017 Final Four success. This transition year tests whether the new roster can overcome the momentum of a 12-20 record from the prior campaign.

The result of this game provides the first look at how the 10 new players integrate under interim coach Tony Stubblefield. Fans should monitor turnover rates, as the team struggled with 25 giveaways in their recent exhibition loss to Seattle.

The takeaway

Oregon must stabilize its offensive ball security after a high-turnover exhibition display to succeed in the upcoming season. The team is now relying on high-scoring transfers to replace the historical consistency established during the previous coaching era.

Further reading

For more on the current outlook, visit the Basketball page.

Live Poll

Do you believe high roster turnover makes it harder for your local team to succeed?