Dana Altman says Oregon men's basketball mass exodus not unexpected

The rebuilding of the Oregon men's basketball roster has begun.

During a frank and revealing press conference with Dana Altman April 9 inside Matthew Knight Arena, the Ducks' longtime coach laid out the challenges that come with having to replace 12 scholarship players from last season's 12-20 team. Three of those players were lost to graduation, nine have reportedly entered the transfer portal.

None of the departures were unexpected.

“We did not pull anybody’s scholarship. Everybody had their scholarship, and it would have been renewed,” Altman said. “But we are working within a budget, and some guys were gonna lose their NIL, either totally or taking a reduction. Big reduction.”

Thurston's Reece Burton dives after the ball as the Thurston Colts host the McKay Scots on April 8, 2026, at Thurston High School in Springfield, Oregon.

McKay celebrates as McKay's Vonik Wiso returns to the bench as the Thurston Colts host the McKay Scots on April 8, 2026, at Thurston High School in Springfield, Oregon.

Thurston celebrates as the Thurston Colts host the McKay Scots on April 8, 2026, at Thurston High School in Springfield, Oregon.

McKay’s Mjay Omwere hits as the Thurston Colts host the McKay Scots on April 8, 2026, at Thurston High School in Springfield, Oregon.

Thurston's Rylan Fechtel, tips the ball over the net as the Thurston Colts host the McKay Scots on April 8, 2026, at Thurston High School in Springfield, Oregon.

The McKay bench cheers as the Thurston Colts host the McKay Scots on April 8, 2026, at Thurston High School in Springfield, Oregon.

Thurston's Rylan Fechtel, right, hits as McKay’s August Taimanao defends as the Thurston Colts host the McKay Scots on April 8, 2026, at Thurston High School in Springfield, Oregon.

McKay’s August Taimanao hits as the Thurston Colts host the McKay Scots on April 8, 2026, at Thurston High School in Springfield, Oregon.

Thurston's Corbin Dalton, right, blocks a shot by McKay's Weldadson Frank as the Thurston Colts host the McKay Scots on April 8, 2026, at Thurston High School in Springfield, Oregon.

McKay’s Jouj Watak sets the ball as the Thurston Colts host the McKay Scots on April 8, 2026, at Thurston High School in Springfield, Oregon.

Thurston's Erin Rice, right, hits as the Thurston Colts host the McKay Scots on April 8, 2026, at Thurston High School in Springfield, Oregon.

Thurston's Tyler Jagels goes after the ball as the Thurston Colts host the McKay Scots on April 8, 2026, at Thurston High School in Springfield, Oregon.

Thurston's Aaron Leik sets the ball as the Thurston Colts host the McKay Scots on April 8, 2026, at Thurston High School in Springfield, Oregon.

McKay's Maksim Lazukin sets the ball as the Thurston Colts host the McKay Scots on April 8, 2026, at Thurston High School in Springfield, Oregon.

The Thurston bench cheers as the Thurston Colts host the McKay Scots on April 8, 2026, at Thurston High School in Springfield, Oregon.

Thurston's Tyler Jagels serves as the Thurston Colts host the McKay Scots on April 8, 2026, at Thurston High School in Springfield, Oregon.

McKay’s August Taimanao passes the ball as the Thurston Colts host the McKay Scots on April 8, 2026, at Thurston High School in Springfield, Oregon.

Thurston's Erin Rice hits as the Thurston Colts host the McKay Scots on April 8, 2026, at Thurston High School in Springfield, Oregon.

Thurston coach Hannah Adams, center, talks to Aaron Leik between points as the Thurston Colts host the McKay Scots on April 8, 2026, at Thurston High School in Springfield, Oregon.

Thurston head coach Hannah Adams, center, talks to players after the game as the Thurston Colts host the McKay Scots on April 8, 2026, at Thurston High School in Springfield, Oregon.

The Thurston Colts host the McKay Scots on April 8, 2026, at Thurston High School in Springfield, Oregon.

Thurston's Aaron Leik sets the ball as the Thurston Colts host the McKay Scots on April 8, 2026, at Thurston High School in Springfield, Oregon.

McKay’s Rennor Anney, center, hits as Thurston's Elijah Hansen, left, and Aaron Leik defend as the Thurston Colts host the McKay Scots on April 8, 2026, at Thurston High School in Springfield, Oregon.

Thurston's Erin Rice, right, hits as the Thurston Colts host the McKay Scots on April 8, 2026, at Thurston High School in Springfield, Oregon.

Thurston's Reece Burton dives for the ball as the Thurston Colts host the McKay Scots on April 8, 2026, at Thurston High School in Springfield, Oregon.

McKay’s Mjay Omwere goes after the ball as the Thurston Colts host the McKay Scots on April 8, 2026, at Thurston High School in Springfield, Oregon.

Thurston's Tyler Jagels, left, and Reece Burton go after the ball as the Thurston Colts host the McKay Scots on April 8, 2026, at Thurston High School in Springfield, Oregon.

McKay's Isaac Ruiz Ortega dives for the ball as the Thurston Colts host the McKay Scots on April 8, 2026, at Thurston High School in Springfield, Oregon.

McKay's Isaac Ruiz Ortega, center, hits as the Thurston Colts host the McKay Scots on April 8, 2026, at Thurston High School in Springfield, Oregon.

Thurston, right, and McKay players shake hands as the Thurston Colts host the McKay Scots on April 8, 2026, at Thurston High School in Springfield, Oregon.

McKay celebrates its win as the Thurston Colts host the McKay Scots on April 8, 2026, at Thurston High School in Springfield, Oregon.

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See photos as Thurston boys volleyball hosts McKay in Springfield

Thurston's Reece Burton dives after the ball as the Thurston Colts host the McKay Scots on April 8, 2026, at Thurston High School in Springfield, Oregon.

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See photos as Thurston boys volleyball hosts McKay in Springfield

Thurston's Reece Burton dives after the ball as the Thurston Colts host the McKay Scots on April 8, 2026, at Thurston High School in Springfield, Oregon.

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See photos as Thurston boys volleyball hosts McKay in Springfield

McKay celebrates as McKay's Vonik Wiso returns to the bench as the Thurston Colts host the McKay Scots on April 8, 2026, at Thurston High School in Springfield, Oregon.

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See photos as Thurston boys volleyball hosts McKay in Springfield

Thurston celebrates as the Thurston Colts host the McKay Scots on April 8, 2026, at Thurston High School in Springfield, Oregon.

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See photos as Thurston boys volleyball hosts McKay in Springfield

McKay’s Mjay Omwere hits as the Thurston Colts host the McKay Scots on April 8, 2026, at Thurston High School in Springfield, Oregon.

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See photos as Thurston boys volleyball hosts McKay in Springfield

Thurston's Rylan Fechtel, tips the ball over the net as the Thurston Colts host the McKay Scots on April 8, 2026, at Thurston High School in Springfield, Oregon.

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See photos as Thurston boys volleyball hosts McKay in Springfield

The McKay bench cheers as the Thurston Colts host the McKay Scots on April 8, 2026, at Thurston High School in Springfield, Oregon.

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See photos as Thurston boys volleyball hosts McKay in Springfield

Thurston's Rylan Fechtel, right, hits as McKay’s August Taimanao defends as the Thurston Colts host the McKay Scots on April 8, 2026, at Thurston High School in Springfield, Oregon.

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See photos as Thurston boys volleyball hosts McKay in Springfield

McKay’s August Taimanao hits as the Thurston Colts host the McKay Scots on April 8, 2026, at Thurston High School in Springfield, Oregon.

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See photos as Thurston boys volleyball hosts McKay in Springfield

Thurston's Corbin Dalton, right, blocks a shot by McKay's Weldadson Frank as the Thurston Colts host the McKay Scots on April 8, 2026, at Thurston High School in Springfield, Oregon.

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See photos as Thurston boys volleyball hosts McKay in Springfield

McKay’s Jouj Watak sets the ball as the Thurston Colts host the McKay Scots on April 8, 2026, at Thurston High School in Springfield, Oregon.

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See photos as Thurston boys volleyball hosts McKay in Springfield

Thurston's Erin Rice, right, hits as the Thurston Colts host the McKay Scots on April 8, 2026, at Thurston High School in Springfield, Oregon.

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See photos as Thurston boys volleyball hosts McKay in Springfield

Thurston's Tyler Jagels goes after the ball as the Thurston Colts host the McKay Scots on April 8, 2026, at Thurston High School in Springfield, Oregon.

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See photos as Thurston boys volleyball hosts McKay in Springfield

Thurston's Aaron Leik sets the ball as the Thurston Colts host the McKay Scots on April 8, 2026, at Thurston High School in Springfield, Oregon.

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See photos as Thurston boys volleyball hosts McKay in Springfield

McKay's Maksim Lazukin sets the ball as the Thurston Colts host the McKay Scots on April 8, 2026, at Thurston High School in Springfield, Oregon.

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See photos as Thurston boys volleyball hosts McKay in Springfield

The Thurston bench cheers as the Thurston Colts host the McKay Scots on April 8, 2026, at Thurston High School in Springfield, Oregon.

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See photos as Thurston boys volleyball hosts McKay in Springfield

Thurston's Tyler Jagels serves as the Thurston Colts host the McKay Scots on April 8, 2026, at Thurston High School in Springfield, Oregon.

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See photos as Thurston boys volleyball hosts McKay in Springfield

McKay’s August Taimanao passes the ball as the Thurston Colts host the McKay Scots on April 8, 2026, at Thurston High School in Springfield, Oregon.

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See photos as Thurston boys volleyball hosts McKay in Springfield

Thurston's Erin Rice hits as the Thurston Colts host the McKay Scots on April 8, 2026, at Thurston High School in Springfield, Oregon.

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See photos as Thurston boys volleyball hosts McKay in Springfield

Thurston coach Hannah Adams, center, talks to Aaron Leik between points as the Thurston Colts host the McKay Scots on April 8, 2026, at Thurston High School in Springfield, Oregon.

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See photos as Thurston boys volleyball hosts McKay in Springfield

Thurston head coach Hannah Adams, center, talks to players after the game as the Thurston Colts host the McKay Scots on April 8, 2026, at Thurston High School in Springfield, Oregon.

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See photos as Thurston boys volleyball hosts McKay in Springfield

The Thurston Colts host the McKay Scots on April 8, 2026, at Thurston High School in Springfield, Oregon.

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See photos as Thurston boys volleyball hosts McKay in Springfield

Thurston's Aaron Leik sets the ball as the Thurston Colts host the McKay Scots on April 8, 2026, at Thurston High School in Springfield, Oregon.

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See photos as Thurston boys volleyball hosts McKay in Springfield

McKay’s Rennor Anney, center, hits as Thurston's Elijah Hansen, left, and Aaron Leik defend as the Thurston Colts host the McKay Scots on April 8, 2026, at Thurston High School in Springfield, Oregon.

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See photos as Thurston boys volleyball hosts McKay in Springfield

Thurston's Erin Rice, right, hits as the Thurston Colts host the McKay Scots on April 8, 2026, at Thurston High School in Springfield, Oregon.

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See photos as Thurston boys volleyball hosts McKay in Springfield

Thurston's Reece Burton dives for the ball as the Thurston Colts host the McKay Scots on April 8, 2026, at Thurston High School in Springfield, Oregon.

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See photos as Thurston boys volleyball hosts McKay in Springfield

McKay’s Mjay Omwere goes after the ball as the Thurston Colts host the McKay Scots on April 8, 2026, at Thurston High School in Springfield, Oregon.

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See photos as Thurston boys volleyball hosts McKay in Springfield

Thurston's Tyler Jagels, left, and Reece Burton go after the ball as the Thurston Colts host the McKay Scots on April 8, 2026, at Thurston High School in Springfield, Oregon.

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See photos as Thurston boys volleyball hosts McKay in Springfield

McKay's Isaac Ruiz Ortega dives for the ball as the Thurston Colts host the McKay Scots on April 8, 2026, at Thurston High School in Springfield, Oregon.

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See photos as Thurston boys volleyball hosts McKay in Springfield

McKay's Isaac Ruiz Ortega, center, hits as the Thurston Colts host the McKay Scots on April 8, 2026, at Thurston High School in Springfield, Oregon.

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See photos as Thurston boys volleyball hosts McKay in Springfield

Thurston, right, and McKay players shake hands as the Thurston Colts host the McKay Scots on April 8, 2026, at Thurston High School in Springfield, Oregon.

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See photos as Thurston boys volleyball hosts McKay in Springfield

McKay celebrates its win as the Thurston Colts host the McKay Scots on April 8, 2026, at Thurston High School in Springfield, Oregon.

Among those in the transfer portal is point guard Jackson Shelstad, the West Linn native and Ducks starter for three seasons and 2025-26 preseason all-Big Ten Conference selection. Also transferring is starting forward Kwame Evans Jr., a 2023 five-star recruit from Maryland who started 30 games this past season and averaged career highs in both points (13.3) and rebounds (7.4). Evans is expected to first go through the NBA draft early entry process before transferring.

"(Evans is) looking at some schools a little closer to home if we didn't get him into the NBA this year," said Altman, whose 16th season at Oregon was also his first with a losing record. "Jackson, you know, I'm not sure what they're looking at, but I'm sure NIL is part of it. ... We really never got to those conversations. I think those guys are just looking for different opportunities."

Also leaving via the transfer portal – which opened Tuesday and will close April 21 – are reserve swing man Dezdrick Lindsay, forward Devon Pryor, reserve point guard Wei Lin, reserve center Ege Demir, reserve guard Jamari Phillips, reserve forward Efe Vatan and freshman guard JJ Frakes.

The only Oregon player who has declared his intention to remain on the team next season is senior forward Sean Stewart, who is expected to be joined by incoming freshmen forwards Tahj Ariza and Seven Spurlock, and possibly Kendre Harrison, a 2026 five-star tight end who is currently on the Oregon football team but who was also a four-star basketball recruit.

That leaves a lot of open spots on a roster that can have up to 15 scholarship players.

Oregon head coach Dana Altman and the Ducks have lost nine players to the transfer portal. Three others exhausted their eligibility.

“I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t a little nervous when you have a lot of new faces like that,” Altman said. “But it is an opportunity. ... We’re excited about a couple freshmen that are coming in, too, but we know they’re freshmen. The adjustment to the Big Ten and the level of play that we want to have. We know that can be an adjustment period for a freshman. So, getting the experience that we want, getting the experience at this level, is important to us.”

Altman and his staff have been busy with Zoom meetings with potential transfers. Players can start taking official visits next week.

But talking to and hosting players is one thing. Signing them is another, and Oregon exists in a world where most of the top teams in the country – including national champion and Big Ten powerhouse Michigan – have more funds to flip rosters with top transfer talent.

Altman said the Ducks' NIL opportunities are not "at the top of the league." But they're also not at the bottom and he credited the Oregon collective with giving the team a chance to complete.

"We're not underfunded," he said. "I'm not going to blame it on that. I didn't do my job, all right. I could have done a better job. And I’ve got to do a better job this year, put us in that position. So, we’ll make it work. Fortunately, we’ve got some people who want to see us get back to where we’ve been. And we’ve got to make those figures match and get the guys we need.”

Oregon forward Sean Stewart is expected to return, while many others from the Ducks' 2025-26 roster have left to seek other opportunities.

Chris Hansen covers University of Oregon football, men’s basketball, track and field, cross country and softball for The Register-Guard. You can reach him at chansen@registerguard.com.

This article originally appeared on Register-Guard: Dana Altman addresses Oregon men's basketball mass exodus, NIL budget