SEATTLE — Dana Altman did the math, and he found the answer simple.
Over his previous 14 seasons at Oregon, the Ducks played Arizona 27 times. Four games went to overtime and four of them came with postseason implications heavily on the line in the Pac-12 Tournament, including the Ducks’ 67-56 semifinal win over the Wildcats last season.
So before the two teams met for the 28th time in his UO tenure, thanks to the NCAA Tournament, Altman expressed hope for more.
“We would like to keep it going,” Altman said. ”We’ve got all kinds of openings on our schedule. We would like to stay West as much as possible. They have probably the same feeling since they travel a lot now with their new league.
“it’s been a good series and we would sure like to continue it.”
The Wildcats did travel a lot with the Big 12 but, thanks to their location, nearly all of their trips were shorter than the 1,000-mile-plus ones they made to the Pacific Northwest schools in the Pac-12.
Oregon head coach Dana Altman thinks the ball should be going the other way after a call went against his Ducks in the first half of his team’s Pac-12 matchup against the Wildcats on Feb. 2, 2023 at McKale Center.
There will be two more openings on the Wildcats’ nonconference schedule next season, since the Big 12 is moving from 20 to 18 conference game. But UA coach Tommy Lloyd remained noncommittal about facing the Ducks.
So far, of its former Pac-12 rivals, Arizona has only contracted to play UCLA once each season, starting earlier this season and through 2026-27.
“Right when the thing happened we might have had an initial conversation, but the UCLA-Arizona thing is easy,” Lloyd said. “UCLA was such a rival for so many years, that it was an easy home-and-home to jump on right away, and it made a lot of sense.
“I think Dana and I and all the other (former Pac-12) coaches probably took a step back and are trying to figure out what is the proper way to schedule with regards to your new conference because you don’t want to over schedule, you don’t want to under schedule. I’m sure those conversations will spark back up.”
Brothers anyway
Since meeting Jamari Phillips at a San Fernando Valley practice in spring 2022, Carter Bryant never could get away from him. And he never wanted to.
Oregon guard Jamari Phillips (24) a former Arizona commit, watches from the bench in the Ducks’ game against the Wildcats in the first half of their round of 32 tilt, Seattle, March 23, 2025.
At Phillips’ prodding, Bryant joined and played two seasons with Phillips on the Paul George Elite club basketball team. Then, after Phillips committed to the Wildcats in December 2022, Bryant did the same four months later.
The two friends were headed to play for the Wildcats together this season, until Phillips dropped off the tentative and crowded UA roster late last spring and instead joined Oregon.
Future Wildcats Jamari Phillips, left, and Carter Bryant already have shared the court numerous times on the travel circuit.
That put them on opposite benches Sunday during UA’s second-round NCAA Tournament game with Oregon, though both players found that no barrier to their friendship.
“I’m so close with Jamari that it’s not that big of a deal for me,” Bryant said. “I saw Jamari after the game (Friday), and I gave him the biggest hug.”
While Phillips said he talks to Bryant and fellow UA freshman Emmanuel Stephen often, Bryant said he and Phillips usually connect weekly. No matter where they are.
“It’s never a hate thing. I love Jamari,” Bryant said. “My family’s been there for him. His family’s been there for me. So at the end of the day, that’s my brother. That’s the bond that basketball can never tear apart.
“As much as you love basketball, and want to be competitors, you’re human, at the end of the day, you’ve got to care for other people.”
Well-represented
UA and Oregon had strong fan support inside Climate Pledge Arena, thanks partly to the alumni base that both schools have in the Pacific Northwest.
But if Oregon’s proximity to Seattle gave the Ducks any sort of edge, it may have helped make up for the disadvantage the Ducks always had playing the Wildcats in Pac-12 Tournaments at Las Vegas, where UA fans from Southern California and Arizona could make an easy drive.
“Last year it was basically like away game at the Pac-12,” Oregon forward Kwame Evans said before Sunday’s game. “Hopefully, this year we come a lot more deep … so it won’t feel too much like an away game on a neutral court.”
Krivas uncertain
While the foot injury that sidelined sophomore Motiejus Krivas for the season in December might appear to reduce his chances of leaving for the NBA Draft this spring, the sophomore center declined to say what his plans were for next season.
Arizona center Motiejus Krivas sits on the sideline wearing a boot on his left foot before the start of the game against UCLA at the Footprint Center in Phoenix, Dec. 14, 2024.
“This doesn’t change anything,” he said. “It’s in the process.”
Already undergoing some basketball work, Krivas said he expected to be fully cleared early this summer. He played only in UA’s first eight games after missing most of the preseason with a stress-related foot/ankle injury then being shelved for the season in December.
Road warriors
For Arizona, it’s been a lot about Uno off the court this season. For Oregon players, maybe spades or some other card game.
But mostly sleep and digital entertainment have kept them busy during the longer travel both teams have faced this season in their new conferences – especially Oregon, which had to make four trips from the West Coast to the Midwest and East during Big Ten play.
“Some people play cards,” Oregon forward Brandon Angel said. “I just normally take a nap in the back in the plane. That’s kind of my thing.”
Surprisingly, that’s not always hard to do. Even 7-footer Nate Bittle says he can get comfy on what are often first-class seats on planes the Ducks charter.
“We fly really good,” Bittle said. “It’s something that the team and coaches and stuff, and all of our donors do a great job.”
Even though guard Jackson Shelstad said he’ll usually “just try to nap as much as I can,” and guard Keeshawn Barthelemy says he usually watches movies, occasionally the plane’s amenities will offer other compelling options.
“Sometimes we have tables on our flights,” Barthelemy said. “We’re really fortunate. We can play cards and stuff like that.”
Quotable
“I’m 0-2 against Houston this year, so I’m probably the wrong guy to call.” — UA coach Tommy Lloyd, when asked if he was paying attention to former boss Mark Few having to face (and lose to) Houston in the second round Saturday
