Oregon's Dana Altman details the IMPACT of Jackson Shelstad's injury

Summary

Eye On College Basketball: Oregon’s Dana Altman on the Impact of Jackson Shelstad’s Injury

Episode Date: October 10, 2025
Guests: Gary Parrish (host), Dana Altman (Oregon Head Coach)

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Episode Overview

This episode features CBS Sports’ Gary Parrish speaking with Oregon men’s basketball head coach Dana Altman during Big Ten Media Day. The conversation tackles Coach Altman’s longevity and passion for coaching, adaptations to recruiting in the transfer portal era, the team’s culture, recent player development, and—most centrally—the challenges posed by Jackson Shelstad’s injury as Oregon ramps up for a tough early season schedule.

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Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Coaching Longevity and Retirement Rumors

Timestamps: 02:12 – 04:47

• Addressing Retirement Speculation:

  • Altman, now 67, acknowledges ongoing rumors regarding his retirement, attributing them partially to his age.
  • Despite many peers retiring, he expresses continued passion for coaching and values his long-standing staff and the Oregon environment.
  • Quote:

    “As you get older, everybody assumes that you're going to give it up. But I've been fortunate… Hopefully Oregon wants to keep me for a while yet. But I enjoy coach and I enjoy the fellas. Games are torture, but the practices are a lot of fun.”
    — Dana Altman (02:24)

• Staff Consistency:

  • Emphasizes the importance of staff stability in success and culture-building.
  • Listing assistants like Tony Stubblefield and Kevin McKenna as key to program continuity.

2. Evolving Recruiting Strategies

Timestamps: 04:47 – 05:49

• Recruiting Challenges in the Modern Era:
  • Altman notes that player turnover is inevitable—few athletes stay the entirety of their eligibility in the current landscape.
  • The need to balance traditional high school recruiting with transfer portal involvement and player retention.
  • Quote:

    “I think you gotta find guys that really love ball, are good teams... if it's for one or two years, if it's for three or four, I really don't care, as long as the time they're there. They want to be at Oregon, and they love the game.”
    — Dana Altman (05:05)

3. Reflections on Former Players: Dillon Brooks

Timestamps: 05:49 – 07:05

• Brooks’ Competitiveness and Edge:
  • Altman shares insight into Brooks’ time at Oregon, highlighting his leadership and drive—a quality that led them to the Elite Eight and Final Four.
  • Stresses Brooks’ love for basketball and competitiveness, characteristics the program prizes.
  • Memorable Moment:

    “He's one of those guys you love to have on your team. The opponents don't like him, but you'd love to have him on your team. And I still feel that way. I love the guy.”
    — Dana Altman (05:57)

4. Nate Biddle’s Progress and Player Resilience

Timestamps: 07:05 – 07:55

• Player Growth after Adversity:
  • Altman highlights Biddle’s return from injury and regards his perseverance as crucial.
  • The injury made Biddle appreciate the game more, resulting in a more focused and impactful presence last season.
  • Quote:

    “Everybody's good when times are good. You want to see if guys will fight back, you know, when things aren't going well.”
    — Dana Altman (07:14)

5. Jackson Shelstad’s Injury and Team Implications

Timestamps: 07:55 – 09:30

• Shelstad’s 6-Week Absence:

  • Altman explains that Shelstad’s injury, expected to sideline him for six weeks, will more significantly affect team cohesion than Shelstad individually, especially given the integration of new players.
  • Notes that having an experienced point guard is essential for developing team chemistry.
  • Quote:

    “I don't think it'll hurt Jackson as much as it'll hurt our team… it's great to have a point guard who knows the stuff.”
    — Dana Altman (08:05)

• Schedule Pressure:

  • Early season competition is particularly fierce (Auburn, San Diego State, Gonzaga, UCLA), and with Big Ten play starting in December, every game is crucial.
  • NCAA puts more weight on non-conference games than in the past.

6. Season Outlook, Depth, and Keys to Success

Timestamps: 09:30 – 11:21

• Preseason Ranking and Team Build:

  • Despite injuries, the team is viewed as a preseason top-20 contender when healthy.
  • Altman is optimistic due to strengthened inside depth (Nate, K.J., transfers Sean Stewart and Ezekiel Demir) and promising talent at guard.
  • Quote:

    “I think we've got enough guys and enough depth that, you know, we can play through a few injuries, play through a long season... If we continue to work and play together, I think we can be pretty good. So we'll see. But being healthy is a big part of it.”
    — Dana Altman (09:46)

• Success Factors:

  • Staying healthy, veteran leadership, enthusiasm, and thriving in close late-game situations are critical to elevating the team's season.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On why Altman still coaches:

  “Games are torture, but the practices are a lot of fun.”
  — Dana Altman (02:24)

• On Dillon Brooks:

  “He's one of those guys you love to have on your team. The opponents don't like him, but you'd love to have him on your team.”
  — Dana Altman (05:57)

• On Shelstad’s absence:

  “I don't think it'll hurt Jackson as much as it'll hurt our team… it's great to have a point guard who knows the stuff.”
  — Dana Altman (08:05)

• On program approach:

  “I think you gotta find guys that really love ball, are good teams.”
  — Dana Altman (05:05)

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Important Segment Timestamps

• Coaching longevity and staff stability: 02:12 – 04:47
• Recruiting adaptation: 04:47 – 05:49
• Reflections on Dillon Brooks: 05:49 – 07:05
• Nate Biddle’s recovery and mindset: 07:05 – 07:55
• Jackson Shelstad’s injury and impact: 07:55 – 09:30
• Season outlook, depth, and team prospects: 09:30 – 11:21

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Summary Takeaways

Coach Dana Altman remains energised about leading the Oregon program despite persistent retirement rumors, largely due to his love of practice and player development. The recruiting landscape has changed, but he remains focused on finding players with genuine passion for basketball, whether from high school or the portal. Shelstad’s injury is a significant hurdle for team development, compounded by a challenging early schedule and new Big Ten realities. However, Altman’s optimism about his roster depth and leadership suggests that, when fully healthy, Oregon could compete at a very high level this season—success hinging on health, experience, and execution in close games.

Transcript

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[Gary Parrish]

Hey there Gary Parrish. Welcome back to the CBS Sports Eye on College Basketball podcast, where we sometimes discuss camel fighting, dodo birds and leaky black. If you're watching on YouTube, you know what to do to the like button shouts to Brandon Davies. And if you haven't yet subscribed to the CBS Sports college basketball YouTube channel, please also do that while you're here. Let's get into it. Different deal today. As you'll soon realize, Matt Norlander is not here with me. And that's because I'm in Chicago for Big Ten Media Day. And while here, I sat down with most of the coaches and some of the players for quick conversations about their programs and college basketball in general. And we figured, or at least we hoped, that you guys might like to listen to those conversations. So we're placing them in the I own College Basketball feed. It's me, GP at Big Ten Media Day. The conversations I had with coaches and players. They are on tap. I hope you enjoy them right after this word from our partners.

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[Gary Parrish]

Gary Parish here with Oregon head coach Dana Altman, year 16 at Oregon and I gather already today you have addressed retirement rumors. I guess that's just something you have to do every few months I guess.

[Dana Altman]

As you get older, everybody assumes that you're going to give it up. But I've been Fortunate, Gary, starting 16 years here at Oregon. I had 16 years at Creighton, Kansas State for seven years, three with Coach Kruger. So been really fortunate. And so hopefully Oregon wants to keep me for a while yet. But I enjoy coach and I enjoy the fellas. Games are torture, but the practices are a lot of fun.

[Gary Parrish]

I guess, you know, the age is part of it for people who don't know you are 67 years old. And we did just watch somebody similarly aged walk away from the sport in recent weeks. And we've seen Jay Wright retire in recent years, Tony Bennett retired in recent years. But you're still recruiting at a high level. You got a big commitment recently that should suggest you don't have any plans on hanging up anytime soon. But I heard your comments from earlier. You. You still enjoy doing what you're doing and as long as you're healthy enough to do it, you plan to keep doing it.

[Dana Altman]

I'd like to, yeah. That's for sure. And I. Great staff, Gary, and that's so important. Tony Stubblefield is back with us and Tony's really good. Kevin McKenna's been with me forever. Brian Fish, Josh Jamison. You know, when guys, you have that consistency with your staff and we've been able to get really good players, that's always the most important thing. You have a chance and so been really fortunate. And Oregon's a great place to work, great place to coach and so hopefully we got a few years left.

[Gary Parrish]

Obviously it comes up in press conferences, evidence being today. Does it come up in recruiting and if so, how do you handle it?

[Dana Altman]

It does, you know, and I tell them I've, you know, I've got years on my contract yet and I'd like to coach. So, you know, but again, everything is different these days. Guys don't plan on coming and stand for four to five years like they used to. You know, if things don't work out, great and they're not one and dones or two and dones to the NBA, you know, they're probably leaving anyway. So it hasn't been quite as big a factor as it was, you know, say at Creighton when I had four and five year guys and Nate Biddle's in his fifth year, Jackson Shelston's in his third, K.J. evans in his third. So you still like those guys who've been around for a long time.

[Gary Parrish]

Obviously things have changed. Has your approach to recruiting changed at all you have to live in the transfer portal. Some you have to retain your players. That's more important than ever and more necessary than ever. But you're still recruiting high schools as well at a time where some coaches have backed off. Have you figured out the recipe?

[Dana Altman]

I haven't. I think anybody who tells you to have. You know, I keep talking to our coaches. We just got to find guys that love ball. You know, if. If they have one or two years and they love ball, you know, we want to work with them. You know, if they're a high school player and they love ball and want to develop, we want to work with them. But I. I think you gotta find guys that really love ball, are good teams. You know, there was never a question. Peyton Pritchard loved ball. Dillon Brooks loved ball. You know, we've had some guys that just love the game, and I think that's where it all starts. And if it's for one or two years, if it's for three or four, I really don't care, as long as the time they're there. They want to be at Oregon, and they love the game.

[Gary Parrish]

You mentioned Dylan Brooks. He's turned into a character in the NBA. Did you see those parts of him when he was with you at Oregon?

[Dana Altman]

Dylan's a great competitor. I'd take him back in a minute. I know he's out there a little bit. But you never question his love for the game, and you never question his competitiveness. We'd have never gone to the Final Four without his drive, his demands that he put on his teammates, his competitiveness. He's one of those guys you love to have on your team. The opponents don't like him, but you'd love to have him on your team. And I still feel that way. I love the guy. Like I said, we went to Elite Eight, a Final Four, and his competitiveness really gave us an edge.

[Gary Parrish]

As you know, like, I live in Memphis. We had him there for a while, and they obviously moved on from him. But the truth is, they haven't been the same since he left. You know, they lost something when they lost him.

[Dana Altman]

Gary, I'm just telling you, you want him on your team.

[Gary Parrish]

Yeah.

[Dana Altman]

And the first thing is he'll bring it every day to practice. He loves the game. He's always in the gym, game nights. And I know he can get overboard. You know, he did a few times for us, but. But he always brought it back. And that competitiveness always gave us an edge.

[Gary Parrish]

You mentioned Nate Biddle. Obviously had a great bounce Back season last season, 14 points, a little more than seven rebounds per contest. What's the next step for him?

[Dana Altman]

You know, I hope he just keeps getting better, extend his range a little bit. He's worked hard on his body to be a little bit more durable, play a few more minutes. But no, he, you know, fought back from injury, and you always like to see that in a player. Everybody's good when times are good. You want to see if guys will fight back, you know, when things aren't going well. He really prepared himself two years ago and then broke his wrist and missed the season. But I thought the injury may have done, you know, he sat there and he realized how much he loved the game, you know, and he missed it. And so I thought he came back with more focus last year, did a tremendous job for us and, you know, we're hoping he'll take another step.

[Gary Parrish]

His teammate, Jackson Shelstad. Rough news recently. Just how much does that set you back? He's going to be sidelined now for, it appears, four to six weeks.

[Dana Altman]

Yeah, he'll. He'll probably be out six weeks. And I don't think it'll hurt Jackson as much as it'll hurt our team. You know, just the development of our team with a lot of new guys, it's great to have a point guard who knows the stuff. You know, can get two wings that haven't played much with this or a big guy who hasn't played much with this, kind of give him direction. So I think it'll hurt, slow our team's development down more than it'll hurt Jackson. Jackson's in great shape. He'll keep himself in great shape. It is his right hand, so he won't be able to shoot much, but I just don't think it'll hurt him much. I think when he comes back, he'll be ready to go right away, but it will slow our team down some.

[Gary Parrish]

And with just the way the schedule unfolds now, it's different than it used to be. You've got the players era festival, obviously that's stacked competition. And then I believe you start Big Ten play in December. So maybe in a different era of basketball, you'd be like, we could get him back by January conference play, but now it's December conference play.

[Dana Altman]

Well, and the ncaa. Gary seems to look at those non conference games so hard that they really put an emphasis on November, you know, and who you're playing and how those games come out. And you know, we've got Auburn, San Diego State, Gonzaga, early, we got to go to ucla. So, yeah, you know, November and December are going to be really important for us and we're going to need to get Jackson back.

[Gary Parrish]

Last thing before I get you out of here. Obviously, when healthy, you've got a team that most people think is preseason top 20ish. You're not going to start healthy, but you should eventually get there. How good can this team be when the players who are supposed to be on the court are actually out there?

[Dana Altman]

Well, I like our depth inside with Nate and KJ back and then we added Sean Stewart from Ohio State and Ezekiel Demir from Turkey. So I like our inside game. I think we got great depth there. Jackson gives us experience at the guard spot. We brought a young man in from Elon, T.K. simpkins, who I think can add something, a talent from Texas, Dev Prior, that I think can give us something. Jamari Phillips, a freshman for us, is very talented. He's got to step up a little bit, play for us. But, you know, I think we've got enough guys and enough depth that, you know, we can play through a few injuries, play through a long season. We still have the longest collegiate season of any sport. You know, you start practice late September and you go till hopefully April. Got a full six months. You gotta stay healthy, gotta stay enthusiastic about the game. But I like our guys, you know, and I, I think we have a chance to have a solid team. If we continue to work and play together, I think we can be pretty good. So we'll see. But being healthy is a big part of it. Getting those older guys to lead and play through adversity will be a big part of it. And then always winning close games. You know, there's so many one possession, two possession games in college basketball that you got to get big defensive stops. You got to have some offensive possessions down the stretch that are, are really good to win a lot of close games.

[Gary Parrish]

Dana, it's always good to see you.

[Dana Altman]

Thanks, Gary.

[Gary Parrish]

Appreciate your time.

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[Dana Altman]

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[Dana Altman]

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