“Here to contend for a Big Ten title”: After Oregon’s historic $1.5 million NIL deal, NCAAB analysts hype up Ducks stars
NCAAB analysts John Fanta and Terrence Oglesby have praised the Oregon Ducks after their sensational Players Era NIL festival win on Saturday. The festival is the first-ever NIL MTE in college basketball history, with the Ducks earning $1.5 million in prize money for their efforts.
Speaking on the "DTF Podcast," Fanta called Oregon a top-10 team in college basketball because of their impressive start to the season. He said:
"It doesn't matter who they're playing right now ... the Oregon Ducks are here to stay, they're here to contend for a Big Ten title, and because they can count on different guys through the course of the game ... the Oregon Ducks are a top-10 team right now, today, in college basketball, and deservedly so." (2:32 mark)
Fanta also highlighted Ducks senior guard Keeshawn Barthelemy's play this season.
"Keeshawn Barthelemy has taken a big leap for this program in his ability to score and his ability to make things happen," Fanta said. (1:42 mark)
Oglesby said he was impressed by Ducks center Nate Bittle.
"The guy that really stood out to me; Nate Bittle. What a week he had," Oglesby said. "I was just so impressed by how he kinda managed the game ... just his ability to go inside and out, and really pass out of a double team. I thought he was special." (2:59 mark)
Watch the full segment below.
Oregon Ducks win big in first-ever NIL tournament in Las Vegas
The Ducks ended their trip to Las Vegas on a high note, securing three consecutive victories to claim the Players Era Festival championship and a hefty $1.5 million NIL prize in the process. They triumphed over Texas A&M and San Diego State before capping it off with a win against No. 9 Alabama to claim the first Players Era tournament crown.
Las Vegas has often been a successful venue for the Ducks, with multiple Pac-12 tournament wins in the city, and this year proved no exception. Oregon overcame double-digit deficits in their games against Texas A&M and San Diego State.
In their matchup with Alabama, a higher-ranked opponent, the game was tightly contested. Nate Bittle’s decisive putback dunk with just 4.4 seconds remaining secured the Ducks’ most significant victory of the season and a paycheck for every player on the team.
Now boasting an impressive 8-0 record to start their season, the Ducks will head into Big Ten play this week as they open their schedule against USC. Their strong start, highlighted by these tournament wins, also earned them a spot in the latest AP Top 25 rankings, where they now sit at No. 12.
The Flying Ducks will head to USC for their Big Ten opener on Wednesday, Dec. 4, and will be looking to extend their win streak and climb up the AP rankings.