Oregon center Nate Bittle returns to practice after missing multiple games due to illness
Oregon was forced to roll with just eight healthy scholarship players during its road trip against the Los Angeles schools over the weekend. If Monday’s practice is any indicator, though, center Nate Bittle could be making a return to the court this week.
Bittle, who missed the Ducks’ Thursday win over USC and Saturday loss to UCLA due to illness, was back at practice on Monday. Head coach Dana Altman didn’t have an exact timetable for Bittle, but the 7-foot junior seems to be trending in the right direction.
“We had tests run today. I’m not sure what the results were, but he felt good enough to practice,” Altman said of Bittle. “Went about half the time and seemed to be moving okay.”
In five games this season, Bittle is averaging 10 points and 4.4 rebounds per game on 49% shooting. He suffered a broken wrist in Oregon’s third game of the season and did not return to game action until Jan. 25. He started in the Ducks’ win over Arizona State and loss to Arizona in late January.
Altman also provided a positive update on senior guard Jermaine Couisnard, who left Saturday’s game and headed to the locker room briefly before returning to the game. He played 35 minutes and scored six points in the Ducks’ loss to the Bruins.
“He just turned his ankle,” Altman said. “You could see on the film — his foot just flipped over.”
When asked for a status update on Keeshawn Barthelemy, Altman did not offer any new details. Barthelemy suffered an apparent serious ankle injury during Oregon’s Jan. 27 loss to Arizona. Altman said last week that Barthelemy, as well as freshman forward Mookie Cook, will likely miss the rest of the season.
“I didn’t get a chance to talk to (athletic trainer Clay Jamieson) today,” Altman said when asked about Barthelemy. “I was in my office all day and got down right at practice, so I didn’t get a chance to catch up with him. So, as far as I know, it’s still the same as it was a week ago.”
Barthelemy, who transferred to Oregon from Colorado ahead of the 2022-23 season, is averaging 8.0 points and 2.4 assists in 17 games this season, including six starts.
Oregon (15-7, 7-4 Pac-12) will look to get back on track this weekend when it hosts Washington (Feb. 8, 7 p.m.) and Washington State (Feb. 10, 2 p.m.) at Matthew Knight Arena in Eugene.
