Oregon guard Brennan Rigsby will remain out for "awhile" according to Dana Altman
Throughout the first three games of the 2022-23 season, the Oregon men’s basketball program has been missing some major firepower.
According to Ducks’ head coach Dana Altman, that will continue to be the case for the foreseeable future.
Oregon (2-1) is without guards Brennan Rigsby and Jermaine Cousinard, as well as forwards Ethan Butler and Lok Wur due to injury.
The Ducks are gearing up for the most difficult stretch of their non-conference schedule but will continue to play with a short rotation through the final week of November as none of those players will be available for Sunday’s showdown with Houston, nor the PK85 Invitational in Portland from Nov. 24-27.
“No, no. We’re this way for a while yet,” Altman said when asked if Rigsby or any of Oregon’s players who are currently injured might be nearing a return.
When asked specifically for a timeline on when Rigsby might be available to play, Altman offered this.
“It’ll be a while yet,” Altman said. “It won’t be next week. He won’t play in Portland.”
Rigsby, an athletic, sharp-shooting point guard who spent last season at Northwest Florida State College, was one of the more highly-regarded JUCO prospects in the 2022 recruiting cycle. He received offers from Oklahoma, Missouri, and countless others.
But the 6-foot-3 sophomore is dealing with a left foot injury that has delayed the start to his Oregon career. He was in a walking boot earlier this month, but was seen without the boot during the Montana State game.
With Rigsby, Couisnard, Butler, and Wur sidelined, Altman said the Ducks will continue to roll with a lineup of eight scholarship players and three walk-ons.
He praised the contributions of walk-on guard Gabe Reichle, who played 11 minutes last Tuesday and got into the game in the first half. The 6-foot-2 Wilsonville, Ore. native proved to be a valuable figure against Montana State’s 1-3-1 zone defense.
“Heck, he’s really valuable. We’ve got eight scholarship guys and three walk-ons,” Altman said. “You’ve gotta have 10 to practice. … if it weren’t for those three guys, we would really be in trouble. The four guys who aren’t playing aren’t playing; they aren’t practicing and they’re not out there.”
Oregon rolled to a bounceback win over Montana State last Tuesday but will have their hands full when they host the No. 3 Houston Cougars Sunday at Matthew Knight Arena 6:30 p.m. PT.
“They’re really good. They’re the No. 2, No. 3 team in the country and that’s where they should be,” Altman said of Houston. “They’re experienced. Their guards are experienced. Inside, they’ve got big bodies — athletic bodies. really difficult assignment. Great opportunity, but a very tough team to match up with, with their depth and experience.”
