Report: Oregon's Keeshawn Barthelemy will remain sidelined until January
Injuries have told the story of Oregon’s season through its first 12 games.
The Ducks’ have spent much of the year without three of their top four guards and have seen eight scholarship players miss time due to injuries.
According to a report, Oregon will be without one of its key backcourt options for the foreseeable future.
Keeshawn Barthelemy, a junior guard who transferred in from Colorado during the offseason, will be out until “sometime in January” according to a report from Jon Rothstein of CBS Sports.
Barthelemy is averaging 8.5 points and 26.5 minutes per game in four games this season. But he suffered an ankle injury in Oregon’s Nov. 20 loss to Houston and has been sidelined since then. For much of that time, Barthelemy has been in a walking boot.
As a sophomore with the Buffs last season, Barthelemy started 28 games and averaged 11.1 points per game while shooting at an efficient clip. He was expected to spell Will Richardson at point guard this year.
But with Barthelemy and senior guard Jermaine Couisnard sidelined, Richardson has averaged 39.0 minutes per game over Oregon’s past seven games.
Head coach Dana Altman said last week that Barthelemy, Couisnard, forward Ethan Butler, and center Nate Bittle will all remain out until at least the Ducks’ Dec. 31 showdown with Oregon State in Eugene.
“We’ve got enough guys. We’ve just gotta grind through it,” Altman said. “We’re gonna have ups and downs through the season. We got a little short-handed, but I look across the country and a lot of teams are shorthanded. it is what it is.
“I’m disappointed for Keeshawn and I’m disappointed for Jermaine and I’m disappointed for guys who can’t play — Ethan and Nate. But, for the rest of the guys, it’s an opportunity to take ahold of it. We’ve gotta find a way to compete and win games.”
One bright spot for the Ducks has been the emergence of sophomore guard Brennan Rigsby since he returned from injury.
Rigsby, who transferred in from Northwest Florida State College last season, has arguably been the Ducks’ most impactful player over the last three games. He is averaging 9.2 points and 3.2 rebounds in 30.8 minutes per game in five games this season.
“You see what a big lift Brennan has given us, getting one guy back,” Altman said following Oregon’s Dec. 14 win over UC Riverside. “(Lök (Wur’s) gotten back and given us some good minutes — he was out for a long time. Hopefully, sooner than later, we get Jermaine back and Keeshawn and Nate, Ethan.”
Oregon (7-5, 1-1 Pac-12) is scheduled to face Utah Valley State Tuesday at Mattew Knight Arena. The game is scheduled to tip off at 7:30 p.m. PT and will air on Pac-12 Networks.
