Seattle U didn’t just play Oregon in their first exhibition game on Thursday, they absolutely *handled* them with a 71-65 win. You read that right. The Ducks, a program that’s been in the news for all the wrong reasons lately, just got straight up embarrassed by our very own Redhawks. This isn’t some throwaway game either, especially after Dana Altman, their potential Hall of Fame coach, abruptly retired right before Big Ten Media Days.
Oregon’s Season Is Already Looking Like A Dumpster Fire
Man, the Ducks are in a rough spot. We’ve been side-eyeing their roster for a while now, and honestly, the concerns were totally valid *before* their coach packed it in. Then Altman, a guy you’d think would stick around, just bails right before Big Ten Media Days? And then they go out and get beat, straight up, by Seattle U 71-65? Come on. You gotta wonder what’s going on down there in Eugene. This isn’t a good look for a program that’s supposed to be, well, good. Taking a loss like this, right out of the gate, against a team like Seattle U, just screams “trouble ahead.”
Don’t Sleep On Exhibition Games, They Tell You A LOT
Now, I know what some of you are thinking, “Exhibition games? Who cares?” And yeah, sometimes they’re totally irrelevant. Last year, Cincinnati beat Michigan 100-98 in an exhibition, and then Cincinnati missed the NCAA Tournament and fired their coach Wes Miller. Michigan? They went on to win the title and were one of the most dominant teams in the last 25 years. Even Dusty May, who’s now coaching the Dallas Mavericks, had a home preseason loss on his ledger!
But sometimes, these games are HUGE warning signs. Remember when Georgetown beat No. 9 Kentucky 84-70? That should’ve been a hint that Kentucky’s offense was gonna be a disaster, especially without point guard Jaland Lowe. Georgetown ended up 16-18, so their positive takeaway didn’t matter, but Kentucky’s struggles sure did. Or how about BYU’s 78-76 win over North Carolina, where AJ Dybantsa dropped 18 points, eight boards, three steals, and three blocks, and Caleb Wilson had 22 points, 10 rebounds, and three blocks? That data proved super valuable. Both those guys were two of the best players in the sport before going in the lottery!
And then there was Oklahoma State’s 97-95 win over No. 20 Auburn. On paper, everyone knew Auburn’s defense was gonna be worse after losing Johni Broome and Dylan Cardwell, but getting *shredded* by Oklahoma State was a massive warning. Auburn’s defense finished 109th in efficiency in 2025-26! So yeah, Seattle U’s win? It matters. It tells us something.
The Season’s Just Starting, And We’ve Already Got Mayhem
It’s not just the Pacific Northwest getting wild, either. The takes were flying this week after Florida, who’s probably going to be the No. 1 team in Monday’s preseason AP Top 25 poll, lost 82-76 to Baylor in overtime on Sunday. And North Carolina? They got absolutely annihilated by Indiana in Michael Malone’s second exhibition game. This is just the start of the season, and teams are already getting exposed.
So, what does this all mean for our Seattle U Redhawks? It means they’re not backing down. It means they’re ready to throw hands with anyone, even a so-called Power 5 school in a down year. For Oregon, though? With Altman gone and a shocking loss to Seattle U on their record already, those “totally valid” concerns about their roster are looking more like a full-blown crisis. You love to see it when Seattle teams step up, and Seattle U just sent a loud message to the rest of the league. Keep those eyes peeled on the Redhawks, Seattle!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by CBS Sports.
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