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After a slow first year, the former 5-star recruit has made big gains this offseason in an effort to find his place in the rotation.
Ryan Bittle won’t try and get in the head of his son, but he can lend his perspective as a parent.
For Bittle’s entire time as a basketball father, his son Nate has been the best player on the floor. He can point to Nate’s 40-point triple double in the state tournament his freshman year as one of the first big, “Whoa” moments, but really, it’s been big dreams or bust for this family from Central Point ever since Nate’s growth spurt matched his handle.
But last season was different. As a freshman with the Oregon men’s basketball team, Bittle was no longer the best player on the floor. In truth, he played sparingly, averaging 7 minutes and 1.7 points per game as he adjusted to the college level and the demands of coach Dana Altman.
“It can be a little frustrating as a parent,” Ryan said, “but my thing with Nate from Day 1 has been telling him that there will always be someone that wants to be better than you. You have to keep getting better. You have to get more physical, stronger — and it comes down to that blueprint that coach Altman talks about.”
Nate and Altman talked a lot last season. They talked about goals and focus and how Nate can find his place on the court, even as the Ducks continue to bring in top-level big men to compete for minutes. The Ducks return a collection of centers, led by starter N’Faly Dante, and also added Kel’el Ware — the No. 6 player in the 2022 class.
Minutes could evaporate quickly this fall, and to the dad who watched his son become one of Oregon’s best high school players and to the coach trusted with his development, it seems like a switch flipped.
Just before leaving for next week’s preseason tour through Canada, Altman did something he rarely does: he offered up some praise and encouragement for the young player.
“Nate Bittle, first of all — I was after Nate all last year,” Altman said. “He and I had more conversations about playing harder, working harder. But I’m really pleased with his efforts. He’s bringing it in practice, trying to play through some bumps and bruises. Working on his body a little bit.
“So, he’s made a big jump.”
Ryan said he saw a difference in the way Nate went about his work this offseason.
“It’s a little different being an 18-year-old stepping in and playing against 20-to-22-year-olds. The competition and every day work he has to put in is just at a different level,” Ryan said. “He really recognized that last year and put it to work this offseason.
”It’s not going to happen overnight. He’s got the intangibles to be a really great player and I think he has that in his head now too and is working towards that.”
He’s also searching for a little more consistency on the golf course. Always the competitors, Ryan and Nate like to duke it out on the links, where the three-inch extensions added to Nate’s clubs to fit his frame offer a massive advantage off the tee.
“He’s drove a couple of greens that were like 350 yards,” Ryan said. “He can really pound it when he keeps it straight — that’s only 50 percent of the time.”
— Tyson Alger
@tysonalger
