Oregon Center Nate Bittle a Gameday Decision vs. Arizona State

The third-year center is nearing a return to the court after suffering a wrist injury.

Oregon Ducks center Nate Bittle is a gameday decision against the Arizona State Sund Devils on Thursday as he’s been recovering from a wrist injury that he suffered against Tennessee State on Nov. 17.

It’s been eight weeks since his surgery, which was the targeted return date for Bittle. According to Oregon head coach Dana Altman, Bittle was close to coming back to the court last week during a road swing against Colorado and Utah, but he ultimately didn’t and the Ducks suffered their first two conference losses.

On Tuesday, Altman gave another update on Bittle and his availability for this week's home games against Arizona State and Arizona.

“He didn’t feel comfortable last Sunday,” Altman said of Bittle. “But he practiced hard today, so we’ll see how it feels tomorrow. And I won’t make any promises, but if he gets through tomorrow and gets through shootaround and he feels okay, I’d sure like to play him.”

Before Bittle suffered his wrist injury three games into the season in a 92-67 home win over Tennessee State on Nov. 17, he scored nine points in 14 minutes shooting 50% from the field.

Nate Bittle has been sidelined for 15 games :: Darby Winter/Ducks Digest

Oregon Ducks center Nate Bittle in a game against the Colorado Buffaloes :: Scott Boldt/Ducks Digest

The third-year center got injured two games after N’Faly Dante suffered a knee injury against Georgia in the season-opener during the Hall of Fame Series in Las Vegas.

It took Dante two games for him to make it back into the starting lineup, playing an average of 18 minutes against Cal and Colorado. He looked gassed in those two games and maybe it was difficult to keep his conditioning up while rehabbing from his knee injury. 

Dante scored a season-high 23 points in his second start of the season against Utah.

Bittle’s return to the starting lineup will most likely follow Dante’s return to court.

Having Bittle back for the Arizona game on Saturday would be huge for the Ducks as Oregon will need the height of Bittle and Dante against the No. 9 Wildcats.

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