A pair of Oregon men’s basketball players will sit at a convention center podium in the shadow of Chicago O’Hare International Airport, answering questions Thursday as part of Big Ten media day. Guard Fred Payne and forward Sean Stewart will be forced to answer for news they’re likely still processing: Head coach Dana Altman is walking away into retirement less than a month before the Ducks tip off their season.
Altman on Wednesday became the latest to follow what has become a troubling trend for big-time college basketball coaches: fall retirements. Last year, Bruce Pearl stepped away from Auburn (in a clear power play to ensure his son replaced him) in late September. The year before, Tony Bennett retired from Virginia in mid-October, while Jim Larrañaga never came back after Christmas break to a disappointing Miami squad. Even if their moves are well-intentioned, the surprise retirements makes the college game even more unstable.
