With one week left in the regular season, Oregon men’s basketball is in a position it had hoped to be when the season began in November. Only Colorado and Utah stand in the way of a regular season conference title for the Ducks and if UO can get wins against the Buffaloes and Utes on Thursday and Saturday, they will be kings of the Pac-12 conference for the first time since 2002.

“I’m excited for these guys,” head coach Dana Altman said. “I’m excited, we have the chance to win the league and it’s fun.”

Colorado (9-7 in Pac-12 play) was victorious in the final minutes against Oregon when the teams played in Eugene and it took a second half push from the Ducks to take down Utah (3-13) when they last played.

“We gave one easy away to Colorado when they played here and it is time to go and get it back,” Arsalan Kazemi said.

The Ducks’ backcourt is limping into the final stretch as just when Dominic Artis returned from injury, Damyean Dotson went down with a hip injury. Johnathan Loyd missed Tuesday’s practice with an illness.

“It is always something,” Altman said. “I think by Thursday Dot will be ready, we’re hoping D.A. will play a little more. Hopefully Johnny’s is just a 24-hour thing.”

Artis, who played 12 minutes against Oregon State will play a bit more in this weeks road games according to Altman, who said he hopes to have Artis back at 20 minutes per game by Pac-12 tournament time.