Dominic Artis would slice to the basket and either finish with a bucket at the rim or, having drawn an extra defender, dish out to a teammate for the open shot.

That was January. This is March.

After being shackled to the bench with a protective boot for almost all of February, Artis has returned to average just under 17 minutes per game off the bench in the last three games. He has shot a combined 5-for-15 from the floor since his return, with all of his makes coming from behind the three-point line. Yes, Artis hasn’t made a two-point basket or even attempted a free throw in his return. And he hasn’t setup too many opportunities for his comrades, averaging less than two assists.

Some have attributed the Ducks’ last two losses to a rusty Artis. Possibly Artis needs to reclaim his starting role to get back in the swing of things. But at the Duck’s final practice in Eugene on Monday (before their first game in the Pac-12 Tournament on Thursday) head coach Dana Altman declined to disclose if Artis would be in the starting five soon.

If it is just rust Artis is battling, Oregon fans hope his month off can generate some energy to what former Oregon coach, turned Pac-12 analyst Ernie Kent speculates as weariness.

“That is a mentally fatigued basketball team to me, as well as some physical fatigue,” Kent said on a media conference call on Monday.

Senior E.J. Singler was focused on what was ahead rather than the road behind, speaking on Tuesday about how the losses to Utah and Colorado were distant history.

“It is behind us now, we have had our time to dwell on it, but we can’t anymore,” Singler said.