The Oregon Ducks suffered a lot of losses last season. Their star player never made it to 2019, as Bol Bol suffered a season ending injury back in December of 2018. The Ducks never got going at top-speed last season due to the Bol injury and others that plagued the team to the point they only had EIGHT scholarship players facing off against Boise State back in December, but they managed to make the tournament and earn a Sweet 16 appearance before being knocked out by eventual champion, Virginia.
This season, Oregon is looking to show that they are one of the top programs in the west and in college basketball. Dana Altman’s Ducks have fared well under his leadership, but they have yet to take the next step. Could they make an Elite Eight or Final Four this season like in 2016 and 2017 respectively? Let’s get into breaking down the Oregon Ducks.
Key Returners
- Payton Pritchard
- Victor Bailey Jr.
- Will Richardson
The Oregon Ducks don’t return a lot of players from last season’s team, but that doesn’t mean the cupboard is empty. Many are more focused on the newcomers for the Ducks, and we’ll get into that in a bit, but they are returning quality players. The most exciting returner is leading assist and steals man from last season, Payton Pritchard.
Pritchard averaged 12.9 points, 3.9 rebounds, 4.6 assists, and 1.8 steals in 35.5 minutes of playing time. His role on the team is going to be increased and he is probably going to play 30+ minutes a game still. Pritchard is a candidate for Pac-12 Preseason Player of the Year and will be a candidate for the POY at the end of the season in the Pac-12. Expect Pritchard to bring it this season on offense and defense as he leads a young Oregon team this season.
Victor Bailey Jr. comes back for another season after averaging 7.4 points and 2 rebounds in 19.1 minutes a game. Bailey will be playing alongside Pritchard plenty this season and after shooting 39.8% from three last season, will be one of the go-to shooters for Oregon this season. Also, Bailey shot 91.1% from the free-throw line last season and will be automatic this season from the charity stripe as well. Bailey’s minutes could be shared with Will Richardson, a do-it-all guy who averaged 6.0 points and just under 3.0 rebounds and assists per game last season, who will be valuable coming off the bench this season.
Friendly reminder that Bol Bol is 7’2″ with this type of skill.
??: @GoDucks pic.twitter.com/xuXMVYawlb
— SLAM (@SLAMonline) October 2, 2019
Key Losses
- Bol Bol
- Paul White
- Louis King
The Ducks lost three of their top four scorers last season. Bol Bol, Paul White, and Louis King were so valuable to Oregon last season. Bol Bol unfortunately only played in 9 games last season, so while he is a huge loss, he isn’t necessarily the most important loss. A one-and-done type guy who went to the NBA after a season isn’t a surprise. Paul White graduated, so that was expected, but still a big loss without his 10.6 points and 3.9 rebounds a game. However, Louis King is a big loss.
Louis King wasn’t projected as a one-and-done player all season last year, but with so many team injuries, King got his playing time and shined during it. He was the second leading scorer (first after Bol Bol went down with an injury) with 13 points a game to go along with 5.3 rebounds. King ultimately went undrafted with many scouts and teams worried about his strength and how raw he still was when he left Oregon. Louis King could have easily come back to school to work on his game, and the Ducks are left thinking what could have been with a sophomore Louis King.
Key Newcomers
- N’Faly Dante
- CJ Walker
- Addison Patterson
- Isaac Johnson
- Chandler Lawson
- Shakur Juiston
The Ducks brought in the nation’s 4th ranked recruiting class this season. Highlighted by N’Faly Dante and CJ Walker, this class is oozing with size and athleticism. Of their five highest-ranked recruits in the 2019 class, four of them are big men, and all five stand at least 6-foot-6. N’Faly Dante and CJ Walker have one-and-done potential and should both start for the Ducks this season. Dana Altman also sprinkled in some four-star talent that will likely spend a few seasons in Eugene, Oregon. It isn’t just freshmen either, UNLV transfer Shakur Juiston is the perfect wing addition for this team after averaging 13.9 points and 9.7 rebounds in 41 games played for the Runnin’ Rebels.
This class is ridiculously talented and with the length this class has, and the talent they have, they should be able to get serious playing time in the Pac-12. Oregon is going to be in a great position to take the conference title and pull off a deep tourney run this March with this class and the returners they have. Don’t be surprised if a combination of Dante, Walker, and Payton Pritchard lead the Ducks to an Elite Eight or Final Four this season.
Projected Starting Five
- Payton Pritchard
- Addison Patterson
- Shakur Juiston
- CJ Walker
- N’Faly Dante
This could be a surprise to some, but Oregon’s starting lineup will only feature one returning player. I could see Patterson coming off the bench in place of more experienced guys like Bailey, Jr., and Richardson, but I think Patterson will rise and take over that starting role at some point. They have a lot of talent and length in this lineup and honestly, it is a lineup I’m excited for.
Season Outlook
I’m high on Oregon and the reasons why should be no shock to anyone. They lost a lot, but with Payton Pritchard as floor general alongside all of this talent. . . whew! Not to mention that Dana Altman has shown that he can coach big time talent with the short period with Bol Bol, Louis King, his time with Dillon Brooks, and he has been making consistent runs into the NCAA Tournament.
Oregon is going to be a fun team to watch and they are going to easily win the Pac-12. Looking at the schedule, I see early games that can boost their rankings early in the season. Neutral site games against Memphis and Seton Hall in November will show us what to expect from this Oregon team this season. Bottom line, they need to win one of those games, because their conference schedule will not give them the quality wins they will need come March, besides Washington.
Record Prediction: 25-6 (14-4)
Oregon is going to win most of their out of conference games but will drop at least a couple. I think they ultimately lose to either Memphis or Seton Hall and then drop a random game before Pac-12 play starts. As far as the conference is concerned, they should win the conference, but they are going to lose a couple of games they shouldn’t and Washington isn’t a pushover team this season, so they will be challenged by the Huskies. Just as Coach Altman does every year, his squad will be ready come March.
