Oregon Basketball: Ducks will prove their one seed was no fluke

If Tyler Dorsey and Dillon Brooks return, Oregon basketball could make the Final Four for the first time since 1939.

After finishing 28-6 with Pac-12 regular season and conference tournament titles, the Oregon Ducks were rewarded with a number one seed in the NCAA Tournament.

But with Kansas, North Carolina, Virginia and Michigan State viewed as the favorites to win the chip, the Ducks were underestimated. They were viewed as the weakest of all the number one seeds and many experts had the Ducks losing to St. Joseph’s or Duke in the early rounds.

Instead, Dana Altman’s squad looked like the most impressive top seed in the first round when they pounded Holy Cross by 39. They were taken to the brink by St. Joe’s in the Round of 32, but Tyler Dorsey and Dillon Brooks took over down the stretch, giving the Ducks a five point victory.

In the Sweet 16, the Ducks looked like National Title contenders, as they showed off their versatility, balance, high skill level and transition attack.

Unfortunately for Duck Nation, Oregon looked inexperienced and overwhelmed against Buddy Hield and the Oklahoma Sooners in the Elite Eight. They lost by 12, but the game was never close. The Sooners led from wire to wire, Hield was unstoppable and Oregon had trouble defending the opposing guards off the bounce.

Reaching the Elite Eight is a step in the right direction for the Ducks, but they are still looking for their first Final Four berth since 1939.

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Their best chance to get the monkey off their back is 2016-17. The Ducks will bring back virtually their entire roster, add some solid newcomers and will have more experience after earning three games on the biggest stage in all of college basketball.

Altman will lose reserve forward Dwayne Benjamin and second leading scorer, Elgin Cook, but they are also likely to return Tyler Dorsey (declared for the NBA Draft without an agent), Dillon Brooks (declared for the NBA Draft without an agent), Jordan Bell, Chris Boucher, Casey Benson, Kendall Small and Roman Sorkin. They could add another ball handler in former Villanova point guard Dylan Ennis, who applied for a hardship waiver after sitting out all of last season with a foot injury.

Four-star sharp shooter Payton Pritchard will come to Eugene, along with three-star small forward Keith Smith and three-star big man Michael Cage Jr.

Oregon also brings in one of the top JUCO players in the nation, Kavell Bigby-Williams, a 6’10” power forward from England.

This Pac-12 school has continuity, versatility (again), depth, experience and athleticism. Most importantly, the Ducks have a great balance of young talent and upperclassmen.

Arizona will be looming after a high quality recruiting class, but the Ducks have the players that have been through the gauntlet of the Pac-12 and the NCAA Tournament. They tasted a disappointing blowout loss to Oklahoma and they almost certainly have a chip on their shoulder. Oregon is projected as top five team in the preseason poll and their offense may be one of the more potent units in America.

Next: Top 10 National Title finishes

Freshman will be dominant next season in college basketball – this is one of the best overall recruiting classes in a while – but one way to separate the powerhouses at the top of the rankings will be the returning players and if they are capable of competing at a high level.

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