Oregon basketball lost a lot this offseason, but have reloaded with many transfers and talented freshmen. How will the Ducks fare with their new look team?
The Oregon Ducks had an amazing 2016-17 season where they reached the Final Four for the first time since 1939. They had one of the most talented rosters in the country with future pros at every position. Unfortunately, most of their team took the jump to the professional ranks, which leaves Oregon with very few holdovers from last season’s incredible team.
Six of Oregon’s top seven scorers are gone and four of them left with at least one year of eligibility remaining which only intensifies the impact of their departure. Dillon Brooks, Tyler Dorsey, and Jordan Bell were all early entrants into the NBA Draft and were all selected in the second round.
Brooks is a versatile shot-making forward who led the Ducks in scoring and has made an early impression with the Memphis Grizzlies. Dorsey is a sharpshooting wing who has made the Atlanta Hawks roster and Bell has been referred to as the steal of the second round as his stellar defense has already earned him some early minutes with the defending champion Golden State Warriors.
Oregon loses two key seniors from their rotation as well. The shot-blocking and floor spacing big man Chris Boucher has also departed after exhausting his eligibility. Boucher will join Bell on the Warriors but as a two-way player. Dylan Ennis was the other senior and his slashing and stingy defense will definitely be missed.
Lastly, two other rotation players chose to leave Oregon for their final seasons of eligibility. Glue guy PG Casey Benson transferred to Grand Canyon, where his brother is an assistant coach, and Kavell Bigby-Williams is off to LSU as a sit-one-play-one transfer.
Despite the many defections from standout players, Oregon’s cupboard is not bare. The Ducks have reloaded with numerous transfers and talented recruits who should lead Oregon back into the top 1/3 of the conference.
Payton Pritchard, the lone returning starter, should take that next step and establish himself as one of the best players in the Pac-12 after a strong performance this summer. Keith Smith and Roman Sorkin were used sporadically last season, but as the only other returners, they will need to produce.
This article will analyze Oregon’s starters, reserves, and non-conference schedule. It will conclude with a team overview where I rank the Ducks both nationally and in their conference.