Oregon Basketball: 2017-18 season preview for the Ducks
Overview and Ranking
- Can the newcomers replace the lost production?
Oregon lost as much talent from last season as any team in the country. The Ducks only return one starter (Pritchard) and two sporadically used reserves (Smith and Sorkin), but they have reloaded with transfers and a strong incoming recruiting class.
McIntosh, Elijah Brown, and White were essential late additions on the transfer market. McIntosh was arguably the best player on a very good Illinois St that narrowly missed an at-large berth. Brown was a big-time scorer for New Mexico. White is a former top recruit who has battled injuries, but if healthy, provides skill and experience in the frontcourt.
Oregon’s recruiting class may prove to be just as important. The stellar 2017 class is led by Troy Brown who is a potential one-and-done prospect, but Abu Kigab and Victor Bailey will also be immediate impact players. The sleeper in the recruiting class is Kenny Wooten who should be a high-end defensive center in the future.
These newcomers have the talent and experience to keep Oregon above water and to get the Ducks back to the Big Dance. The newcomers are not as good as the stars of last season’s Final Four team, but they are good enough to keep Oregon nationally relevant.
- Who steps forward in the frontcourt?
Jordan Bell, Chris Boucher, and Dillon Brooks are off to the NBA and Kavell Bigby-Williams has transferred. This means Oregon’s whole frontcourt rotation is gone.
Previously mentioned MiKyle McIntosh will bring stability to the PF position, but there are many question marks surrounding his frontcourt teammates. Paul White will likely see a bulk of the minutes at center. White is a skilled face-up player, but lacks the physicality and rebounding ability of a traditional center. Roman Sorkin and Keith Smith will see larger roles at the C and PF positions respectively, but they are unproven. Freshman Kenny Wooten has potential as a rim protector, but is he ready for a prominent role?
The frontcourt is Oregon’s main weakness and will keep them out of the top tier in the Pac-12. Playing White at the five will give Oregon a nice boost on offense, but potential struggles on the glass loom large.
It will be interesting to see if Coach Altman uses McIntosh at the five in a small ball lineup. This will help Oregon get more skill and athleticism on the court. They may struggle to rebound with traditional big men like Sorkin and White so playing a small lineup may be advantageous.
- Can Payton Pritchard match his strong summer performance?
Pritchard needs to take a major step forward and become Oregon’s best player for them to reach their full potential. Pritchard showed flashes as a freshman and was a breakout performer with the USA U-19 team this summer. He can score in a variety of ways and put up solid assist numbers as a part-time PG. He has the potential to be an All-Pac-12 performer and should see his production skyrocket with a bigger role.
Next: Ranking the top PAC-12 transfers
I have Oregon ranked 27th nationally and 3rd in the Pac 12 behind Arizona and USC. The Ducks have more talent and experience than they are given credit for. If Oregon can answer these questions, they will be in great shape for another NCAA Tournament bid.