Oregon Basketball: What makes the Ducks the preseason Pac-12 favorites?

Oregon basketball missed the NCAA Tournament this past season. With an elite recruiting class coming in, could the Ducks rise to Pac-12 favorites next year?

Just one year after reaching the Final Four, Oregon basketball was not invited to the 2018 NCAA Tournament. They suffered a down season that saw them fall in the second round of the NIT. This was far from ideal but the Ducks do not look to be down for long. With several key returning players and a top-5 recruiting class coming in, Dana Altman’s team looks poised for another great year.

Before jumping too far into the roster for 2018-19, it is important to note that this past season was far from a disaster. While missing the NCAA Tournament was not the plan, the team still put together a solid 23-13 (10-8 Pac-12) record and a berth in the NIT. This might not be praised by the fanbase but it also should not be dismissed as a terrible season.

Heading into 2018-19, Oregon returns a fair number of their key contributors from last year. The notable players departing are MiKyle McIntosh (11.8 points, 6.1 rebounds), Elijah Brown (13.6 points, 3.3 rebounds) and Troy Brown (11.3 points, 6.3 rebounds, 3.2 assists). McIntosh and Elijah Brown were both graduate transfers in the first place so his departure was expected due to the exhaustion of their eligibility.

However, Brown’s decision to enter the NBA Draft and sign an agent was a bit of a surprise. The former McDonald’s All-American and No. 13 recruit in the nation had a solid freshman campaign with the Ducks and will likely be announced as a first-round pick in June.

Nonetheless, there is an abundant amount of talent on the 2018-19 roster for Dana Altman. Let’s take a look at what returns to Eugene and who will be making their first appearance on campus. From there, let’s analyze what the goals should be for the Ducks this season.