Oregon Basketball: 2018-19 season preview for the Ducks
Season Projections
On the whole, Oregon should be in great shape heading into this season. Even though there is an overall lack of experience on the roster, there might not be a more underappreciated returning guard in the country than Payton Pritchard. He is a poised lead guard who should have no trouble not only creating for himself but also generating open looks for his talented teammates. Around him, head coach Dana Altman has assembled a versatile and talented roster.
Oregon should have one of the better defenses in the nation this season thanks to the Wooten/Bol frontcourt but the potential of walking flamethrower Louis King could also lead to some big scoring outputs as well. The Ducks seem to have the perfect balance of experience and youth heading into this season with several other reasons for optimism. Additionally, it is important to mention that Coach Altman is one of the best in the business and his roster boasts plenty of versatility and athleticism to work with.
With all of these factors taken into account, it is easy to see why many are projecting the Ducks as a preseason top-15 team in the nation. Oregon should be the clear frontrunner to win the Pac-12 and potentially make a deep NCAA Tournament run. If all of the youngsters immediately step into their roles well and the team gels together, watch out for Oregon to be a very dangerous team.
Next. Preseason top-25 power rankings. dark
Quite simply, 2018-19 could be a special year for Oregon basketball. Coach Altman has garnered the attention of many on the west coast already with the additions of several NBA-caliber prospects to go with some solid returning talent. Here is to hoping that the Ducks get back on track this year.
Projections: 1st in the Pac-12 – No. 4 seed in the NCAA Tournament