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Oregon Basketball: 2019-20 season preview for the Ducks

By Lukas Harkins

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - MARCH 14: Payton Pritchard #3 of the Oregon Ducks sets up a play against the Utah Utes during a quarterfinal game of the Pac-12 basketball tournament at T-Mobile Arena on March 14, 2019 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Ducks defeated the Utes 66-54. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - MARCH 14: Payton Pritchard #3 of the Oregon Ducks sets up a play against the Utah Utes during a quarterfinal game of the Pac-12 basketball tournament at T-Mobile Arena on March 14, 2019 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Ducks defeated the Utes 66-54. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) /
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SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA – MARCH 24: Pritchard #3 of the Ducks shoots. (Photo by Yong Teck Lim/Getty Images)
SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA – MARCH 24: Pritchard #3 of the Ducks shoots. (Photo by Yong Teck Lim/Getty Images) /

Projected Starting Backcourt

Payton Pritchard | Guard | 6-foot-2 | Senior

The clear leader on this roster, Payton Pritchard will once again be expected to carry the torch for Oregon this season. An elite playmaker and dynamic scorer, Pritchard is one of the nation’s most underrated stars and he is crucial to the Ducks’ system. The entire offense essentially clicks as a result of his poise. Over the course of last season, Pritchard averaged 12.9 points, 3.9 rebounds, 4.6 assists, and 1.8 steals per game. He was particularly excellent in Oregon’s 10-game winning streak as he pushed the team to new heights.

Looking ahead to this season, Pritchard will reprise his role as Oregon’s offensive leader. He will hopefully to continue to exhibit the aggression that he displayed down the stretch of last season on both ends of the floor. His play will be critical in helping the entire Ducks’ squad to reach its ceiling. He will also look to return his 3-point shooting to elite levels as well after shooting just 32.8% from distance after a 41.3% campaign as a sophomore. Pritchard is an outstanding player and landed the No. 11 spot in our preseason National Player of the Year rankings.

Anthony Mathis | Guard | 6-foot-4 | Senior

Joining Pritchard in the backcourt will be his former high school teammate in Anthony Mathis. A graduate transfer from New Mexico, Mathis projects as an immediate impact contributor for the Ducks this season. He is an experienced guard at the collegiate level and should quickly latch onto Coach Altman’s system. Mathis and Pritchard already have tremendous chemistry considering their extensive history together and that will be evident right away this season.

As a player, Mathis is a true 3-point sniper. He is particularly accurate from deep and can excel in catch-and-shoot situations. His floor spacing abilities should greatly help give Oregon’s bigs room to work and Mathis will also receive his fair share of open looks as a result of the other top offensive threats around him. Mathis averaged 14.4 points per game on 41.6% shooting from 3-point range (on 8.0 attempts per game) for the Lobos last season. It is reasonable to expect continued prowess from beyond the arc.

Chris Duarte | Guard | 6-foot-6 | Junior

Another relatively experienced newcomer to Oregon’s backcourt, Chris Duarte is arriving in Eugene as the top-rated JUCO transfer in the country. An elite 6-foot-6 sharpshooter with plenty of two-way potential, Duarte will immediately be one of Oregon’s top scoring options this season. He can absolutely fill it up at all three levels and should not struggle to adjust to playing in the Pac-12. He brings enough size, physicality, skill, and confidence to be a big-time player in a high-major league.

While playing for Northwest Florida State at the JUCO level, Duarte averaged 19.0 points, 7.1 rebounds, 2.5 assists, and 1.1 blocks per game on shooting splits of .541/.400/.808. He shot 66-for-165 from beyond the arc. In addition to his strong scoring ability, Duarte can be a dynamic and opportunistic defender. As a result, he should fit tremendously well in Coach Altman’s system. Duarte was an insanely efficient scoring star while receiving a ton of defensive attention at the JUCO level. He will likely see more open looks while playing alongside the likes of Pritchard and Mathis, as well as Oregon’s talented frontcourt.

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