Oregon Basketball: 2019-20 season preview for the Ducks
Key Reserves
Will Richardson | Guard | 6-foot-5 | Sophomore
The primary sixth man for the Ducks a year ago, Will Richardson is back to essentially reprise his role. Due to the offseason additions of Mathis and Duarte, it seems unlikely that Richardson will be able to crack the starting lineup this season but he boasts a ton of versatility and can function in different roles as a result. This makes an ideal reserve across multiple positions and he could be poised for a breakout sophomore campaign.
Richardson absolutely oozes potential with his athleticism and 6-foot-4 frame. He averaged 6.0 points, 2.4 rebounds, 2.5 assists, and 1.1 steals per game as a bit of a do-it-all super-sub last season. Watch for him to make an even bigger impact now that he is more comfortable competing at the collegiate level. Richardson should be the first piece off the bench.
C.J. Walker | Forward | 6-foot-8 | Freshman
The second highest-rated incoming freshman for the Ducks, C.J. Walker projects as a versatile frontcourt option. He brings plenty of size at 6-foot-8 and was ranked as the No. 28 overall prospect in the 2019 recruiting class. Walker is an outstanding athlete and plays with a great motor. Those two attributes make him a prime candidate to succeed in Coach Altman’s zone defense.
Additionally, Walker should thrive as a finisher at the rim. He could instantly develop chemistry with Pritchard as a recipient of sweet dishes off slashes to the bucket. It is unlikely that Walker will crack the starting lineup as a freshman but he appears to be a perfect fit for Oregon’s scheme, especially on the defensive end.
Addison Patterson | Guard | 6-foot-6 | Freshman
The Ducks seemingly lacked depth on paper throughout the course of the summer but Coach Altman was able to mostly squash that concern with late additions. Much like N’Faly Dante, Addison Patterson joined the Ducks by way of reclassification in August. He arrives as the No. 42 overall prospect in the 2019 class and could crack the wing rotation. He stands at 6-foot-6, boasts elite-level athleticism, and brings a great motor to the court as well. There are definite areas for improvement in his game, most notably shooting and ball-handling, but he should instantly be a reliable contributor on defense due to his versatility and desire.
Considering Oregon prides itself on strong defense, Patterson is a legit contender to crack the rotation right away. Also, it helps that the Ducks already feature three superb perimeter threats in Pritchard, Mathis, and Duarte so Patterson’s offensive weaknesses can be covered by sharing the court with two of those guards. It might be difficult to crack the Ducks’ rotation this season but Patterson likely would not have reclassified if he did not see a role that he could fill. You can expect to see him on the court this season.
Chandler Lawson | Forward | 6-foot-8 | Freshman
Ranked as the No. 95 overall prospect in the 2019 recruiting class, Chandler Lawson is no slouch on the court. He brings plenty of size to the wing at 6-foot-8 with a remarkable wingspan. Lawson’s physical and athletic gifts are obvious but he has a long way to go with regards to improving his skills. Developing his all-around game will be key in finding a significant role down the road. Lawson’s ceiling is among the highest on the entire roster if he puts it all together.
Lok Wur | Forward | 6-foot-8 | Freshman
Another incoming freshman, Lok Wur is arriving as the No. 478 overall prospect in the class. The 6-foot-8 power forward is not nearly as highly-rated as the rest of Oregon’s newcomers but could still be a vital piece in the future. He fits the mold of a project in the frontcourt and the coaching staff will be tasked with helping him reach his potential. Wur definitely needs to add some muscle and add to his skills but already brings a solid frame with a lengthy wingspan.
It has been clear over the past few seasons that Coach Altman is trending more towards slow-paced basketball. The Ducks’ offensive is operating more deliberately than in the past by extending possessions and they are also deploying heavy zone usage on the defensive end of the floor. As a result of their low-possession, slow-moving style of play, there is no real need for Oregon to trot out more than an eight or nine-man rotation.
This will make it difficult for some of the reserves in this article to find significant playing time. The most-likely bench players to see minutes this season will be Okoro, Walker, Richardson, and Patterson in my opinion. Lawson and Wur could crack the rotation but I think they will mostly be quality depth pieces in case of injury.