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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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LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – MARCH 16: Oregon wears Nike KD sneakers. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – MARCH 16: Oregon wears Nike KD sneakers. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) /

Schedule Analysis

Oregon is entering this coming season ranked as a preseason top-25 team in the nation but the squad will be challenged early and often. To put it simply, head coach Dana Altman is essentially throwing his young team into the fire right away. The Ducks will be challenged across the country in home games, true road contests, and a few neutral-site battles as well. This strong mix will help prepare the team for the NCAA Tournament as they will be accustomed to playing around the nation and without a ton of rest.

Oregon’s non-conference slate begins with back-to-back home games against Mountain West opponents in Fresno State and Boise State. Neither squad is expected to be tremendously great this season but neither projects as a “cupcake” either. After those contests, Coach Altman’s team will remain in the Beaver State but travel to Portland to take on nationally-ranked Memphis. That matchup is highly-anticipated as the Ducks’ 4th ranked recruiting class will be taking on the Tigers’ top-ranked group.

After a very quick reprieve away from highly-regarded opponents with a home battle against UT Arlington (Nov. 17), the Ducks will then be challenged by Houston (Nov. 22). This contest will also be played in Eugene but the Cougars were picked as the preseason favorite to win the AAC (tied with Memphis).

Moving along, Oregon’s next set of contests will come at the Battle 4 Atlantis Tournament in the Bahamas. The Ducks will take on nationally-ranked Seton Hall in the first round before facing either Gonzaga or Southern Miss on Day 2. Their final matchup will come against one of the following: Michigan, Iowa State, North Carolina, or Alabama. The B4A is one of the nation’s top non-conference events every single year and Oregon could face three ranked opponents in three days. That will not be an easy stretch.

Following that tournament, Oregon will return home for a meeting with Hawaii. This will be their last contest without N’Faly Dante as his first game with the team will come on Dec. 14 when the Ducks travel to Ann Arbor for a true road game against Michigan. Not exactly a cupcake first game for the young center. Oregon’s non-conference schedule will conclude with three home games against mid-major competition: Montana, Texas Southern, and Alabama State.

Once in conference play, Oregon will face off against several highly-touted teams. The Ducks are the preseason favorites to win the Pac-12 but there are a number of other squads worth monitoring as well. Most notably, Arizona, Colorado, and Washington all project as potential top-25 teams during this coming season. It is also worth mentioning that USC has some stars arriving, UCLA now boasts Mick Cronin on the sidelines, and Tres Tinkle as back as the star for Oregon State.

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