NCAA Basketball: Florida’s struggles, Oregon’s dominance & more weekly takeaways

2) Oregon deserves to be a top 5 team

On the flip side, Oregon has been a nice surprise. Not because people didn’t think the Ducks would be good – we did – but no one expected them to be this good so quickly.

Oregon also had to replace a lot (268th in minutes continuity) yet are already getting quality production from their newcomers, including a number of freshmen. Addison Patterson has provided an offensive spark off the bench while Chandler Lawson has done the same on the defensive end. Anthony Mathis, Shakur Juiston, and Chris Duarte are all averaging double figures in points after coming from New Mexico, UNLV, and the JUCO ranks, respectively, and a few returning players have stepped up in new roles.

Those new additions have helped Oregon’s offense tremendously, particularly on the perimeter. The Ducks are shooting 41.8 percent from three-point range and rank 15th nationally in effective field goal percentage, helped by their athleticism and ability to get to the rim. They also haven’t sacrificed much on the defensive end, either.

But at the head of it all is senior point guard Payton Pritchard, who gives this talented group an experienced leader, and one who comes through at the end of important games.

Pritchard’s play and steadying hand gives this group a major advantage only a handful of other teams have – a senior star.

Once five-star freshman center N’Faly Dante becomes eligible in mid-December, Oregon will finally have all their pieces and could be a group that challenges for the No. 1 ranking at some point.