Oregon Basketball: 2020-21 season preview for the Ducks
Starters
Will Richardson
Back for his junior season will be guard Will Richardson (11 ppg, 2.3 apg). He was third on the team in scoring last season, while being the sixth-man off the bench. Richardson should be able to slide into the starting point guard role for this season.
Richardson wasn’t a high-volume shooter last season, as he averaged slightly over eight shooting attempts per game. However, he was able to make tremendous strides up during his second season to be an efficient shooter and make the most of his opportunities.
He averaged just over 30 minutes per game and connected on 47.9 percent of his shots from the floor. He improved the most last season as a knockdown perimeter threat and at the free-throw line.
Richardson made 46.9 percent of his shots from three-point range (almost a 20 percent increase in his three-point shooting percentage from his first season). At the free-throw line, he boosted his numbers from 67.5 percent as a freshman to 84.8 percent as a sophomore.
There’s a lot of potential that Richardson could be the next breakout star in Eugene. During the final 13 games of last season, He saw an increase in playing time, as he was inserted in the starting lineup in place of Anthony Mathis. Richardson’s first two games as a starter last season were a struggle, where he went a combined 0-for-9 shooting.
However, he was able to turn it around and averaged 14 points per game and 33.3 minutes per game during the final 11 games of last season. During that 11-game stretch, Richardson posted his career highs in points and rebounds, scoring 21 points and 9 rebounds against the Colorado Buffaloes, which were ranked in the AP Top 25 Poll at the time.
This season, I expect big things in store for Richardson as he should keep on improving. I predict that he will have a breakout season if he can continue his shooting efficiency while seeing an increase in shots this season to replace some of the offensive production from the departure of Pritchard.
Chris Duarte
Senior shooting guard Chris Duarte (12.9 ppg, 5.6 rpg) is the only returning player who started more than 20 games last season for the Ducks.
Before playing for Oregon, Duarte spent his first two seasons at the Junior College level for Southwest Florida State where he excelled. He was named the 2019 National Player of the Year by the NJCAA (National Junior College Athletic Association).
During his first season at Oregon, Duarte proved to be a terrific transfer pickup, as he was second on the team in scoring and rebounding. He also helped Oregon out tremendously as a defender leading the Ducks with 1.7 steals per game, which he was top five in the conference in 2019-20 in steals per game.
Duarte struggled early last season trying to find his identity offensively. He only averaged 9 points per game during his first five games at Oregon, but he kept on improving last season. Duarte flashed future star potential with his remarkable 30-point game with 11 rebounds, 8 steals, and 2 blocks against USC in January.
He is a reliable high-usage option that the Ducks can count on this season. With one season under his belt at the Division I level, I expect Duarte to continue to improve and have an even greater impact this season. I predict that he will be an All-Conference selection after this season concludes.
Amauri Hardy
Altman was able to get some much-needed guard help by acquiring graduate transfer and senior guard, Amauri Hardy (14.5 ppg, 3.3 apg), in the 2020 offseason. Hardy started 30 games and averaged just under 35 minutes per game last season for UNLV. He was named to the Third-Team All-Mountain West Conference in 2020.
According to ESPN’s transfer rankings, Hardy is ranked in the Top 25 for immediately eligible transfers for this season at number 21. He is also the older brother of Jaden Hardy, who is a five-star shooting guard in the Class of 2021.
What is great about Amauri Hardy is that he has not fouled out in 38 consecutive games. He should be a reliable option that can play big-time minutes for the Ducks. Last season, Hardy played more than 40 minutes in five games that went into overtime. He totaled a career-high 47 minutes against Fresno State last season in a game that went into double overtime.
Hardy was a solid pickup in the offseason by Altman to help boost Oregon’s depth at the guard position. Hardy is one of four guards on this season’s roster with Richardson, Duarte, and four-star freshman Jalen Terry, who should be able to make a large impact.
Eugene Omoruyi
Altman will add in two transfers at forward that sat-out last season due to NCAA transfer rules. The first forward is senior Eugene Omoruyi from Rutgers.
Omoruyi was the leading scorer for Rutgers during the 2018-19 season. He averaged 13.8 points per game and 7.2 rebounds per game. He will slide into the role of Shakur Juiston, who led Oregon in rebounding as a senior last season.
In his last season for Rutgers, Omoruyi improved at the free-throw line and started to develop his three-point shot shooting more from the perimeter. He will look to improve as a shooter this season. Omoruyi connected on 44.5 percent of his shots in 2018-19. He finished his last three games as a Scarlet Knight shooting 50 percent from the floor.
One aspect of the game that Omoruyi will look to improve this season is to stay away from foul trouble. He averaged 3 fouls per game, which was the most by any player at Rutgers during the 2018-19 season.
This season, I expect Omoruyi to be much more developed with a year off, as he should be able to improve this season. Heading onto the court for his next team, the Oregon Ducks, Omoruyi will look to take a step up and improve his shooting, while also being a factor helping out on the glass.
Eric Williams Jr.
Teaming up with Omoruyi to give the Ducks a boost on the boards will be junior forward Eric Williams Jr., who also sat out last season due to NCAA transfer rules.
Williams was a two-year starter for Duquesne, leading the Dukes in scoring and rebounding in 2018-19. He averaged 14.1 points per game and 8.2 rebounds per game during his two seasons.
Unlike Omoruyi, where his three-point shooting was just starting to develop at Rutgers, Williams proved that he could shoot the three at Duquesne. He averaged 37.1 percent from the perimeter in 2018-19.
Williams had two games during his Duquesne career in which he was unstoppable from three-point range. During his freshman season, Williams tallied a season-high 34 points, while making a career-high nine three-point shots against George Mason. However, the highlight of Williams’ career was during his sophomore season when he scored a career-high 40 points, shooting 7-for-9 from the perimeter in 33 minutes against St. Louis.
He should be able to replace some of the perimeter production from the departure of Pritchard. The transfer pickup of Williams will give the Ducks another quality rebounding option who can score and shoot from the outside in the lineup.