NCAA Basketball: Gonzaga, Houston lead in updated way-too-early top 25 ranking
By Joey Loose
21. Oregon
Over the course of the last decade, no team has been more consistent or successful in the Pac-12 than Oregon. Dana Altman’s squad has been in the second weekend of the NCAA Tournament five times in the last ten years, highlighted by their Final Four back in 2017. Last season was a bit of a step back as Arizona took much of the national spotlight, but the Ducks are ready to take back that conference crown this year.
The return of leading scorer Will Richardson (14.1 ppg) was fantastic news for the Ducks, who will expect him to have a similar starring role next season. A healthy Richardson pairs nicely with talented forward Quincy Guerrier and a slew of new faces. Altman brings in a pair of talented young freshmen, highlighted by Kel’el Ware, a top 10 recruit and talented center who will play a starring role from day one.
The Ducks might just have the second-most talented team in the Pac-12, and that’s where they sit on these rankings. More importantly, pairing a healthy Richardson with a dynamic big will be excellent news for a team that struggled with rebounds last season. Oregon has a chance to take a big step forward on the national stage. From a conference perspective, this roster is in great shape to consider an 11-season run finishing above .500 in Pac-12 regular season play.