NCAA Basketball: Strengths/weaknesses of each top-25 team for 2022-23

NCAA Basketball: Strengths and weaknesses of each top-25 team for 2022-23 season

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - APRIL 02: Jeremy Roach #3 of the Duke Blue Devils reacts in the first half of the game against the North Carolina Tar Heels in the first half of the game during the 2022 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament Final Four semifinal at Caesars Superdome on April 02, 2022 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images) /

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Will Richardson Oregon Ducks (Photo by David Becker/Getty Images) /

21. Oregon Ducks

Strength: Will Richardson

He hasn’t gotten his full respect but Will Richardson was not the reason why the Ducks missed out on the NCAA Tournament last season. The 5th-year playmaker is back after averaging a career-high 14.1 ppg to lead the team. He’s not the greatest pure passer but in fairness there just hasn’t been a ton of talent to pass it to as well.

Richardson has some new supporting guards to play with, including Keeshawn Barthélémy (Colorado) and Jermaine Couisnard (South Carolina). They’re both solid double-digit scoring options but aren’t going to go for 20+ on a given night. If they play well, Oregon’s backcourt should be a strength this year.

Weakness: Forwards

Whether the Ducks use small-ball lineups of with several guards, they’re going to need a lot more production from the 3 and 4-spots compared to last year. And a lot of that comes down to Quincy Guerrier, a transfer from Syracuse whose production dipped at Oregon, averaging just 10.1 ppg and 5.3 rpg on 42% shooting from the field.

Without any other realistic options on the roster, Guerrier is going to get around 30 mpg at multiple positions. If he doesn’t step up, Oregon will have another tough fight on its hands to get back to the postseason.

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