Post by mhbruin on May 5, 2021 7:39:40 GMT -8
Finally, we have the first-place Oregon Ducks. They are familiar territory with first place. They have won the league 4 of the last 6 seasons.
Oregon was really a five-man team last season with not much of a bench. They are losing three of those five, and it is possible they could lose another.
Right now, next season's team doesn't look like it will be one of Dana Altman's better teams. He may have another team with no bench and less talent. However, Dana Altman still has time to work his magic in the transfer portal.
GRADUATING
- None -
IN THE DRAFT OR TURNING PRO
Chris Duarte has said he is definitely turning pro.
Altman has said that both senior Eugene Omoruyi is going to move on from the program and attempt to make the NBA. Omoruyi is drawing significant NBA and overseas interest.
Figueroa has announced that he will hire an agent and is said to have signed with a team in the Dominican Republic.
Williams is in the draft, but is likely to return to school.
TRANSFERRING OUT
Lawson was backup center for much of the season, but center is the one position where the Ducks are loaded. He didn't have much a future in Eugene.
Jalen Terry was the Ducks’ backup point guard and played in 20 games, including one start, this past season, averaging 2.9 points. His playing time diminished over the final weeks of the season. Terry joins the long-time Oregon lead assistant coach, who was named head coach at DePaul.
Amauri Hardy was the other primary backup at guard.
Patterson decided to transfer to Nevada back in October and never played this season for the Ducks. He played in 28 games in the 2019-2020 season averaging 11 minutes and 5 points.
Aaron Estrada only played in 9 games after transferring in last season. With the departure of Jalen Terry and Amauri Hardy, he was expected to provide some backup minutes at PG for Will Richardson. With his departure, the Ducks are very thin at the guard position.
RETURNING
Oregon had only 3 players who played in all 28 games this season. All three are leaving.
Assuming Williams doesn't stay in the draft, those top 4 are a damned good core of 4 players. Will Richardson could be a candidate for Pac-12 player of the year. However, Richardson could also put his name in the NBA draft and blow people away in the workouts. He should go through the process.
Frank Kepnang was another one of those kids who should have been high-school seniors. In limited time with the Ducks he looked a bit raw. What do you expect for a kid who joined mid-season? But he seemed to have a significant upside.
Mark Few and Tony Bennet both offered Nathan Bittle. That tells me the kid can play and that Nathan isn't a hot dog.
Less than a week after Chandler Lawson entered the transfer portal, his younger brother, Johnathan Lawson, requested his release from his signed letter of intent as part of the Ducks' 2021 recruiting class. The Ducks granted his request.
At this point, Oregon has exactly TWO players listed as a guards on their roster, Will Richardson, who should put his name into the NBA draft, and De'Vion Harmon, who is in the NBA draft. Dana Altman needs to hit the transfer portal HARD.
Altman has 5 players on the roster who seem like Pac-12 level players. They are all talented. He has two 5-star and three 4-star players. But THREE of the 5 are centers. I have heard of twin towers, but not even Tolkien had three towers.
Right now Dana Altman's roster is talented, but incomplete. Three centers, a forward, and two guards. And it is not certain whether either guard will be at Oregon next season.
Altman is a great coach, but I am not sure even he can win with this roster.
Oregon was really a five-man team last season with not much of a bench. They are losing three of those five, and it is possible they could lose another.
Right now, next season's team doesn't look like it will be one of Dana Altman's better teams. He may have another team with no bench and less talent. However, Dana Altman still has time to work his magic in the transfer portal.
GRADUATING
- None -
IN THE DRAFT OR TURNING PRO
| Player | Minutes | Points | Rebounds | Assists | Can Return? |
| Chris Duarte | 33 | 17 | 5 | 3 | No |
| Eugene Omoruyi | 29 | 17 | 5 | 2 | No |
| Eric Williams Jr. | 30 | 10 | 6 | 2 | Yes |
| LJ Figueroa | 30 | 12 | 6 | 1 | No |
Chris Duarte has said he is definitely turning pro.
Altman has said that both senior Eugene Omoruyi is going to move on from the program and attempt to make the NBA. Omoruyi is drawing significant NBA and overseas interest.
Figueroa has announced that he will hire an agent and is said to have signed with a team in the Dominican Republic.
Williams is in the draft, but is likely to return to school.
TRANSFERRING OUT
| Player | Minutes | Points | Rebounds | Assists | Destination |
| Amauri Hardy | 19 | 4 | 1 | 2 | Georgia |
| Chandler Lawson | 18 | 4 | 3 | 1 | Memphis |
| Will Johnson | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | |
| Jalen Terry | 12 | 3 | 1 | 1 | DePaul |
| Addison Patterson | Nevada | ||||
| Aaron Estrada | 12 | 3 | 2 | 1 | Hofstra |
Lawson was backup center for much of the season, but center is the one position where the Ducks are loaded. He didn't have much a future in Eugene.
Jalen Terry was the Ducks’ backup point guard and played in 20 games, including one start, this past season, averaging 2.9 points. His playing time diminished over the final weeks of the season. Terry joins the long-time Oregon lead assistant coach, who was named head coach at DePaul.
Amauri Hardy was the other primary backup at guard.
Patterson decided to transfer to Nevada back in October and never played this season for the Ducks. He played in 28 games in the 2019-2020 season averaging 11 minutes and 5 points.
Aaron Estrada only played in 9 games after transferring in last season. With the departure of Jalen Terry and Amauri Hardy, he was expected to provide some backup minutes at PG for Will Richardson. With his departure, the Ducks are very thin at the guard position.
RETURNING
Oregon had only 3 players who played in all 28 games this season. All three are leaving.
| Player | Games | Minutes | Points | Rebounds | Assists | Class | Recruiting Stars | Recruiting Rank |
| Will Richardson | 16 | 33 | 11 | 3 | 4 | Sr | 4 | 42 |
| N'Faly Dante | 6 | 18 | 8 | 6 | 0 | Jr | 5 | 24 |
| Franck Kepnang | 17 | 8 | 3 | 1 | 0 | So | 4 | 36 |
| Lok Wur | 11 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 0 | So | 3 | 478 |
Assuming Williams doesn't stay in the draft, those top 4 are a damned good core of 4 players. Will Richardson could be a candidate for Pac-12 player of the year. However, Richardson could also put his name in the NBA draft and blow people away in the workouts. He should go through the process.
Frank Kepnang was another one of those kids who should have been high-school seniors. In limited time with the Ducks he looked a bit raw. What do you expect for a kid who joined mid-season? But he seemed to have a significant upside.
RECRUITS
#70 class, #9 in Pac-12
| Name | Size | Position | Recruiting Stars | Recruiting Rank | Offers |
| Nathan Bittle | 6-11 200 | C | 5 | 16 | UCLA, Virginia, USC, Gonzaga |
Mark Few and Tony Bennet both offered Nathan Bittle. That tells me the kid can play and that Nathan isn't a hot dog.
Less than a week after Chandler Lawson entered the transfer portal, his younger brother, Johnathan Lawson, requested his release from his signed letter of intent as part of the Ducks' 2021 recruiting class. The Ducks granted his request.
TRANSFERRING IN
| Player | Size | Minutes | Points | Rebounds | Assists | From | Class | Recruiting Stars | Recruiting Rank |
| De'Vion Harmon | 6-0 192 | 32 | 13 | 3 | 2 | Oklahoma | Jr | 4 | 47 |
Harmon gives the Ducks a desperately-needed guard. He has also declared for the NBA draft. Harmon said he's still going through the NBA Draft process, but if he does choose to come back to school, it'll be at Oregon. Harmon was a 2-year starter at Oklahoma.
CONCLUSION
At this point, Oregon has exactly TWO players listed as a guards on their roster, Will Richardson, who should put his name into the NBA draft, and De'Vion Harmon, who is in the NBA draft. Dana Altman needs to hit the transfer portal HARD.
Altman has 5 players on the roster who seem like Pac-12 level players. They are all talented. He has two 5-star and three 4-star players. But THREE of the 5 are centers. I have heard of twin towers, but not even Tolkien had three towers.
Right now Dana Altman's roster is talented, but incomplete. Three centers, a forward, and two guards. And it is not certain whether either guard will be at Oregon next season.
Altman is a great coach, but I am not sure even he can win with this roster.