Oregon may not have an All-American like Payton Pritchard on its roster next season, but that doesn’t mean that the Ducks aren’t going to have the depth needed to again compete for a Pac-12 regular season title.
“On any given night, there’s eight different guys that could be our leading scorer,” Oregon coach Dana Altman said Monday on the College Hoops Today Podcast. “I like that depth and I like our maturity. Six of those eight guys are juniors and seniors.”
Oregon returns five players — Will Richardson, Chris Duarte, Addison Patterson, Chandler Lawson, and N’Faly Dante — who averaged double figure minutes last season on a team that went 24-7 and won the Pac-12 regular season title.
Altman is also counting on three transfers — Eugene Omoruyi (Rutgers), Eric Williams (Duquesne), and Amauri Hardy (UNLV) — to play significant minutes.
The Ducks could also add another potential starter if the NCAA grants an immediate eligibility waiver to St. John’s transfer L.J. Figueroa, who averaged 14.5 points and 4.5 rebounds last season.
“He can play a lot of spots,” Altman said of the 6-6 Figueroa. “His versatility is what makes him so valuable.”
Freshman point guard Jalen Terry — a consensus Top-100 recruit — is also expected to command time in the back court.
Oregon was picked third in Monday’s Pac-12 Preseason Power Rankings and is currently ranked 22nd in the ROTHSTEIN 45.
To listen to the FULL interview with Altman, click HERE.
