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College Basketball Preseason Top 25: #12 Oregon
- Updated: September 24, 2013
Dominic Artis and the Ducks are in line for a special year in 2014. (Alex McDougall/Emerald)
12. Oregon Ducks
Dana Altman has things rolling in Eugene. The Ducks won 28 games and the Pac-12 tournament title last year, and turned an idiotic showing of disrespect by the selection committee (a 12-seed? Really?) into a berth in the Sweet 16. Now, Oregon has reloaded and is ready for a deeper run into the NCAAs in 2014. They’ll have to replace valuable big man Arstan Kazemi (9.4 ppg, 10 rpg), who was chosen in the second round of the NBA Draft this year, and sharpshooter E.J. Singler (11.7 ppg, 4.9 rpg) who will also get a chance at the NBA. Forward Carlos Emery (11 ppg) is another key loss. But this ranking is about who the Ducks have coming in. Specifically, former UNLV stud forward Mike Moser, who transferred from Vegas after things went south for him there. Moser is a legitimate game-changer and could vie for first-team Pac-12 honors.
Oregon also returns starting point guard Dominic Artis, who played fantastic at times last year and thrives in the Ducks’ run-and-gun offense. Backcourt mate Damyean Dotson (11.4 ppg, 3.5 rpg) is one of the best shooters in the conference, and could take a step forward this season. 5-8 guard Jonathan Loyd was a sensation in the Pac-12 tournament, winning MVP honors, and could use that momentum to buoy him towards a big year in 2014. Houston transfer Joseph Young (18 ppg, 3.5 rpg) could also provide a big lift to the offense. If Altman can get all of the new pieces to come together at the same time, this team could be scary.
BOTTOM LINE: Oregon has been an on-and-off player on the national scene over the past decade. When the Ducks are good enough to get to the Dance, they usually make some noise. Since 2002, Oregon has been to the NCAAs five times. They’ve reached the Sweet 16 three times and advanced to the Elite Eight twice (2002 and ’07). But not since 2003 has Oregon gone into the season with such high expectations. The talent is here for another long NCAA Tournament run.
Click here to see our Entire Top 25.
