Threads / College Basketball Sleeper Team #2: Oregon Ducks
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Madison, WI
1. Iowa State
Wanted to start off by saying thanks for the responses to the first one, I loved the discussions. Hopefully the interest will stay up.
Next up, we have my deepest sleeper, Oregon.
Oregon Ducks
2008-2009 Record: 8-23 (2-16)
What They Return
144-155 starts (lost no starters)
5290 out of 6250 minutes (85%)
1. Tajuan Porter
At 5'6" 150 lbs, Tajuan Porter is one of the smallest players in college basketball. From Detroit, even mid major teams wouldn't offer him a scholarship. But he arrived in Eugene and has started ever since his freshman season including 32+ minutes and 13.9+ points per game in all three seasons. Last year, Porter took on the leadership role with Aaron Brooks gone and averaged 15.4 PPG. He makes nearly three 3-pointers per game and despite his small stature, he gets to the line about 4 times per game where he shoots a very high percentage. He's a perimeter player though, and he struggled with his efficiency as he was the sole focus of team's last year. With a better team around him this year, he should have his best year yet.
2. Michael Dunigan
Michael Dunigan was a McDonald's All-American last year and forced to step in and start as a freshman. But he clearly needed time to grow, averaging 3 fouls in just about 20 minutes per game. Offensively, he averaged 9 PPG on 50% shooting from the field, but was very inconsistent. The Ducks lacked size and athleticism last year, however. They were beat up defensively and Dunigan was the main victim of that. They didn't have another player over 6'6" who received starter-like minutes on last year's team.
3. Everything
While "everything" might not be anything special, it does consist of some glue players and experience. Mainly, they have a rock at forward in Joevan Catron who will be starting his third season for the Ducks. At 6'6" 235 lbs, he has been a solid rebounder and hustle player for Oregon the past two years. After shooting 51% from the field his sophomore season, he was forced into more of a scoring role and his FG% dipped to a lowly 37%. The pressure will be back off this year, and he should succeed in his limited role. They also return a guard in LeKendric Longmire who shot 43% from behind the arc last year and proved to be a nice complementary scorer.
What They Gain
1. Jamil Wilson
Jamil Wilson is a huge reason of why my hopes are so high for this team. The Wisconsin native chose Oregon over Texas, Michigan State, Marquette and was on his way to Wisconsin before some complications. At 6'7" 215 lbs, he is one of the better athletes in this class. Ranked #31 on ESPN, he will be the wing player that Oregon desperately needs to go with Porter and Dunigan. He can create on his own with a lot of experience handling the ball. Defensively, he can get into the paint and will provide a great deal of relief on the glass.
2. Chipola Combo
Malcolm Armstead and Jeremy Jacob made Chipola Community College one of the better junior colleges in the country last year. Both players chose Oregon over schools like Arkansas and Iowa and should provide a huge boost to Oregon's depth. Jacob, a 6'7" swingman originally committed to Georgia but left school soon after breaking his foot.
Conclusion
Oregon has pulled in two very good and deep recruiting classes the past two years. At the top, they've gained two elite players in Dunigan and Wilson and with the three upperclassmen already in place, they should have a strong starting lineup. On top of that, they now have the quantity of athletes to run in a power conference.
This isn't a team I see making a run come tournament time, but they will benefit from a very weak Pac-10 and I expect them to finish in the top half of the conference. Out of conference, they have a pretty weak run that's highlighted by a couple respectable mid majors in Oakland and St. Mary's with a trip to Missouri mixed in. They'll get some minor tests, but more importantly they'll have the chance to get more accustomed to eachother and form a solid squad.
They aren't going to be this team, but I want to point it out anyways. Oregon coach Ernie Kent has took Oregon to the eltie 8 twice in his 10-year stay there. In 2000-01, they went 14-14 (5-13) before going 26-9 (14-4) the next year. The second time, they went 15-18 (7-11) the year before going 29-8 (11-7). Little more than just a thought, but it does show how fast Kent can turn a team around.
Wanted to start off by saying thanks for the responses to the first one, I loved the discussions. Hopefully the interest will stay up.
Next up, we have my deepest sleeper, Oregon.
Oregon Ducks
2008-2009 Record: 8-23 (2-16)
What They Return
144-155 starts (lost no starters)
5290 out of 6250 minutes (85%)
1. Tajuan Porter
At 5'6" 150 lbs, Tajuan Porter is one of the smallest players in college basketball. From Detroit, even mid major teams wouldn't offer him a scholarship. But he arrived in Eugene and has started ever since his freshman season including 32+ minutes and 13.9+ points per game in all three seasons. Last year, Porter took on the leadership role with Aaron Brooks gone and averaged 15.4 PPG. He makes nearly three 3-pointers per game and despite his small stature, he gets to the line about 4 times per game where he shoots a very high percentage. He's a perimeter player though, and he struggled with his efficiency as he was the sole focus of team's last year. With a better team around him this year, he should have his best year yet.
2. Michael Dunigan
Michael Dunigan was a McDonald's All-American last year and forced to step in and start as a freshman. But he clearly needed time to grow, averaging 3 fouls in just about 20 minutes per game. Offensively, he averaged 9 PPG on 50% shooting from the field, but was very inconsistent. The Ducks lacked size and athleticism last year, however. They were beat up defensively and Dunigan was the main victim of that. They didn't have another player over 6'6" who received starter-like minutes on last year's team.
3. Everything
While "everything" might not be anything special, it does consist of some glue players and experience. Mainly, they have a rock at forward in Joevan Catron who will be starting his third season for the Ducks. At 6'6" 235 lbs, he has been a solid rebounder and hustle player for Oregon the past two years. After shooting 51% from the field his sophomore season, he was forced into more of a scoring role and his FG% dipped to a lowly 37%. The pressure will be back off this year, and he should succeed in his limited role. They also return a guard in LeKendric Longmire who shot 43% from behind the arc last year and proved to be a nice complementary scorer.
What They Gain
1. Jamil Wilson
Jamil Wilson is a huge reason of why my hopes are so high for this team. The Wisconsin native chose Oregon over Texas, Michigan State, Marquette and was on his way to Wisconsin before some complications. At 6'7" 215 lbs, he is one of the better athletes in this class. Ranked #31 on ESPN, he will be the wing player that Oregon desperately needs to go with Porter and Dunigan. He can create on his own with a lot of experience handling the ball. Defensively, he can get into the paint and will provide a great deal of relief on the glass.
2. Chipola Combo
Malcolm Armstead and Jeremy Jacob made Chipola Community College one of the better junior colleges in the country last year. Both players chose Oregon over schools like Arkansas and Iowa and should provide a huge boost to Oregon's depth. Jacob, a 6'7" swingman originally committed to Georgia but left school soon after breaking his foot.
Conclusion
Oregon has pulled in two very good and deep recruiting classes the past two years. At the top, they've gained two elite players in Dunigan and Wilson and with the three upperclassmen already in place, they should have a strong starting lineup. On top of that, they now have the quantity of athletes to run in a power conference.
This isn't a team I see making a run come tournament time, but they will benefit from a very weak Pac-10 and I expect them to finish in the top half of the conference. Out of conference, they have a pretty weak run that's highlighted by a couple respectable mid majors in Oakland and St. Mary's with a trip to Missouri mixed in. They'll get some minor tests, but more importantly they'll have the chance to get more accustomed to eachother and form a solid squad.
They aren't going to be this team, but I want to point it out anyways. Oregon coach Ernie Kent has took Oregon to the eltie 8 twice in his 10-year stay there. In 2000-01, they went 14-14 (5-13) before going 26-9 (14-4) the next year. The second time, they went 15-18 (7-11) the year before going 29-8 (11-7). Little more than just a thought, but it does show how fast Kent can turn a team around.
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, MI
The one thing about Oregon that interests me is:
When are they gonna get jerseys as sweet as their football ones.
When are they gonna get jerseys as sweet as their football ones.
Yeah, they did finally put out a couple good ones now that they got away from the highlighter/piss color.
Is there a cool/original jersey in the entire Big 10? I can't think of one.
That's how the conference starts getting the elite athletes. They need to get with the times visually.
That's how the conference starts getting the elite athletes. They need to get with the times visually.
Michigan's white ones are ok.
Iowa's black could be sick, but it's too plain now. Same with PSU's white.
MSU's white could be awesome too.
Wisco's red have potential.
OSU may need to incorporate some badass silver coloring in there.
Iowa's black could be sick, but it's too plain now. Same with PSU's white.
MSU's white could be awesome too.
Wisco's red have potential.
OSU may need to incorporate some badass silver coloring in there.
Noone used to wear long shorts until Michigan did it so technically everyone followed the Big 10 and decided to stop wearing creepy little shorts.
, SC
I like the Ducks as a sleeper team. I could see them making the tourny maybe win a round or two...there is too much talent for them to make it farther i believe. Kent is really gonna turn them around though, last season they were a mess.
Purdue could do some mad black/gold thing!
our conference's basketball jersey's aren't bad.
call me biased but MSU's jerseys with the way it says "State", I think that's fucking awesome.
our conference's basketball jersey's aren't bad.
call me biased but MSU's jerseys with the way it says "State", I think that's fucking awesome.
Ah yeah, those were kinda sweet too. I like the modern version just bc of the cooler looking font on the jerseys.
They don't have much of a non conference challege with the exception of Mizzou and St. Mary's. I really would like to wait to see how that game goes to make any judgements on them. Also they begin Pac10 play with Wasu and Washington, if they can open up conference play 2-0, I think they have a good shot at a pretty solid year.
They perform in their first 4 road games are going to be very telling. Their first one is @ Portland, a pretty good mid major team who returns everything from last year. Then they got Mizzou, Wazzu and Wash, as you mention. On a neutral court, I'd take Oregon over any all those teams except Washington, so their ability to pull together and take out a competitive team but lesser team on the road will show me just how much potential they have.
Sorry dude, I saw the Iowa state thread but didn't get a chance to respond. Another excellent thread. I got Oregon finishing 4th in the Pac-10 after Cal, U of W, and UCLA. Stanford may also be set to make a move, but I still have them behind the Ducks. Saying that Kent can turn around a team fast is one way of seeing it, I see it the other way...some of those poorer teams should of been better, they had Aaron Brooks, Porter and another very good wing player (who's name I can't remember now) and they just collapsed. Oregon still makes the big dance, but no better than a #12 seed
Porter was a freshman the year they made that Sweet 16 run if I'm not mistaken. But yeah, they probably did underachieve a good amount because they had a lot of their other players in place (I think Hairston is the other wing player you're talking about.) Brooks took large strides as a senior though and others did the same. The court opened up for him a lot more, and I think Porter will be in a similar situation to him this year. Again, I would be surprised if they made that type for run, but Kent has turned teams around quickly, regardless of whether they should've needed to be turned around or not.
, NC
Oregon does have a shot to make the tournament and with a good draw, could win a game or two.
My main point in replying to this thread was...I told you Syracuse would not be good!!
My main point in replying to this thread was...I told you Syracuse would not be good!!
Boy, that's embarrassing. I'm not going to look too much into it though. It's just too much different when you have one team playing an exhibition they don't really care about compared to a D-2 team playing the biggest game of their season. MSU lost to a D-2 team a couple years back and ended up with a good year. I don't think Syracuse is anything special, but I do still think they'll end up with a solid year.
I have Oregon one of four teams that could finish as high as third and as low as 7th in the PAC 10. I like your thoughts but my main concern (I have them 4 or5) is their defense. Last year was abysmal, allowing a league high 76.1 per game. I watched them several times and it seems they just don't like to play defense. This could be a coaching problem and Kent has enough to worry about as it is. But I'll give him the benefit of the doubt since he has done it before. I don't see the PAC 10 going much deeper than Washington, Cal and UCLA in the tournament.
It's going to be real interesting to see how the tournament committee treats the Pac-10. Out of conference, Oregon can really only hurt themselves and if the conference really is as weak as we're projecting, there's a good chance they won't make it in as the 4th best team.
Defense is a concern for sure, but winning and being competitive can change a lot, and I also think Jamil Wilson will give them a big boost there as he can match up to a lot of different players, provide weak-side block shotting and rebound. He's just the complete package in a forward's body.
, OH
Its going to take some amazing play by the young guys for this team to even go .500, i dont like this one as much seeing as how returning everything from a shitty team means they are returning shit. The young guys are going to have to flourish for them to push even roughly 18 wins.
This sleeper pick has as much to do with the conference as anything. Their schedule is very favorable and I don't think the team is quite as bad as you do. It was bad last year, but half of their roster also consisted of freshman who Kent didn't seem very comfortable playing. From top to bottom, it's going to be a lot more talented this year and it does have a few impact players in the starting lineup.
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