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#47
Oregon Ducks
Pacific 10
2004-05: 14-13, 6-12, 8th
2004-05 postseason: none
By
Joel Welser
As freshmen last
year, Malik Hairston, Bryce Taylor, Maarty Leunen and
Chamberlain Oguchi played a big role for Oregon. Losing only one
player this year, the Ducks are a much, much more experienced
squad.
Who’s Out:
Ian Crosswhite started 17 of the 19 games he played in before
being dismissed from the team by Coach Ernie Kent. The forward
averaged 8.4 points and 5.7 rebounds. Mitch Platt will redshirt
this season while recovering from foot surgery. Platt started 24
games last year averaging 3.1 points and 2.1 rebounds. These
losses do diminish the frontcourt. Returning sophomore Maarty
Leunen is expected to move into a starting role. The bench will
have to be shored up by Ray Schafer, Adam Zahn and Matt Short,
none of whom have significant minutes under their belts.
Who’s In:
The late pickup of power forward
Ivan Johnson is huge. Johnson left Cincinnati after the
resignation of Bob Huggins and the Ducks jumped on the
opportunity. With the injury to Platt, the 6-8, 255 pound Los
Angeles product will see action immediately. Last year Johnson
averaged 22.3 points, 12.2 rebounds and 2.4 blocks as a
sophomore last year at Los Angeles Southwest College. He won’t
have a lot of time to adapt to his new surroundings in Oregon,
but there aren’t a lot of other options, so Johnson will have
opportunity to start from day one.
Who to Watch:
Point guard Aaron Brooks is the
floor leader, but the sophomore backcourt duo of Malik Hairston
and Bryce Taylor are the most explosive players. Brooks led the
team with 14.7 points and 4.6 assists a year ago. Hairston added
13.1 points and 5.0 boards. Taylor tacked on 11.6 points. The
backcourt may be young, but they are dynamic and deep with
Chamberlain Oguchi, Jordan Kent and Brandon Lincoln coming off
the bench.
Projected
Conference Rank:
The bottom feeders of the Pac-10
won’t be as bad this year, which will help out the league RPI. A
6th place finish for Oregon is good enough to barely
slip the Ducks into the NCAAs. There is plenty of talent,
however Oregon has recently had trouble bringing it all together
to enjoy consistent success. With nearly everybody back, team
chemistry should be less of an issue and allow the Ducks to play
up to their potential.
Projected
Post-season Tournament:
NCAA
Projected Starting
Five:
Aaron Brooks, Junior,
Guard, 14.7 points per game
Bryce Taylor,
Sophomore, Guard, 11.6 points per game
Malik Hairston,
Sophomore, Guard, 13.1 points per game
Marty Leunen,
Sophomore, Forward, 5.6 points per game
Ivan Johnson, Junior,
Forward, DNP last season
(updated on October 5th)
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