Do you remember Oregon’s 2008 men’s basketball recruiting class? Because I do.
Coming in six-deep with undeniable talent, they were deemed the class destined to follow in the footsteps of Malik Hairston, Bryce Taylor, and Maarty Leunen, and take the Oregon basketball program to the next level.
Well, look where they are now.
Small forward Drew Wiley? Boise State.
Guard Matt Humphrey? Boston College.
Power forward Josh Crittle? Central Florida.
Center Michael Dunigan? Israel.
Of the six original recruits, only two players remain with the team today — junior guards Garrett Sim and Teondre Williams.
Wiley, Humphrey and Crittle left the program late last year, while freshman Jamil Wilson also decided to move back home to Milwaukee, Wis., this summer to attend Marquette University.
Rumors of Dunigan making the move next surfaced throughout the summer, but it wasn’t until early last week the decision became official. According to his agent, Mike Naiditch, Dunigan signed a three-year guaranteed contract with Hapoel Migdal in Jerusalem.
Cough.
Really, Mike? Really? You were the headliner of the class and averaged just 8.7 points and 4.8 rebounds in two years as the Ducks starting center. And let’s be honest, every big man in the Pac-10 Conference pushed you around. If you could barely hang in a decent college conference, do you really think going pro is the next best move? Please, please prove me wrong.
I’ll sidestep the alleged illegalities surrounding the Oregon program and Dunigan in particular for now, and stay focused on the issues on the court.
A few questions come to mind:
1. Will the Ducks legitimately have a chance to win a single game in conference play?
2. Where and from whom does the scoring come?
3. What will a Tajuan Porter-less Oregon team even look like?
I’ll start from the bottom and work my way up.
For what seems like a lot longer than four years, we’ve seen an Oregon program live, and die, by Porter’s shooting hand.
Through no fault of his own, Porter was praised when shots fell and criticized when they didn’t. He even became the most prolific three-point shooter in Pac-10 history along the way.
But now Oregon will be without a go-to scorer, which, like it or not, Porter was.
His decision-making was questionable sometimes, but when his teammates would look to him with a deer-in-the-headlights stare, he had to react.
Without that luxury, whom does the burden fall on this year? Maybe Porter’s departure will force Oregon back into team-oriented play.
If we’re being honest with each other, that’s the only prayer Oregon will have to compete this season. Wait, haven’t we been saying that for going on three seasons now?
Yes.
If you saw a single game in the last two years, you know Oregon’s greatest downfall has been its half-court offense. Quality possessions were few and far between, and, some games, even nonexistent.
I like to hope the days of sitting through a weekend of miserable basketball will be a thing of the past, but I’m not ready to place that kind of pressure on a first-year coach just yet.
That brings me to the final question: Can the Ducks escape Pac-10 play with a win? Yes, I said a win, as in singular.
Just two seasons removed from a 2-16 record in conference play, Oregon’s roster is noticeably weaker heading into this year, despite a handful of quality experience gained last winter.
The difference between the 2008 team and this year’s team: expectations.
And that’s where I’m puzzled. Two years ago there was a glimmer of hope in a young group competing in the conference of champions, which was crushed once Oregon dropped 14 straight games to begin
Pac-10 play.
Heading into this year with a new coach, new players and a new arena, even the expectations placed on the team will be new — in that there won’t be many.
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