For the first time in five years, Dana Altman’s vision to integrate transfer students isn’t quite working. Altman previously achieved more with less talent. But this season is different, not because the Oregon men’s basketball team isn’t on track to an NCAA tournament bid, but because three key players have temporarily plateaued.
Last season Dominic Artis, Ben Carter and Damyean Dotson played pivotal roles in the Ducks’ Sweet 16 run. All three played at least 28 games and showed glimpses of a bright future — especially during the NCAA tournament. Considering these players came off a successful season under Altman, it was only natural to expect steady improvement for the next three years.
That isn’t the case.
All three sophomores are struggling. Whether it’s the decrease in their minutes on the floor or their dip in offensive production, the three don’t look the same this season. In addition to a lower scoring average, Artis (4.4 points), Carter (2.3 points) and Dotson (10.2 points) have logged less minutes and have shot a lower percentage.
With the process of adding six new transfers this season, these three players aren’t progressing and instead acclimating to inconsistent play. It doesn’t help that they missed a combined 19 games due to various team suspensions throughout the year.
Irony is the only word to describe what is transpiring with Altman’s three sophomores. You can’t blame the head coach for bringing in star players such as Jason Calliste, Mike Moser and Joseph Young in hopes of getting back to the NCAA tournament. But you can certainly see the negative impacts of having more players involved in the rotation. Depth is usually a positive, but not in the case of this Oregon team.
This stagnation stemmed from the limited roles of Altman’s three sophomores. As freshmen, these three players were leaders despite their age, and there was a level of freedom amid their play that isn’t as apparent now. While the three are still considered to be premiere players on this Oregon roster among their teammates and public eye, their play demonstrates otherwise.
This is mainly because players such as Moser and Young have, for better or worse, taken the reigns as the new leaders of this team. Initially, the veteran leadership and scoring were the motives for bringing in Moser and Young, but it led to unforeseen negatives. With less minutes to go around and a surplus of new talent, the three sophomores have less room to grow. This isn’t good for Oregon’s future.
As the season comes to a close, Oregon’s program will be at a crossroads. On one hand, Altman could compile another run similar to last year’s with another set of transfers. On the other, he could continue to see his original recruits suffer in the process. The majority of title runs in college basketball have arisen from grooming a roster for four years and for the immediate future, this isn’t a possibility for Oregon. Altman’s struggles with incorporating transfers may serve as an anomaly, but it is a decision he will have to weigh more heavily moving forward.
Follow Hayden Kim on Twitter @HayDayKim