Head coach Ernie Kent smiles when reading the national projections for his 2000-01 Oregon men’s basketball team because it excites him even more than he already is.
Not because of what the predictions say, but rather for what they don’t say.
For example, from CBSSportsline.com: “Smith, Scales and Wright will all be gone and they will be hard to replace. Oregon is likely looking at a season in which a .500 record and an NIT bid will be more realistic goals than contending for the Pac-10 title.”
Kent concedes that losing three valuable seniors like A.D. Smith, Alex Scales and Darius Wright will hurt, but points out that there’s key components to his team that the national media can’t see.
“Sometimes you read Dick Vitale and all those other magazines, and they’re doing an analysis of our team from the peripheral,” said Kent, while addressing reporters at Oregon’s annual media day last week. “They see what we lost, but they don’t understand all of the inner workings. Do the players get along? Are they on the same page? That is what I’m concerned with.
“Someone told me the other day, “Wow, that is the most together basketball team I’ve ever seen.’”
It is comments like those that have Kent genuinely thrilled “about the anticipation and the prospects of where we are going as a basketball team.”
Oregon is coming off a year in which it went 22-5 — its best record in 55 years — and reached the NCAA Tournament for only the second time since 1961.
The Ducks held its first practice Saturday, and will continue to practice throughout the month in preparation of its first exhibition game Nov. 6 at McArthur Court. Oregon’s season opener is Nov. 17 against Mississippi Valley State at home.
The pessimist is quick to point out the obvious: That the Pacific-10 Conference is loaded with teams who have superior returning talent and that Oregon will be hard pressed to match up due to its inexperience.
But when these Ducks look up and down the Pac-10, they don’t feel out of this league.
“I think we’re going to surprise a lot of people,” said 7-foot-2 junior center Chris Christoffersen, who, along with Flo Hartenstein and David Jackson, had knee surgery over the off-season. “I like it better that we’re the underdog and the unknown factor. I think this is better because people won’t be as prepared for us as they were last year.”
Obviously, one of the main ingredients that needs to develop for the Ducks is a leader, and while Kent says he has some ideas of who that should be, he’s going to let leadership develop amongst the players.
The one player that will be looked heavily upon is junior guard Freddie Jones. Jones, who has shown flashes of brilliance over the past two years, reported to the team in terrific shape and wants to become the team’s go-to guy.
While he has treated fans to many spectacular plays, he considers his first two seasons at Oregon “a waste.”
“It seems like I’ve been out here just contributing here and there,” said Jones, who scored 82 points in a summer league game. “I could have been doing a whole lot more. I have to be aggressive; that’s what has held me back. I’ve passed up a lot of shots.”
Another guy that Kent has his eye on is senior forward Bryan Bracey. Last year, Bracey only played about 15 minutes a game because Smith would played 30-35 minutes.
“Bryan Bracey is a very good basketball player and now it’s [his] turn to step onto that floor and people are going to be impressed,” Kent said.
There was a certain “newness” that was evident as players and coaches walked around Mac Court talking to reporters. First, there were new uniforms that the players were wearing that incorporate some of the same design as the football team.
There’s a new paint color on the outside of Mac Court as the ivy shrubs are gone. And there’s Kent’s new rounded haircut. Where did his traditional flat-top go?
“That’s on the barber room floor,” Kent said. “Didn’t want to look like [Oregon State coach] Ritchie McKay.”
Most notably, there’s the four new freshmen that helped Oregon receive a number one ranking for its recruiting class. The group includes McDonald’s All-American point guard Luke Ridnour, forward Luke Jackson, guard James Davis and center Jay Anderson.
“Luke, Luke and James are not your typical freshmen,” Kent said. “They have a calm and confidence that most freshmen don’t have. Jay may need more adjustment time, but he certainly has the ability to emerge also.”
While there is an emphasis on the new, Kent expects last season’s overtime loss to Seton Hall in the first round of the tournament to pay great dividends.
“Once they’ve experienced March Madness, it becomes easier to direct them back there,” Kent said. “We’ve seen the prize up close.”