Entering the 2015-2016 men’s basketball season, it was apparent Oregon’s biggest issue would be replacing star guard Joseph Young. Young, a two-year transfer from Houston, set multiple Oregon records during his time in the green and yellow and was drafted by the Indiana Pacers with the No. 43 pick in the 2015 NBA Draft.
Although Young’s 20.7 points and 36.7 minutes played per game last season are nearly impossible to replace, the Ducks have discovered they are missing a more important aspect to Young’s game than his production: his leadership.
“Leadership is a big part of it,” Oregon head coach Dana Altman said. “We don’t have anybody encouraging the guys to turn things around when it gets tough.”
Through the first 15 games of the season, including two Pac-12 conference games, Oregon boasts a very respectable 12-3 record, including wins over Baylor, Cal and Alabama. However, the Ducks are unranked and have suffered losses to UNLV, Boise State and Oregon State, all of which came on the road in hostile environments.
What was apparent during those losses was Oregon’s lack of execution in those games, particularly down the stretch. Whenever it seemed the Ducks were poised to make a run and take control of the game, they were unable to hit that big basket or get the big stop.
“Sometimes we do and sometimes we don’t,” Oregon sophomore Dillon Brooks said regarding having a go-to scorer.
“We’ve got a lot of guys who can score,” Altman added.
When this sort of situation arose last year, it was Young who had the ball in his hands or guarded the opposing team’s best player. Not only did he want that sort of responsibility on his shoulders, he thrived under it — most notably with his game-winning shot against Utah in the Pac-12 tournament semifinals.
It was his leadership on the court, whether in practice or during games, combined with his natural competitive fire that fueled his teammates to push themselves harder and become more focused when the game got tighter.
According to Altman, things are different this year.
The Ducks haven’t practiced well on multiple days — their focus wasn’t where it should’ve been or their effort was subpar at best. In order to compete in the rugged Pac-12 and make a push into the NCAA Tournament, there can be no issue of complacency. As of right now, Oregon isn’t ready.
“I’m concerned all the time,” Altman said after Oregon’s 70-57 loss to Oregon State on Jan. 3. “We don’t focus on a lot of things so that’s been a concern for a long time.”
There is no doubt that Oregon has the individual or overall team talent to win in the Pac-12. The problem is that too many times the Ducks will go one-on-one with an opponent instead of getting teammates involved. This “me first” mantra is ultimately what’s hurting Oregon in games. For it to stop, a leader must emerge and make it stop.
“I tried to go one-on-one multiple times,” Brooks said after the Oregon State loss. “It’s more about getting your teammates into it, getting them open looks and you’ll get looks… we aren’t doing that.”
The Ducks need a leader, a player who is not afraid to call out teammates and lead both by example and verbally. One would assume that a veteran, such as senior Elgin Cook or Dillon Brooks, to assume that role, but at this point anybody can take over, even freshman Tyler Dorsey or newcomer Chris Boucher.
Villanova transfer Dylan Ennis was expected to assume a leadership role, but has only played in two games due to a foot injury. He re-aggravated his injury in the loss to Oregon State and has officially been ruled out for the remainder of the season.
Without a leader to help the Ducks fly, this team will continue to be a middle-of-the-road Pac-12 squad that’s incapable of winning games in hostile environments, a must-have in the Pac-12.
With a leader, this Oregon squad has the talent and depth to go farther than Young took his Oregon teams — past the Sweet-16 and into the Elite-8. Only time will tell which player fills Young’s void, but change must start from within before it’s reflected on the scoreboard.
Follow Ryan Kostecka on Twitter @Ryan_Kostecka