The change of scenery at McArthur Court has claimed No. 13.
Luke Ridnour is gone. He is gone to the Seattle Sonics, missing out on what would have been his senior season in Eugene.
So are Brian Helquist and Robert Johnson, fixtures in Oregon’s success the past two seasons.
They will be missed, but the Ducks say they won’t miss a step. They say they will be one of the top teams in the Pacific-10 Conference this season, ready to battle for another crown and berth to the NCAA Tournament.
And they’ll do it with a team effort, much like they’ve done it in the past.
“We’ve built this program on the premises that the program is bigger than any one coach,” Oregon head coach Ernie Kent said at the team’s media day Thursday. “I also believe that it is also bigger than any one player.”
The Ducks will be like teams of the past. They will run an up-tempo offense but change it up to a post game.
The team’s point guard, expected to be either returnee Brandon Lincoln or freshman Aaron Brooks, will be fast. The big forwards, which are now led by Ian Crosswhite, can run and gun but are hoping to be able to battle with their bodies.
It’s going to be the Ducks of old, but a team of new.
“The diversity of this team will be really good in terms of what we can throw at teams,” Kent said. “This will be one of the biggest teams in the country, I think. It has the potential to be the fastest team I have ever coached.”
The Ducks say Ridnour’s hole can never really be filled, both in leadership and talent. Lincoln and Brooks will attempt to step up into the point guard position, although Kent said he will not name a starter this early.
“Well, my initial goal is to keep the team on the same track it is,” Brooks said. “I would feel a lot more pressure if we didn’t have a lot of good guys here, but there are a lot of incredible athletes here. I will step in there, distribute the ball and play defense.”
Leadership-wise, the Ducks will count on a senior quartet that has seen three of the best seasons in Oregon basketball history.

Luke Jackson let Ridnour go to the NBA alone, deciding to stay for his senior season. Guards James Davis and Andre Joseph and center Jay Anderson will be key leaders on the team, although one specific player is being counted on for overall leadership.
That’s Jackson. And all that comes with him is 16 points and 6.9 rebounds per game last season, as well as 71 career starts. He’s being touted as a potential player of the year, both in the Pac-10 and nationally.
“The seniors that came in with Luke (Ridnour), they definitely want to do some good things,” Lincoln said. “I’m going to be committed to sending these guys out with a bang.
“We need a definite vocal leader and we’re all looking to Luke Jackson for that. We have other seniors, but primarily the leadership role is going to fall on Luke’s shoulders. He knows that and he’s been preparing for it all summer.”
Because the Ducks have always been a mobile team, the ability to post up and rebound is expected to play a key part in the team’s potential success this season.
Oregon returns a more experienced Crosswhite — now a sophomore — as well as center Matt Short. The sophomore is expected to be out until mid-November with an injury but won’t miss much.
Short and freshman Ray Schafer are both 7-foot, while Crosswhite is 6-foot-11-inches, freshman Mitch Platt 6-foot-10-inches and Anderson is 6-foot-9-inches.
The group will be bolstered by redshirt freshman Adam Zahn, a muscular forward the Ducks hope can come in and play in key defensive situations.
“I know our small lineup, because there’s going to be more experienced guys there, is going to do well but I think our big lineup is going to work well against some teams,” Crosswhite said. “I think with a little experience from our nonconference games, both are going to be great.”
Oregon can do nothing but talk at this point. Saturday marks the first time the team will practice, with the Ducks’ first game coming Nov. 9 against the Basketball Travelers in an exhibition game.
The first real game of the season comes Nov. 21 when Fresno State visits McArthur Court. From then on, a prime time game comes against Kansas in Kansas City, Mo., on Dec. 13. Pac-10 play begins Jan. 2 when Oregon visits USC.
That’ll show Oregon’s true colors.