The largest storyline looming over the Oregon men’s basketball season is the replacement of key leaders such as center N’Faly Dante and guard Jermaine Couisnard. 

The Ducks, for the first time in a while, have a big question mark regarding the team’s identity. Defensively, head coach Dana Altman’s patented zone remains, but on offense, the inside-out, post-reliant style won’t find much success without Dante.

This opened up the opportunity that a player as talented as Kwame Evans Jr. needed. 

Evans, nearly seven feet tall, provides a much different profile for Oregon’s frontcourt due to his ability to stretch the floor. He can shoot, he can drive and he can work in the post, but Evans shines on defense. 

“[Trying to be] defensive minded, trying to guard the best players, rebound, hit my shots and just play hard all the time. Energy,” Evans said about his own abilities. “Being in positions I am ready to be at, and if the team needs help, I’m there.” 

His long wingspan proved to be a problem for opposing teams last year, as Evans was used to guard almost every position in 2023-24. As a freshman, Evans received starter minutes, and his role gradually increased as the season progressed due to the Ducks’ injury issues.

Evans made the most of that opportunity, as he finished second in the Pac-12 and 16th in the whole nation with his defensive box plus/minus of 5.0 — DBPM is a way to measure a player’s impact on the defensive end by estimating the difference between having the player on the court versus off. 

Similarly, Evans posted a defensive rating of 100.7 — ninth in the Pac-12 — which estimates how many points he would allow per 100 possessions. 

However it’s looked at, Evans is a tremendously effective defender, which is something he credits Dante with aiding him in. 

“[Dante] endured anyone coming in the lane, just being there all the time to oppose the other team getting in the lane. Just being physical and pushing them out of the lane, so I definitely took lessons from that,” Evans said. 

Dante also passed on another role to Evans, and it’s one that the sophomore forward understands due to being one of just eight players that were on the roster last season — he was one of five that appeared in the rotation frequently. 

“[The passing of the torch] came from Dante and them knowing I’ve been here before, while there’s a whole bunch of new guys and not a lot of returners, but just being the guy to help the new guys out learning the plays, teach them how things should be, so that’s really helpful,” Evans said. 

So far this season, aside from his 23 point performance in the opener against UC Riverside, Evans has struggled to stay consistent. 

The rough start came to a head in the Ducks’ most recent win, an overtime thriller against Portland University, where Evans totaled just 15 minutes after a subpar first half and failing to register significant playing time in the second and overtime. 

It’s only been three games, and Evans can only go up from here. As he settles into his new role, the efficient, lockdown Evans from last season should return. After all, he is a former McDonald’s All-American — the only one Oregon boasts. 

The Ducks know what they need from Evans as a player and leader. He just has to put it together as the young season moves forward, which is a primary factor that led Oregon to its March Madness appearance — patience.