Like every coach before a new season, Dana Altman had an ideal vision for his team: The new guys would fit in with returners, and both would step up in place of reigning Pac-12 Player of the Year, Joseph Young. In addition, this group would make another run in March.
At the center of this vision was Villanova graduate transfer Dylan Ennis, a recognized veteran who averaged 9.9 points, 3.7 rebounds and 3.5 assists last season.
“He’s that way by nature, he doesn’t have to manufacture it,” Altman said earlier this season about Ennis’ leadership qualities. “He’s a natural leader, he likes it.”
The team was heartbroken when its presumed leader was ruled out for the season after re-injuring his left foot.
Before Ennis was officially out of the picture — he made his return in limited minutes against Western Oregon and Oregon State — Altman was confident that his fifth-year senior was ready to lead. Even now, Altman laments the fact that Ennis won’t be able to be as much of a leader for this team, noting his impressive offseason work ethic prior to taking classes.
If everything had gone according to plan, Ennis would have played heavy minutes, been the leader Altman saw from the get-go and brought a veteran presence that could have proved its value later in the postseason.
There’s really no other way to put it: Ennis’ season ending injury has forced Altman to look elsewhere for consistent leadership.
“Some of the other guys aren’t afraid to lead, but they’re just not as vocal,” Altman said. “That takes some time. Some guys got to step up and it carries a big deal of responsibility with it. It takes a lot of courage and it also takes a lot of accountability.”
Because of the injury, an opportunity has risen for an Oregon team that still has the talent and depth to veer back onto the path that Altman set forth at the beginning of the season. It’s an opportunity that can only be accomplished if Dillon Brooks and Tyler Dorsey surface as young, consistent and vocal leaders by the end of the season.
“Losing Ennis for the season is pretty tough,” Dorsey said. “But as a team, players got to step up.”
Currently, the duo leads the team in points — Brooks (15.2), Dorsey (14.6) — and has been Altman’s most consistent offensive option outside of junior college transfer Chris Boucher. Boucher has provided 12.1 points and 8.1 rebounds per game as Oregon’s best post player. While Elgin Cook has been with the program the longest and is looked to as one of the veteran leaders — he’s averaging 12.8 points and 5.3 rebounds — Brooks and Dorsey have quickly emerged as the faces of this team.
Since Altman arrived, the make up of the Oregon program has been straightforward, relying on transfers and memorable individuals like Young to head the program. It’s been the reason the program has experienced five straight 20-plus win seasons and three consecutive NCAA tournament appearances. Had Ennis remained healthy, 2016 would have been no different.
Now the focus has shifted towards two underclassmen who have already led Oregon to a 13-3 (2-1 Pac-12) record. Fortunately for Oregon, it’s a position that both Brooks and Dorsey are familiar with — Brooks stepping up in last year’s NCAA tournament, Dorsey leading the Greek National team in points and minutes this past summer at the 2015 FIBA U19 World Championship.
With Ennis on the sidelines, it leaves the door wide open for these two to further mature as leaders and develop as players.
Follow Hayden Kim on Twitter @HayDayKim