EUGENE -- With starting point guard and leading scorer Payton Pritchard returning along with four others and a heralded class of five freshmen, all top 100 recruits, joining them, it's clear why Oregon was the pick to win the Pac-12 this season.
The Ducks have to replace a lot, particularly in losing Troy Brown, but 7-foot-2 Bol Bol, five-star forward Louis King, who is recovering from a knee injury, Will Richardson, Francis Okoro, Miles Norris and graduate transfer Ehab Amin bring a lot of firepower on both ends of the court.
The returning players were not satisfied with last year ending in the second round of the NIT and with such a heralded group joining them, want to get back to the NCAA Tournament.