2009-10 Men's Basketball Preview
Don Smalley

In their last full season at McArthur Court, it's generally agreed upon that the Ducks need to have a big turnaround in 2009-10.

Last season Oregon finished a disappointing 8-23 and won just two conference games. The Ducks were playing mostly freshmen and sophomores, but head coach Ernie Kent is hoping the young Ducks are battle-tested and ready to have a better showing this year.

"I would expect a lot of improvement," Kent said. "From what I've seen so far, the physiques have definitely improved. They've done an excellent job in the weight room."

Oregon has just two seniors on the roster. Tajuan Porter and Joevan Catron will lead the Ducks from the outside and from the inside, respectively. Porter is entering the year just four three-pointers away from breaking the school record of 282 that was set by Orlando Williams back in 1995.

The highly-touted freshmen class of 2009 is back for another year and hopefully, for the Ducks' sake, they are able to live up to its billing. Six-foot-10 Michael Dunigan and 6-foot-8 Josh Crittle will provide a major inside presence.

Dunigan and Crittle will have some help this year with junior college transfer Jeremy Jacob joining the program. The 6-foot-8 sophomore from Baton Rouge, LA will provide another down low scoring threat as well as a physical rebounder.

"The most improved are the freshman who are now sophomores," Kent said. "They're bigger, stronger and more confident. They understand it better now and they've been through it better. And they are playing at a higher level right now."

The freshman from last season that appears to have made the largest stride is Teondre Williams. The 6-foot-4 Ellenwood, GA native is more relaxed and according to him, is letting things come his way instead of forcing it. Williams scored 12 points in each of the exhibition games.

The biggest missing piece of the puzzle that kept the Ducks from reaching their potential last year was the lack of a true point guard. But the Ducks appear to have found one in junior college transfer Malcolm Armstead. Porter will also play some point as well will sophomore Garret Sim, but Armstead is the pass-first point guard the Ducks need and he will be able to set up the onslaught on scorers that the Ducks can throw at opponents.

The cream of the freshman class early on is Jamil Wilson.  The 6-foot-7 swing man from Racine, Wisconsin may be the most athletic Duck since Fred Jones. So far, Wilson hasn't been intimidated by the faster college game. He led Oregon with 17 points in the first exhibition game against Concordia.

Wilson isn't alone as a freshman on the roster. Medford's own E.J. Singler should provide the Ducks with some extra punch off the bench. There was some thought that the Oregon Player of the Year might redshirt, but it was decided that he could improve his game and his team by playing this season.

Oregon will need plenty of punch off of that bench as the Ducks are expecting to press their opponents for the entire 40 minutes - "94 feet of heat" in the words of new assistant coach Mike Dunlap. Kent is likely to employ an 11-man rotation that will include Drew Wiley, Matthew Humphrey and Sim.

"With this team, it's going to be all about confidence," Kent said. "It's probably our deepest basketball team. When you look at them on paper and consider who we had to battle to get them here, it's an impressive team."

After the dismal 2008-09 season, Kent decided that a few changes needed to be made and one of those changes was the hiring of Associate Head Coach Mike Dunlap. He came from Arizona where he helped the Wildcats go to the Sweet 16. Dunlap also has some NBA coaching experience with the Denver Nuggets. He stresses fundamentals on both sides of the floor, but especially on the defensive end, which should make a difference for the Ducks.

Oregon will begin the season with a three-day, three-game tournament at McArthur Court in the BTI Tip-Off Tournament where it will host Winston-Salem State Nov. 13, UC Davis Nov. 14 and Colorado State Nov. 15.

There is no Pape` Jam in Portland this year, but the Ducks do have a marquee opponent in Missouri that is part of the Pac-10/Big XII Hardcourt Series. St. Mary's also makes a return visit to Mac Court Dec. 12. Oregon opens Pac-10 play on New Year's Eve at Washington St. The Ducks' first home conference game is Jan. 10 when Oregon St. comes calling.

"We'll know what to expect now when the Pac-10 starts up," Dunigan said. "We'll teach the freshmen and the new Juco players what it's all about."

Oregon was picked by the Pac-10 media to finish sixth. That would land them most likely a berth into the NIT, which would be a good building block for a program that finished in last place one year ago. But Kent hopes there are bigger things on the horizon other than Matt Court that is being constructed on Franklin Boulevard.