The look of the Oregon Ducks roster for the 2022 season is starting to take shape.
It happens to look pretty similar to last year’s roster, as a matter of fact.
While there have been some transfers, and a few new pieces are coming in, the projected starting five for the most part will resemble the squad from 2021. While that team ultimately wasn’t able to find success down the stretch, missing out on the NCAA March Madness Tournament, another year together will do them some good.
Led by a group of veterans that got a big boost with the return of PG Will Richardson this past week, the Ducks will have some experience both on the court and in the locker room. Apparently, that has been enough of a shift to give Oregon some forward momentum in the preseason polls.
A couple of outlets have moved the Ducks up inside the top-20 after the news of Richardson’s return. CBS Sports released its top-25 this past week, putting the Ducks at No. 19.
The Ducks’ ranking is based on Oregon returning three of its top six scorers – among them double-digit scorers Will Richardson and Quincy Guerrier. A recruiting class featuring 5-star prospects Kel’el Ware and Dior Johnson, plus JUCO All-American Tyrone Williams and Colorado transfer Keeshawn Barthelemy, should allow Dana Altman to have a nice bounce-back season and possibly compete for what would be a third Pac-12 title in a four-year span.
John Rothstein, with College Hoops Today also released his preseason edition of the Rothstein 45, and had Oregon ranked at No. 18 in the nation.
We will see if this team can gel a bit better than they did last season, but with a returning core of Richardson, Quincy Guerrier, N’Faly Dante, and Rivaldo Soares, plus the additions of Kel’el Ware, Dior Johnson, Keeshawn Barthelemy, and Jermaine Couisnard, Oregon should be talented enough to find a lot of success in 2022.
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