Duck Hoops '08-'09: Thoughts?

by Takimoto on Nov 3, 2008 10:39 PM PST

So it's basketball season. Mac Court is still loud and faintly smelling of Aaron Brooks. Don Essig is still drunk and in front of a microphone. The Pit Crew is still raucos, borderline inappropriate, and upset that the band isn't playing DuckTales over and over again. But the men's hoops team looks nothing like last year's team. Bryce, Malik, and Maarty are all off getting cut by NBA teams and finding jobs in Turkey and Italy. Ray-Ray is huge in Japan. What is left could be a serviceable basketball team, if the chips fall right. Personally, things I'm excited for:

TP being TP: Tajuan doesn't have to be the #1 point guard and gets to going back to shooting the lights out.

Stretching those wings: Dunigan, Humphrey, Teondre, Crittle, Sim, Wiley(Luke Jackson 2.0) finally get some minutes in big games, and we get to see what they're made of.

Proof Years for the Vets: Is Kamyron Brown no longer allergic to shooting the ball? Will Franz turn into more than just a black canadian Adam Zahn? Has LeKendric finally found a finish, instead of getting to the hoop and missing half his layups?

Couple of predictions:

Team MVP: TP, with Longmire making a nice run at it.

Most pleasant surprise: Purely a hunch, but I think Teondre Williams is gonna be good, if he can find minutes in a backcourt with Brown, TP, Sim, Humphrey, and Longmire.

Biggest Concerns: Kamyron Brown and Joevon Catron. Can Kamyron shoot the ball enough to actually warrant a defender, and can Catron become a leading scorer?

Prediction: 18-14, 9-11 Pac-10 (1-1 tourney)

NIT bid, win a game or two, maybe make a Final Four run if we can get hot.

Poll

What is a realistic scenario for this year's Ducks men's hoops team?

Bottom of the Pac-10 barrel, trumpetduck gets to win his bracket pool since he doesn't have to pick the Ducks to win the Dance.

4 votes

Sixth or seventh in the Pac-10, with maybe a fun run to the Pac-10 championship game thrown in. We're upset about not making the Dance for a couple weeks, until we go to the NIT Final Four.

25 votes

Fifth in the Pac-10, including a deep run in Hawaii and a win at Pauley. NCAA second round before we run into somebody real real good.

10 votes

Mike Dunkigan blocks a Tyler Hansbrough shot into the second deck, Ducks cut down the nets.

6 votes

45 votes | Poll has closed

This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of SB Nation or the Addicted To Quack Moderators. FanPost opinions are valued expressions of opinion by passionate and knowledgeable Oregon fans.

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Comments

Most likely scenario

I think it falls somewhere between the first two options. I think the post season expectations of the second option might be a little much, though.

And, Kent recently stated that TP will be the primary PG. I didn’t get to see the exhibition game, but if this is the case, my expectations will need to be adjusted downward a bit.

by ntrebon on Nov 4, 2008 5:39 AM PST reply actions

Prediction

And, your predictions look pretty good to me. Maybe another nonconference loss as I assume this team will need more time to gel and find an identity with all the new players.

by ntrebon on Nov 4, 2008 5:42 AM PST reply actions

Cupcakes

its a lot easier to win and gel at the same time when you play teams like San Diego and Oakland (yes i remember last year)

Ducks Go!

by trumpetduck on Nov 4, 2008 8:54 AM PST up reply actions

Cupcakes

I agree, but looking at the schedule, there are definitely teams that I wouldn’t qualify as cupcakes.

by ntrebon on Nov 4, 2008 9:16 AM PST up reply actions

Maui

that tourny really makes things more difficult. But what a great opportunity for our youngins to learn and grow. Overall I think Kent did a good job creating a schedule that is easy but provides some challenges and loses

Ducks Go!

by trumpetduck on Nov 4, 2008 10:01 AM PST up reply actions

Maui

the prediction had us either beating alabama and losing to unc or losing to alabama and beating chaminade. i might have just flipped a coin on the third game

I support Roger Kieschnick in his quest to becoming the best Kieschnick ever to play professional baseball.

by Takimoto on Nov 4, 2008 10:37 AM PST up reply actions

Teondre williams looks older than he is.

He was one of the more composed freshman on Sunday. It’ll be telling to see where he gets minutes this Sunday; my guess is that Ernie is going to use him as the second SF. That would certainly clear up some of the log-jam we have at the 2.

by everett on Nov 4, 2008 8:37 AM PST reply actions