Welcome to “Large Ten offseason at a look,” a team-by-team have a look at the convention firstly of the summer season. We’ll look at roster motion for every Large Ten roster and provides an early outlook for every Large Ten program for the 2024-25 season.
Beforehand: Penn State, Minnesota, Illinois, Iowa
Immediately: Oregon (24-12 general in 2023-24, 12-8 in Pac-12 play)
Oregon reached the 2024 NCAA event and superior to the spherical of 32 after upsetting South Carolina 87-73 as a No. 11 seed. The Geese completed No. 55 within the last KenPom rankings. Dana Altman is getting into his fifteenth season in Eugene and reached the Remaining 4 again in 2017.
Oregon roster motion
Gamers returning with eligibility remaining: Jackson Shelstad, Keeshawn Barthelemy, Jadrian Tracey, Nate Bittle, Kwame Evans Jr., Mookie Cook dinner
Gamers departing as a result of exhausted eligibility: N’Faly Dante (trying to get a waiver), Jesse Zarzuela, Mahamadou Diawara, Jermaine Couisnard
Gamers who departed by way of the switch portal: Kario Oquendo (to SMU), Brennan Rigsby (to Minnesota)
Gamers arriving by way of the switch portal: Brandon Angel (from Stanford), Ra’Heim Moss (from Toledo), TJ Bamba (from Villanova), Dez Lindsay (from Florida Southwestern State School)
Gamers arriving by way of highschool: Ibrahima Traore
Oregon at present has two scholarships open for subsequent season. In the event that they fill the open roster spots, they might look so as to add one other submit participant or frontcourt depth as Traore, a freshman, may have extra time to be able to play common minutes behind Bittle on the 5.
What to love about Oregon
Oregon’s shock run by the Pac-12 event rescued a season that was in any other case disappointing in Eugene. The truth that the Geese went on to win a recreation at March Insanity was spectacular, contemplating Oregon entered the convention event ranked 69 in KenPom and never on the event radar.
The lack of Couisnard is critical, however Altman has some returning items and incoming transfers to work with as he prepares for all times within the Large Ten. The headlining returnees are Shelstad, Tracey, Evans Jr. and Bittle. Shelstad began at level guard as a freshman and will tackle an much more important function within the backcourt following the departure of Couisnard. Tracey and Evans Jr., a former five-star recruit, additionally began within the NCAA event. Bittle performed simply six video games final season as a result of sickness and damage however will begin on the 5.
There are additionally just a few notable switch portal additions in Angel, who averaged 13 factors final season at Stanford, together with Bamba, who arrives from Villanova. He averaged 15.8 factors as a junior at Villanova however fell again to only over 10 per recreation final season. The items are there for Altman to make one other run subsequent winter. Moss additionally arrives from Toledo after a extremely productive profession within the Mid-American Convention. Oregon’s upside is even larger if Dante will get a waiver to return for a sixth season.
What to query with Oregon
Expertise is usually not a query for Oregon, however the Geese have struggled relative to their standard requirements underneath Altman over the past three seasons. Oregon was on target to overlook the NCAA event for a 3rd straight season till the late rally final March. The Geese completed simply 20-15 within the 2021-22 season and 21-15 within the 2022-23 season.
If Dante isn’t granted a waiver to return, there can be a whole lot of strain on Bittle to remain wholesome and produce at a excessive stage on the 5. This system’s three freshman contributors final season – Shelstead, Evans Jr. and Cook dinner – should take important leaps ahead subsequent season. And Moss, an up-transfer from Toledo, might want to show himself on the excessive main stage. Moss averaged 15.5 factors, 5.4 rebounds and three assists final season for the Rockets.
Oregon’s outlook for the 2024-25 season
Right here’s Oregon’s Large Ten schedule for subsequent season:
Residence: Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, Nebraska, Northwestern, Purdue, RutgersAway: Iowa, Michigan, Michigan State, Minnesota, Ohio State, Penn State, WisconsinHome/Away: UCLA, USC, Washington
Oregon appears undervalued at No. 49 in Bart Torvik’s projections for subsequent season. The Geese have a robust assortment of expertise coming back from an NCAA event workforce and have added impression transfers in Bamba and Angel.
Oregon’s return to the NCAA event is an affordable expectation for subsequent season. If the items come collectively as Altman hopes, the Geese ought to end within the prime half of the Large Ten standings.
(Picture credit score: Oregon Athletics)
Filed to: 2024-25 Large Ten preview, Oregon Geese
