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Oregon Basketball: Way-too-early starting 5 projections for 2021-22

By Connor Muldowney

Mar 22, 2021; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Oregon Ducks guard Will Richardson (right) and forward Eric Williams Jr. (50) react after a play against the Iowa Hawkeyes during the first half in the second round of the 2021 NCAA Tournament at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 22, 2021; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Oregon Ducks guard Will Richardson (right) and forward Eric Williams Jr. (50) react after a play against the Iowa Hawkeyes during the first half in the second round of the 2021 NCAA Tournament at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports /
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EUGENE, OREGON – MARCH 05: Andre Kelly #22 of the California Golden Bears and N’Faly Dante #1 of the Oregon Ducks battle for position with Andre Kelly #22 of the California Golden Bears during the second half at Matthew Knight Arena on March 05, 2020 in Eugene, Oregon. Oregon won 90-56. (Photo by Steve Dykes/Getty Images)
EUGENE, OREGON – MARCH 05: Andre Kelly #22 of the California Golden Bears and N’Faly Dante #1 of the Oregon Ducks battle for position with Andre Kelly #22 of the California Golden Bears during the second half at Matthew Knight Arena on March 05, 2020 in Eugene, Oregon. Oregon won 90-56. (Photo by Steve Dykes/Getty Images) /

Last, but certainly not least, the Ducks have options here. Not only does N’Faly Dante return after playing in just six games before injuring his knee and missing the remainder of the season, but the Ducks have more depth in the post for 2021-22 than they’ve had in years.

Dante should hopefully be at full-strength and if that’s the case, he’s the easy choice to start the season at center. If Dana Altman wants to ease him into big minutes, he might go with Franck Kepnang here or maybe even Nathan Bittle or Isaac Johnson.

Oregon will have one of the best center rotations in the country next season and I see Dante leading the way as a potential All-Pac-12 performer.

If he lives up to his potential, he could even be an All-American-type player.

Before his injury this past season, Dante was averaging 8.2 points, 5.8 rebounds, 1.5 steals and 1.2 steals while shooting 66 percent from the floor. He needs to improve his free throw percentage because if the Ducks can’t keep him on the floor near the end of close games, that’ll be an issue.

We all saw how much the Ducks could have used Dante against USC, however. It’ll be nice to have him back.

Next. Oregon's pre-spring game-by-game predictions. dark

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