Oregon basketball will be just fine without Emoni Bates

The Emoni Bates sweepstakes are officially over. The former No. 1 overall recruit from the 2022 class who reclassified to 2021 committed to Memphis on Wednesday night over Oregon basketball, and others.

And while Oregon fans were optimistic after he took a trip to Eugene and was pictured in Ducks gear and let down when he picked Memphis, they have to realize this team will be just fine.

Sure, Emoni would have been a huge addition to an already-loaded 2021-22 roster, but the Ducks are going to be more than OK with what they have heading into the season. This would have been a more painful loss if he made a commitment to a Pac-12 rival, but the fact that the five-star is headed to the AAC makes this hurt less.

Still worried about losing out on Emoni?

Realistically, a few weeks ago, Oregon fans didn’t even have Emoni on the mind. Before he released his top eight, Emoni wasn’t on anyone’s mind. He gave Duck fans a glimmer of hope when he narrowed his list to four with Oregon on it, but it seemed to be a foregone conclusion that his favorite was Memphis with Jalen Duren or the G-League.

Oregon’s roster is going to be great heading into the season and it should be enough to three-peat as Pac-12 champs.

Oregon basketball will be more than ‘OK’ without Emoni

Looking at the roster, Oregon has a handful of transfers along with some impressive returning starters which should help lead the Ducks to the top of the Pac-12.

De’Vion Harmon, Rivaldo Soares, Quincy Guerrier, and Jacob Young transferred in and Will Richardson, Franck Kepnang, N’Faly Dante, and Eric Williams Jr. are all back with five-star big man Nathan Bittle along with Isaac Johnson are both newcomers.

Yeah, the Ducks are going to be just fine without Emoni.