Dana Altman had a ton of work to put in this offseason following a disappointing season that saw the Oregon Basketball team miss the NCAA Tournament. While the Ducks continue to add pieces with the NCAA's latest eligibility ruling, the roster, for the most part, is set. Saturday marked the first time Dana Altman got to coach his new team as the Ducks kicked off their trip to Canada for a trio of exhibition games.
The Ducks faced the University of Fraser Valley Cascades with Oregon dominating en route to a 121-40 victory. While the competition wasn't the strongest, leaving the first game with the new look team, there's plenty to take away.
5 notable storylines from Oregon's exhibition opener
Starting Five
The Oregon Ducks started a group that differed from expectations, with Fred Payne, Tyrone Riley IV, Dwayne Aristode, Luke Johnson, and Sean Stewart leading the team onto the court. Given how big of additions Taylor Bol Bowen and Jasper Johnson were, they both have been penciled in as starters, but that may not be the case this season.
Malique Ewin doesn't appear for Ducks' debut
Dana Altman's roster realignment didn't end with the closing of the traditional Transfer Portal, as the Ducks used the latest NCAA eligibility ruling to round out the roster. Malique Ewin was one of the biggest names allowed to return for another season, and Dana Altman moved quickly to secure the forward on August 3rd. Given how recently Ewin joined the Ducks, it's not surprising that he didn't make his debut, but it's also worth noting.
Andrew Meadow is going to be a major factor for the Ducks
Among the transfers that made the biggest impact, Andrew Meadow stood out the most for the Ducks. The Boise State transfer came off the bench for Dana Altman, and that could quickly change as Meadow led the Ducks in scoring with 24 points in 17 minutes off the bench. Meadow had an incredible day shooting, going 9-12 from the field and 2-3 from deep, which could make him a key piece for spacing the floor.
Spreading the wealth
Aside from Andrew Meadow going off for 24 points off the bench, the scoring load was spread out for the Ducks' offense. 12 of the 13 players to play for the Ducks scored, while 7 different players finished in double figures. Considering that this is a roster without a clear superstar, the offense is going to be a team effort, and it's good to see just how many players can chip in.
Tajh Ariza's debut
The most anticipated Ducks' debut of the exhibition trip is the arrival of highly touted freshman Tajh Ariza. The top 40 recruit debuted with 5 points on 2-7 shooting from the field, 7 rebounds, 3 assists, a block, and a steal in 19 minutes played. While it wasn't a stellar debut on offense, Ariza showed his ability to stuff the stat sheet, and as he gets more comfortable, the sky is the limit with his skill set.
Add us as a preferred source on Google