Washington @ Oregon

[duckgrad99]

Thanks for sharing northbeach sf. I think if players like Dunigan and Wilson do leave the program, it might take a few years to rebuild this team regardless of the head coach. Then again, things cannot really be much worse than they have been the last few seasons. There is talent on this team, but I don't see a true leader. I just want to see steady improvements. Play competitive ball, buy into the system, make adjustments, get all of the players involved, have players improve and just get us interested in duck basketball again. The wins will eventually come with the right coaching staff in place.

[duckgrad99]

Also, if players are homesick or hate Eugene then there is really nothing you can do about them wanting to leave. What I cannot understand is, why would players want to leave if Kent was fired? You would think that they are tired of losing, and a new coach would be a positive step in the right direction. Prove to everyone that you can fight adversity and succeed. I guess that is easier said than done, especially with 17-20 year old kids.

[bellsduck]

Here is my opinion. This is just my opinion based on my observations and what I have heard and seen during the season:
1) Dunigan is gone regardless of if Kent stays or goes. He is very unhappy in Eugene and is not shy about expressing his unhappiness. In fact, he has gone as far as to bash Eugene on his facebook page several times recently. Plus Dunigan has to be thinking that he would be better off at a school that would utilize his skills properly and could benefit greatly from an extra year of college via redshirting.
2) Humphrey was voicing his frustration at the beginning of the season, but managed to battle back and actually contribute down the stretch. The talk about his unhappiness with the program has died down recently. This seems to be more of a situational issue from what I have heard. I think that if Kent resigns or is fired, then Humphrey will likely stay. If Kent is retained, then I would not be surprised to see Humphrey split with Dunigan.
3) If EK stays, Crittle is gone. He has barely seen the court since he got in EK's face on the sidelines several weeks ago during a game. Once you are in EK's doghouse, it is over for you.
4) Jamil Wilson is an EK guy. In fact, he went as far as to say that he was not coming to Oregon unless EK was the coach during his recruiting process. At this point, you would have to assume that there is a good chance of Jamil leaving if EK is fired.
5) Armstead and Jacob have pretty much locked down starting positions next season with their play this year. I think they stay regardless of what happens with the coaching position.
6) Longmire is going into his senior year. Does he even have a choice? He already used his redshirt. He will be back.
7) Williams and EJ will be major contributers next season, plus EJ is a Oregon guy. They probably both stay, unless Williams has grade issues.
8) Not really sure what to think about Wiley and Sim. If they do tranfer, where would they go? DIV II? It is hard to imagine they would get significant playing time at another DIV I school. I think they both are back, especially if we have a new coach. New coach = new opportunity.

For these guys that have a dream of going to the NBA, I think that sitting out a year is a big deal. Specifically talking about Wilson and Dunigan. In all these cases they're going to wait to see who the new coach is and meet with them and see what kind of job the new coach would do in accentuating their individual talents. For a big guy all it takes is one good year in a top conference and you're almost an automatic lottery pick. If we pick the right HC, I'm not worried about player defections.

[oregontrack]

As long as we bring in a coach who knows what he's doing, Dunigan would be crazy to leave. Kent struggles to develop big men -- is Ian Crosswhite STILL the only big man Kent's had (that actually played in the post -- sorry, Brian Bracey and Maarty Leunen) that averaged double figures for an entire season? -- but if we bring in someone competent that stresses to Dunigan that he'll be a focal point of the offense, I don't think he goes anywhere. Dunigan should be the best returning big man in the Pac-10 next year, and should put up great numbers in a system that actually uses him.

I can't imagine Jamil Wilson not starting next year. How often do major conference starters bolt? Not often.

[northbeachsf]

As long as we bring in a coach who knows what he's doing, Dunigan would be crazy to leave. Kent struggles to develop big men -- is Ian Crosswhite STILL the only big man Kent's had (that actually played in the post -- sorry, Brian Bracey and Maarty Leunen) that averaged double figures for an entire season? -- but if we bring in someone competent that stresses to Dunigan that he'll be a focal point of the offense, I don't think he goes anywhere. Dunigan should be the best returning big man in the Pac-10 next year, and should put up great numbers in a system that actually uses him.

I can't imagine Jamil Wilson not starting next year. How often do major conference starters bolt? Not often.

Champ had a starting position pretty much locked up when Brooks graduated and TP moved to PG...but I hear what you are saying. Assuming we have a couple of transfers, I agree that Jamil could be starting. However, I just don't see him taking a starting spot from Armstead, Jacob, Singler, Humphrey, or Dunigan if they all stay.....and that is a big "if". I am not even sure he is better than Longmire or Williams right now; however, I suspect he will be by the middle of next season.

[oregontrack]

I'm hoping the new coach doesn't go with Ernie's interesting variations on line-ups and goes with a more traditional starting 5, in which case Wilson and Longmire are the only "real" 3's on the roster. And Longmire just bugs me.

I've got:

Armstead/Sim
Humphrey/Teondre
Wilson/Longmire
Jacob/Singler/Wiley
Dunigan/Crittle

Sick Teondre on teams off the bench. Could be a great 6th man. If Sim ever finds his shot, that's a pretty decent second team.