Dana Altman shares where Oregon stands with Senior Day status

Senior day is here for the Oregon Basketball program, where they’ll honor their five leading scorers this season, who are all seniors but several of which do have the option to come back for another year. Those decisions will be made after the season. So, for now, it’s about honoring a great veteran class. Most of all, fifth-year senior Will Richardson, the engine of the team for the majority of his career as a Duck.

At his media availability during an Oregon practice this week, head coach Dana Altman was asked about all of the emotions of Senior day, to which he gave a long and detailed response on what the day really means in the modern era of college hoops.

“Oh, you know, I don’t know what the guys will do. Although we got five guys. I think, that it could be the last game. The only one that has to be is Will. So, you know, I don’t know what the guys will do, but they all want to go through senior day. So they are all looking at their options, which in this day and age they should. I want them to want to be here, I want them to be happy. If we’re the right school for them, great. If we’re not, I understand that. If they want to go pro, I understand that. But the door is open if any of them want to come back. I like working with them. They’re going to class, they’re doing things they should be doing. So I got no problems with any of them.”

Nothing but positives from Coach Altman regarding the senior class. However, he did have to single out Richardson, a staple of the program for the last half-decade and the only guy who is out of eligibility after this year.

“We’ve been able to handle most senior days okay, but it’ll be an emotional day for Will. He’s played the most games of anybody here at Oregon, and you got a guy that’s won two conference championships, been to two Sweet 16s, won a tournament championship, was the No. 1 seed when it got canceled. Most people would take any one of those, so we’ve been part of some good basketball teams and he’s been a big part of those teams. So again, he’s the only one that has to go.”

As for the others…it’s anybody’s guess, says Dana Altman.

“With Jermaine (Couisnard) and (Rivaldo Soares) and Quincy (Guerrier) and (N’Faly) Dante, you know, that’s up to them. The COVID year just opened up opportunities for guys if they want to get degrees and want to finish up right away. But if they want to go pro, I’d respect that option also.”

Some major decisions on the horizons for the Ducks’ four other senior leaders. But senior night will be about honoring the careers these young men have already had in the green and yellow. They’ll save discussions on the future for later dates.