Oregon basketball projected starting center Michael Chandler won't be available when the Ducks begin practice on Friday, Dana Altman said on Thursday.
Altman said the 6-foot-10, 240-pound center has been held out with a knee injury and hasn't participated in offseason drills.
"Michael has been out. He's been nursing a knee," said Altman. "So we haven't seen much of Michael."
Altman said he's optimistic Chandler gets cleared to return to the court soon.
Chandler, a transfer from Northwest Florida State, teamed up with Elgin Cook to lead NFSU to the NJCAA national championship game in 2012-2013. He is currently the only player on Oregon's roster taller than 6-foot-9.
Chandler was the fifth-best center in the country coming out of high school in 2011, averaging 19 points, 12 rebounds and five blocks for Lawrence North High School in Indianapolis.
Chandler had previously committed to Louisville, Xavier and Central Florida. He decommitted from Louisville and Xavier before seemingly settling on UCF. However, he did not qualify academically back in 2011, and was forced to go to junior college.
-- Tyson Alger | @tysonalger