Oregon's backcourt retained a key contributor on Thursday when the NCAA granted Dylan Ennis a sixth year of eligibility following a 2015-16 campaign marred by a left-foot injury.
Ennis, who averaged 9.9 points per game and 3.5 assists per game for Villanova in 2014-15, played in just two games for the Ducks last season because of the injury.
He'd entered the season as a significant transfer who most expected to make an immediate contribution to an Oregon program that won the Pac-12 title and tournament before making a trip to the Elite Eight.
Per Oregon's release, the NCAA granted the school's request for additional eligibility under the Fifth-Year Rule Waiver "based upon the totality of the circumstances and student-athlete well-being."
Dillon Brooks, Tyler Dorsey and Chris Boucher will also return for an Oregon squad that's ranked seventh in Eamonn Brennan's top-25 preseason rankings. The Ducks will pursue their first national title since 1939.