Will Richardson didn’t want his health situation out in the open, but as rumors spread about what was keeping the Oregon Ducks’ leading scorer off the floor, head coach Dana Altman felt the need to set the record straight.

Richardson, who missed the Ducks’ last five games of the season, was dealing with mononucleosis.

Altman revealed the situation after the Ducks’ 75-60 loss to Texas A&M Saturday to bring the season to a close. The Ducks went 20-15. Richardson missed both Pac-12 Tournament games and both of the Ducks’ NIT games. Oregon surely could have used his shot-creation. But Altman had only good things to say of Richardson in his postgame radio show after.

“I want Will to be happy,” Altman said, per 247Sports’ Matt Prehm. “If Will wants to come back, great. If Will wants to go pro and try and make it, great. If Will wants to go somewhere else, great. … Whatever he does, I’ll back him.”

But, if Richardson does choose to return, next season will have to be different, Altman said. And that applies to every single member of the team, up and down the board.

Here’s more of what Altman had to say after the loss, ranging from challenges to a promise of change next season:

The Ducks closed the year 20-15. The 20 wins earned the program a 12th straight season hitting at least 20, but the 15 losses were the most by an Altman-coached team in a season since the 2010-11 campaign, Altman’s first in Eugene. Richardson could return for a fifth season of college basketball, at Oregon or somewhere else, and take advantage of the NCAA’s COVID eligibility waiver.