[81alum]

[quote author=BobK link=topic=17748.msg207376#msg207376 date=1508690650]
And more scary as I somehow missed that Bando is still at Oregon, now a Sr.

Lexi Bando was an excellent three point shooter, making 76 at 48%.  Bando averaged 10 points per game.

I thought we would get some relief with Bando graduating, but you are telling me Oregon kept essentially all of its critical players from last year and with a year of experience and confidence under their belt, punctuated by a run to the Elite 8, where they upset two top seeds (Duke and Maryland)? And then Bando is still around, while we lost Karlie to graduation?

I agree, the Ducks should be up there with us and UCLA as the three favorites to win the conference.
[/quote]

Well, as Bob describes it in his blog, it is actually worse than that.  Not only are they keeping all their starters, but they have an entering class with three top international recruits, including the #1 international recruit, a 6'4" post from Germany.  They are also getting Erin Boley from N otre Dame--but not to worry, she has to sit out this year.  (Que the sarcasm.  Erin Boley will have three years of eligibility when she plays next year so we will be seeing her for many years.  For some reason she is showing up on their roster this year.  Bob, are we sure she has to sit?)  Ruthy Hebard is only a sophomore, as are McGwire, Campisano, and Ionescu--all three we discussed here on this board as great potential recruits.  Add Maite Cazorla from Spain and this is beginning to look like an international all star team.  We could face a starting lineup next year of Hebard, Boley, Ionescu, Cazorla, and McGwire/Sabally. Great size inside, sure ball handling and three point shooting outside, and a versatile superstar wing.  Yikes.

Washington State is the other team that has gone deep into international recruiting.  And we have started to do so for the first time.  Bob, is the international game just getting better, or is there some other reason that international women are becoming so much more prominent in American college WBB?

[81alum]

[quote author=BobK link=topic=17748.msg207376#msg207376 date=1508690650]
And more scary as I somehow missed that Bando is still at Oregon, now a Sr.

Lexi Bando was an excellent three point shooter, making 76 at 48%.  Bando averaged 10 points per game.

I thought we would get some relief with Bando graduating, but you are telling me Oregon kept essentially all of its critical players from last year and with a year of experience and confidence under their belt, punctuated by a run to the Elite 8, where they upset two top seeds (Duke and Maryland)? And then Bando is still around, while we lost Karlie to graduation?

I agree, the Ducks should be up there with us and UCLA as the three favorites to win the conference.
[/quote]

Well, as Bob describes it in his blog, it is actually worse than that.  Not only are they keeping all their starters, but they have an entering class with three top international recruits, including the #1 international recruit, a 6'4" post from Germany.  They are also getting Erin Boley from N otre Dame--but not to worry, she has to sit out this year.  (Que the sarcasm.  Erin Boley will have three years of eligibility when she plays next year so we will be seeing her for many years.  For some reason she is showing up on their roster this year.  Bob, are we sure she has to sit?)  Ruthy Hebard is only a sophomore, as are McGwire, Campisano, and Ionescu--all three we discussed here on this board as great potential recruits.  Add Maite Cazorla from Spain and this is beginning to look like an international all star team.  We could face a starting lineup next year of Hebard, Boley, Ionescu, Cazorla, and McGwire/Sabally. Great size inside, sure ball handling and three point shooting outside, and a versatile superstar wing.  Yikes.

Washington State is the other team that has gone deep into international recruiting.  And we have started to do so for the first time.  Bob, is the international game just getting better, or is there some other reason that international women are becoming so much more prominent in American college WBB?