Preview:
Everyone knows the WNBA players that Oregon lost after its absolutely dominant season last year. But casual fans don't yet know the talent that Oregon still has or that has recently joined them. My impression after watching a couple of their games--including their recent loss to UCLA--is that they are an extremely talented team that is still quite young and has not yet completely melded. Of course, in their recent loss to UCLA they were missing two starters--Sedona Prince and Taylor Chavez--who for all I know could be playing against us on Friday. They had a furious run at the end of the UCLA game that nearly tied it up--without two starters. If they are healthy, I think they still need to be considered our toughest competition in the conference.
So who are the new Ducks? There are some old names in the mix. Erin Boley (formerly of Notre Dame) is leading their very balanced scoring with 13 ppg, and is hitting 45% of her treys. Nyara Sabally--the younger and oft-injured sister of our nemesis--comes in second at 12 ppg and leads in rebounding with 8.
Te-Hina Paopao, who has one of the coolest names in sports, is a remarkable freshman point guard--hitting 40% of her treys and with a 2:1 assist to turnover ratio. And she is only going to get better. To start a freshman point guard and have that kind of immediate success is simply astounding.
Taylor Mikesell continues the Ducks' pattern of recruiting from other big name WBB programs. She transferred from Maryland and was granted immediate eligibility for this year--her junior year. She is a 5'11" guard who so far is hitting 47% of her treys.
Sedona Prince, a talented 6'7" redshirt sophomore, started at Texas only to break her leg and sit out the season, and then transferred to Oregon, although she had to sit out a year. So that means three of the Duck's most talented players came from other programs, and this is in part how they have reloaded so quickly. It is, in a way, a kind of national all-star team rather than a team of talent developed exclusively by Kelley Graves. Prince did not play against UCLA and I did not hear the reason why.
Taylor Chavez and Jaz Shelley each have started 4 games for Oregon this year, giving Oregon yet more quality perimeter options.
As a team, Oregon has 4 players averaging in double digit scoring. With effective three point shooting outside, and size inside, they are a team that cannot be subjected easily to Tara's scouting report defense--there are no weak offensive links. If we play player to player, it is going to be a series of difficult matchups. This is, of course, how Oregon beat us three times last year--we lost those match ups.
All that said, UCLA did beat them. In that game, UCLA's two stars had near career nights, with Onyenwere scoring 33 points on 60% shooting. The UCLA zone was just not up to stopping her. It reminded me of what our own McPhee did to them a few years back, also scoring 33. Meanwhile, Oregon's comeback was led by freshman Angela Dugalic--a 6'4" forward who looked as confident and as physical as I have ever seen in a freshman big. To my eye, she was offensively an improvement over the absent Sedona Prince.
Dugalic, PaoPao, Mikesell, Prince, and freshman reserves Sydney Parrish and Maddie Scherr are all playing in their first season for the Ducks. It is scary to think how good this team may become as they jell and mature. But as their loss to UCLA showed, they have not yet reached their full potential as a team.
To beat Oregon, we have to sharply cut down on their perimeter shooting while not getting into foul trouble against their bigs. And we will need our own strong perimeter shooting. I would be shocked if their zone lets Belibi have a good game. Our three point shooting cannot be "off" if we expect a win.
Everyone knows the WNBA players that Oregon lost after its absolutely dominant season last year. But casual fans don't yet know the talent that Oregon still has or that has recently joined them. My impression after watching a couple of their games--including their recent loss to UCLA--is that they are an extremely talented team that is still quite young and has not yet completely melded. Of course, in their recent loss to UCLA they were missing two starters--Sedona Prince and Taylor Chavez--who for all I know could be playing against us on Friday. They had a furious run at the end of the UCLA game that nearly tied it up--without two starters. If they are healthy, I think they still need to be considered our toughest competition in the conference.
So who are the new Ducks? There are some old names in the mix. Erin Boley (formerly of Notre Dame) is leading their very balanced scoring with 13 ppg, and is hitting 45% of her treys. Nyara Sabally--the younger and oft-injured sister of our nemesis--comes in second at 12 ppg and leads in rebounding with 8.
Te-Hina Paopao, who has one of the coolest names in sports, is a remarkable freshman point guard--hitting 40% of her treys and with a 2:1 assist to turnover ratio. And she is only going to get better. To start a freshman point guard and have that kind of immediate success is simply astounding.
Taylor Mikesell continues the Ducks' pattern of recruiting from other big name WBB programs. She transferred from Maryland and was granted immediate eligibility for this year--her junior year. She is a 5'11" guard who so far is hitting 47% of her treys.
Sedona Prince, a talented 6'7" redshirt sophomore, started at Texas only to break her leg and sit out the season, and then transferred to Oregon, although she had to sit out a year. So that means three of the Duck's most talented players came from other programs, and this is in part how they have reloaded so quickly. It is, in a way, a kind of national all-star team rather than a team of talent developed exclusively by Kelley Graves. Prince did not play against UCLA and I did not hear the reason why.
Taylor Chavez and Jaz Shelley each have started 4 games for Oregon this year, giving Oregon yet more quality perimeter options.
As a team, Oregon has 4 players averaging in double digit scoring. With effective three point shooting outside, and size inside, they are a team that cannot be subjected easily to Tara's scouting report defense--there are no weak offensive links. If we play player to player, it is going to be a series of difficult matchups. This is, of course, how Oregon beat us three times last year--we lost those match ups.
All that said, UCLA did beat them. In that game, UCLA's two stars had near career nights, with Onyenwere scoring 33 points on 60% shooting. The UCLA zone was just not up to stopping her. It reminded me of what our own McPhee did to them a few years back, also scoring 33. Meanwhile, Oregon's comeback was led by freshman Angela Dugalic--a 6'4" forward who looked as confident and as physical as I have ever seen in a freshman big. To my eye, she was offensively an improvement over the absent Sedona Prince.
Dugalic, PaoPao, Mikesell, Prince, and freshman reserves Sydney Parrish and Maddie Scherr are all playing in their first season for the Ducks. It is scary to think how good this team may become as they jell and mature. But as their loss to UCLA showed, they have not yet reached their full potential as a team.
To beat Oregon, we have to sharply cut down on their perimeter shooting while not getting into foul trouble against their bigs. And we will need our own strong perimeter shooting. I would be shocked if their zone lets Belibi have a good game. Our three point shooting cannot be "off" if we expect a win.