Preview:
Fans (other than the players' families) will sadly not be in Maples to watch our first home game in a month, but we will take on a finally healthy Oregon team in Maples and will have to be content with Pac 12 networks.
Oregon is 7-4 and we have 2 losses in common with them: South Florida and South Carolina. The other two losses were more ignominious, to UC Davis who we beat, and to Kansas State. Oregon is not ranked but is 25th in Massey's rankings. But this is very deceptive. Oregon had all of their star players playing together for the first time just two days ago: PaoPao, Sabally, and Rogers have all missed large parts of the season. Furthermore, Oregon has had three games cancelled recently, meaning that we have very little (other than a fill in game against Caroll College) to judge them on. In short, Oregon probably expects their game against us to be their coming-out party, a chance to have their best players playing together for the first time this season against good competition.
Stats are not going to tell us a lot when so many key players were out for so many games: Sabally has started 2 games, Rogers and PaoPao just 1 each. Sedona Prince, their 6'7" forward sophomore, has started every game and averages 12 pts and 5 rebounds in 22 minutes a game. She has not taken a three.
Sydney Parrish, their 6'2" sophomore guard, has also started every game and is averaging 13 points in 28 minutes, shooting the three at 38%.
The other consistent starter is Maddie Scherr, a 5'11" sophomore guard who is averaging 7 points while hitting 36% from three point range.
Nyrara Sabally can be expect to start. This 6'5" redshirt junior forward leads the team at 17ppg---in those games she has actually been able to play (4).
Finally, with their starting point guard PaoPao back, along with USC transfer Endiya Rogers, Oregon suddenly improved its backcourt. PaoPao and Rogers have each given us problems to defend in the past, and having them on the floor at the same time, not to mention senior transfer Alise Hurst who is shooting a prolific 42% of her treys and has started 9 games now--Oregon is on paper a very powerful and well balanced offensive team.
The Oregon we will play on Friday has little in common with the Oregon of November and December. Last year, Oregon had outstanding players but they had not jelled well enough as a team. If they are coming together as a team they will be hard to beat. A healthy Oregon seems more formidable to me than any other teams in the Pac 12 other than ourselves. If they are at full strength and we are still depleted--watch out.
Fans (other than the players' families) will sadly not be in Maples to watch our first home game in a month, but we will take on a finally healthy Oregon team in Maples and will have to be content with Pac 12 networks.
Oregon is 7-4 and we have 2 losses in common with them: South Florida and South Carolina. The other two losses were more ignominious, to UC Davis who we beat, and to Kansas State. Oregon is not ranked but is 25th in Massey's rankings. But this is very deceptive. Oregon had all of their star players playing together for the first time just two days ago: PaoPao, Sabally, and Rogers have all missed large parts of the season. Furthermore, Oregon has had three games cancelled recently, meaning that we have very little (other than a fill in game against Caroll College) to judge them on. In short, Oregon probably expects their game against us to be their coming-out party, a chance to have their best players playing together for the first time this season against good competition.
Stats are not going to tell us a lot when so many key players were out for so many games: Sabally has started 2 games, Rogers and PaoPao just 1 each. Sedona Prince, their 6'7" forward sophomore, has started every game and averages 12 pts and 5 rebounds in 22 minutes a game. She has not taken a three.
Sydney Parrish, their 6'2" sophomore guard, has also started every game and is averaging 13 points in 28 minutes, shooting the three at 38%.
The other consistent starter is Maddie Scherr, a 5'11" sophomore guard who is averaging 7 points while hitting 36% from three point range.
Nyrara Sabally can be expect to start. This 6'5" redshirt junior forward leads the team at 17ppg---in those games she has actually been able to play (4).
Finally, with their starting point guard PaoPao back, along with USC transfer Endiya Rogers, Oregon suddenly improved its backcourt. PaoPao and Rogers have each given us problems to defend in the past, and having them on the floor at the same time, not to mention senior transfer Alise Hurst who is shooting a prolific 42% of her treys and has started 9 games now--Oregon is on paper a very powerful and well balanced offensive team.
The Oregon we will play on Friday has little in common with the Oregon of November and December. Last year, Oregon had outstanding players but they had not jelled well enough as a team. If they are coming together as a team they will be hard to beat. A healthy Oregon seems more formidable to me than any other teams in the Pac 12 other than ourselves. If they are at full strength and we are still depleted--watch out.