Oregon women’s basketball is coming off what head coach Kelly Graves called a “signature win.” The Ducks recently defeated No. 19 Stanford and now are set to compete in the Pac-12 Tournament Thursday. With that said, Emerald staff reporters Jonathan Hawthorne and Christopher Keizur break down Oregon’s win last Sunday, its first year under Graves and the outlook for the team heading into the Pac-12 Tournament. 
Oregon women’s basketball is coming off an upset against No. 19 Stanford. What did that performance mean in the grand scheme of things?
Hawthorne – It validated a long season of schematic change. It gave Oregon fans a glimpse into the future. Kelly Graves called it a “signature win” after the game. The Ducks put it all together and played a complete game, which has evaded Graves and the Ducks so far this season. It’ll likely boost the Ducks this week as they prepare for the Pac-12 Tournament. Like Graves said, it’s something the seniors can hold on to forever, as they were tasked with changing once again in the face of a new style.
Keizur – First lets take a moment to appreciate that game. The victory was nothing if not shocking, as I would say very few Duck fans walked into Mathew Knight Arena expecting to see that kind of performance. The Ducks limited their turnovers, played defense down the stretch and knocked down open shots — all things that have at one time or another failed them this season. That being said, a single victory does not define a team. While it was nice to snap the losing streak against one of the premier teams in the conference, and send the seniors out with a bang, a win over Stanford is not the end goal. Rather it is simply another step in the rebuilding process.
What has Kelly Graves been able to accomplish in his first season at the helm for Oregon? Has this been a successful season?

Hawthorne – Graves has changed the culture. He instills a competitiveness in his players that helps challenge them and improve. Slowly but surely, the program has changed. He is stern but loving, harsh but nurturing. His players are starting to embody his competitive spirit and defensive schemes. Expect the Ducks to one day be competing for the Pac-12 title, instead of their counterparts from Corvallis.
Keizur – Kelly Graves has brought something that has been missing for the last couple of years in Eugene — defense. Former coach Paul Westhead ran a system that focused on breakneck speed, attacking the basket and shooting deep threes; all of which equaled a gimmick at best. Graves had to come in and rebuild the entire thing, bringing with him a strong work effort and a culture of winning. Early the team seemed to struggle to reconcile with what he was preaching, but lately things have finally started to click. The wins might not be there, but you can see glimpses of a bright future for this team.
What has surprised you most this season?

Hawthorne – Jillian Alleyne’s continued success in Kelly Graves’ new system. It’s impressive to see Alleyne continue to post league-leading numbers, despite the fact that the team is averaging 65.3 points a game, which is down from the 93.2 it averaged last season. She clocks in at 18.4 points per game and 15.1 rebounds. She’s playing at such an elite level right now, and that’s evident her her Pac-12 player of the week honor after last weekend. She has the ability to take over a game, to simply dictate the tempo and be a leader. When opposing teams hone in on her, the Ducks simply open up the perimeter game, whether that’s Lexi Bando, Lexi Petersen or Katelyn Loper. I get the sense that Alleyne is beginning to realize just how could she could be in the future, which has to be exciting for fans to track over the off season and into Graves’ second year.
Keizur – I hate to simply parrot what Jonathan is saying, but Alleyne’s continued improvement has been remarkable. Its not just the stats; her attitude this season has been something to behold. She has this undercurrent of competitiveness that supports her genuine and refreshing positivity. She has the ability to take over a game, unleashing a whirlwind of activity in the paint. Watching her last season I saw a player who put up impressive stats for a losing team, unsure whether she had the killer instinct required to succeed at a higher level. This year she has proven herself as a fighter, someone who is willing to do the dirty work down low. I am excited to see if she makes one last leap in her final season with the Ducks next year before heading off to the professional game.
How will the Ducks do in the Pac-12 tournament and will there be any further postseason play?

Hawthorne – With the Ducks officially eliminated from WNIT play, there’s not much hope for beyond the Pac-12 tournament. I think the Ducks have a legitimate chance of knocking off No. 7 Washington State in the first round, and have played Arizona State well this season, so the sky’s the limit, especially coming off the program’s biggest win in recent history in No. 19 Stanford. The win couldn’t have come at a better time — snapped a four-game losing streak — and sets the Ducks up for a good week of practice before facing Wazzu.
Keizur – Lets not kid ourselves, the Stanford win was a nice exclamation point, but the story of Graves’ first season is over. This is a team that fought hard, lost some close games and ultimately can walk away having made some significant strides in the rebuilding process. Will they make any noise in the postseason; no of course not. But did we ever really expect anything different? Check back next year.
Follow Jonathan Hawthorne on Twitter @Jon_Hawthorne
Follow Christopher Keizur on Twitter @chriskeizur