The celebration is fully underway for the men’s basketball team. Sunday, they looked back at a memorable season that culminated with a No. 3 seed in the NCAA Tournament and a comfy trip to Spokane, Wash.
Quietly, the women’s basketball team awaited news of its own postseason fate Monday night. First, they had to sit through the NCAA Selection Show and then wait for the announcement from the Women’s National Invitational Tournament. The good news arrived online via an announcement made on the WNIT’s Web site.
When you consider all the adversity this team faced this season alone, making postseason play is an unquestioned success. Right now it’s unclear what factored into the decision, but whatever the selection committee saw in the Ducks earned them the respect that comes with being given a first-round bye.
Oregon can use this as a first step toward once again becoming a perennial NCAA Tournament candidate and contender.
Sure, it’s going to be nice for Oregon’s five seniors to have another chance to play in McArthur Court, but in looking at the entire program, this postseason experience is going to benefit Oregon’s young backcourt the most.
Let me explain why by looking up I-5 North to Corvallis.
I find striking similarities between what Oregon accomplished this season and what Civil War rival Oregon State did last year. Oregon State relied on the senior leadership of Mandy Close, Kim Butler and Anita Rivera to overachieve and earn a spot in the WNIT with a 15-14 record in coach LaVonda Wagner’s first season in Corvallis.
They hosted a home game in the first round, blew out Santa Clara 77-48 and then were blown out themselves in the second round, 67-49, at Wyoming.
This season, after its seniors graduated, Oregon State experienced the growing pains that come with having five freshmen on the roster and ended its season with a disappointing 9-19 record.
Oregon goes into next season with a young back-court featuring Tamika Nurse, Taylor Lilley and Micaela Cocks. Guard Kaela Chapdelaine will be the lone senior on the whole squad. Oregon, coincidentally, welcomes five new freshmen, with more possibly joining throughout this spring.
How Oregon’s guards develop and the way they play next season is going to have a large impact on whether or not the Ducks can make a second-consecutive postseason appearance.
In the city of Eugene, where bids to the NCAA Tournament used to be an annual occurrence, it’s important Oregon shows progress toward becoming a consistent contender once again.
[email protected]