The Oregon women’s basketball team entered the 2001-02 season expecting a big change from last year.
For the most part, they were right. The players are different and so are the coaches, but when it comes right down to it, this year mirrors the 2000-01 season more than meets the eye.
At the end of the first half in the 2000-01 campaign, the Ducks were 5-4, having come off two straight losses to Arizona and Arizona State. This season, Oregon is again 5-4 in the Pac-10, again having lost two straight games. This time, the culprits are Stanford and Oregon State.
The 2001 Ducks were able to pull off a late season run, but Iowa rebuffed them in their first NCAA Tournament game.
Without a crystal ball, it’ll be tough to tell how this year’s team will finish, but one thing is for sure: The Ducks (10-8 overall) believe
in themselves.
“We’ve got to stay up,” senior guard Jamie Craighead said. “There’s still (nine) games left in the season, and we know we’ve dropped a few games we shouldn’t have, but we’re still in the hunt for things.”
Southern California enters McArthur Court tonight for a 7 p.m. tipoff, fresh off a 19-point win over Arizona State last week. The win pushed the Trojans to 6-3 in conference play (10-8 overall), good enough for a share of second place.
Earlier this season, the Trojans handed Oregon its first conference loss, 83-73, on the strength of Ebony Hoffman’s 27 points. The 6-foot-2 sophomore banged the Ducks inside for a majority of her points and gave some of the young Oregon players a taste of Pac-10 play.
But Oregon head coach Bev Smith doesn’t see a need to focus on one particular USC player.
“I think before you look at any individuals, you have to look at USC (as a team),” Smith said. “Defensively, they’re very aggressive and they challenge you. We have to take care of the ball and run our offense efficiently and effectively.”
Against the Trojans earlier in the season, Oregon was without senior Edniesha Curry for most of the game due to an injured foot. Although she wasn’t able to play much, Curry said she noticed the need to keep USC from getting out early and establishing their type of game.
“They’re a quick, athletic team,” Curry said. “They are a real up-tempo team. They like to run a transition offense, and their guards rebound exceptionally well.”
Coming off this season’s early win, the Trojans have taken four of the last five contests against the Ducks, including the last two games at the Pit. Oregon has lost four games this season at Mac Court, the most since the 1992-93 season, which was also the team’s last losing year.
“With USC coming in, they’re playing fairly well,” Smith said. “We look at this game as a great opportunity for a win.”