The first thing opponents and teammates alike notice about Eleanor Haring is her scowl.
“That’s Eleanor’s signature look I’d say,” center Gabrielle Richards said.
Even mom has noticed.
“My mom used to always yell at me about that,” Haring said.
Richards, Haring’s roommate, added: “She wears her emotions on her face like all types of emotions. In the game, she gets very serious and it’s more of a serious scowl say than a mad, angry scowl, but it can turn into an angry scowl real quick from serious.”
Off the basketball court, Haring’s gruff demeanor melts away, presenting a humorous and engaging personality. On the court, Haring is a physical player who quietly makes her contribution to the Oregon women’s basketball team.
“I wouldn’t say I’m a big contributor,” Haring said. “The media is not really a big thing for me. I’m kinda shy and it’s better if I don’t do it.”
Fellow Australian Richards has noticed that Haring deflects attention to her teammates.
“She likes to hide away in the shadows just a bit,” Richards said. “She’s a bit sneaky like that.”
Her numbers read 7.2 points (third on team), 3.4 rebounds (tied-fourth), 83.3 percent free throw percentage (fourth) and 45.8 percent on field goals (third).
Haring started her Oregon career with Pacific-10 Conference
All-Freshman honors, but slipped in her second season. Haring’s freshman-year averages of 8.9 points and 4.3 rebounds dipped to 5.7 and 2.6 in her sophomore year.
“I tried to put last year behind me and just try to focus on things in my control,” Haring said.
Haring had fallen prey to the sophomore jinx – she struggled following a strong freshman season. Two other teammates, Carolyn Ganes and Kristen Forristall, dealt with year-two difficulties.
“You just have to keep doing your best every day,” Haring said. “Just go as hard as you can. Just try and focus on the things you can control.”
Oregon coaches moved Haring from the three position to the four position. Haring’s quickness helps her carve out space on the low post and improves her ability to drive by slower posts or shoot her mid-range jumper. Haring helps Richards down low, creating space, stretching defenses and reducing double teams.
Imagine Charles Barkley with the sense of humor and back-to-the-basket game, but without the extra girth.
Haring has played through tendinitis in her knee for years, something she said she’s become used to. She can’t remember playing without it. She has managed to play all 86 possible games in her Oregon career.
“She’s a fighter,” Oregon coach Bev Smith said. “She’s a competitor.”
Stretching helps her knees, but it is something coaches watch, Oregon assistant coach Phil Brown said. He said in the offseason, coaches need to look at bicycle work and pool work to help her physically as well.
Her ability to play through it, Brown said, is part of her leadership role.
Brown, Haring and Richards’ former coach in Australia, joined Oregon last spring as an assistant coach. The trio now shares memories and talks about current events in Australia.
“It’s nice,” Brown said. “It’s just a nice feeling to have that connection with your home country.”
Haring and Richards spent one year together under Brown at the Australian Institute of Sport. Brown coached the pair for a total of two years each.
Haring moved to Canberra, roughly 2,200 miles east of Perth, to join the Australian Institute of Sport at age 16. She completed 12th grade and played basketball her first year there.
The following year, Haring and the team competed as the lone amateur group in the eight-team Women’s National Basketball League.
Because she already knew Brown, Smith talked to the Australian coach and got to know Haring through multiple phone calls. Haring decided soon after to join Oregon and came to Eugene in 2003.
“(Brown) taught us a lot when we were back at home,” Richards said.
“Everything we know,” Haring quipped.
“To have him here, it’s more of a comfort thing than anything else,” Richards said.
In Australia, Brown focused on the development of players for international basketball. Here, he is focused on Oregon’s offense.
“He’s very offensive-minded here. … He breaks down the offense and lets us know where we’re going to get shots and how to get the best type of shots,” Richards said.
“He’s really, really good with fundamentals,” Haring said.
“He sees things in offenses that we don’t even see and we are the ones running them,” Richards added. “He has a such a good basketball mind.”
Together again with his former pupils, Brown has been able to work with Richards and Haring again, helping the pair improve. Brown said he’d like to see Haring expand her shooting range and develop a three-point shot.Brown said Haring’s strong suit is contributing within the team framework.
“She’s happy to be a part of a team and contribute where she can and in a way in the areas that she can do,” Brown said. “I think that’s Eleanor.”

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