Junior power forward Ruthy Hebard has been bombarded with ticket requests ever since the summer, when she learned that she and the No. 3 Oregon women’s basketball team would start its season in her hometown of Fairbanks, Alaska.
“I can’t wait,” said Hebard, who was home for about a month over the summer. “People came up to me all the time saying things like, ‘I can’t wait to see you. We’re going to get tickets.’ I’m pretty excited.”
Because she is the only Duck with family in Alaska, Hebard has been granted about 25 tickets to give away to friends and family. It’s rare for players from outside the area to be able to play back home, but the Ducks planned this one for Hebard.  
“Most coaches try to get their players from the outside area home for a game,” Graves said. “Ruthy is really important to our program, so I thought it was important for us to get her back home.”
Graves scheduled Hebard’s homecoming game over a phone call with Alaska Fairbanks’ new head coach, Kerri Nakamoto.
Jessie Craig, Hebard’s high school head coach, signed on as an assistant coach for Alaska Fairbanks in the summer of 2017. Hebard credits Craig with teaching her much about being a better person and athlete.
“I can’t wait to play against her and hopefully talk to her after the game.” Hebard said.
A dominant 6-foot-4 force in the paint, Hebard held team-highs in total blocked shots, average rebounds per game and was ranked second in the NCAA shooting 66 percent from the field last season. As just a sophomore last year, she won the Katrina McClain award for the nation’s top power forward.
Perhaps her most impressive accomplishment was an NCAA record she set last season, scoring 33 consecutive baskets over the course of four games.
“I never pictured myself as talented or anything, but I’m really happy that this school and my teammates have shaped me into who I am,” Hebard said. “It’s going to be great to go home and show everyone how I got here and who the people around me are who push me.”
Hebard looks forward to having dinner with her family and relaxing at Chena Hot Springs — Alaska’s most popular natural hot springs located about an hour outside of Fairbanks.
For the rest of the team, however, they have been asking for Hebard’s advice on how to pack for the freezing Alaskan temperatures, forecasted for a high of 10 degrees for Tuesday’s game.
“I’m super excited for her,” junior point guard Sabrina Ionescu said. “I know she doesn’t get to have a lot of family come out here because of how long the trip is.”
Ionescu says Hebard has grown in strength and knowledge on and off the court every day since they were 5-star recruits together back in the 2016 class.
“She fits in with all those top players that I’ve played with,” Ionescu said. “Her competitiveness, her will to win, just everything. She has come along really well.”
Follow Bryce Dole on Twitter @DoleBryce