Flashes came in spurts: the inside power move, the stop and smooth mid-range jumper, and baskets made in transition.
The University of Oregon women’s basketball team is different than last year’s. Success will be defined by contributions team-wide. Last year’s squad had Cathrine Kraayeveld and Andrea Bills, and that worked too. Success came with an NCAA Tournament win against TCU and second round appearance against eventual champion Baylor.
This year, Oregon is deep and coach Bev Smith said she plans to have a large rotation. The move this season to start earlier with an exhibition game on Halloween night against the University of British Columbia helped. New point guard Kaela Chapdelaine started and dished out 10 assists. Gabrielle Richards scored 17 points and grabbed 10 rebounds. And the list goes on and on.
Each player brings something different and many things similar. Brandi Davis and Chelsea Wagner are threats. Cicely Oaks and Kedzie Gunderson provide strong on-ball defense. New guard Tamika Nurse possesses breakneck speed. Post players Carolyn Ganes and Richards showed they can stretch opposing defenses with mid-range shooting.
More telling, Oregon had 10 of its 11 players in uniform score at least two points and five players had four or more rebounds.
“We have a lot of people that can come in and contribute in different ways,” Smith said.
Teams win all the time without a main go-to player, i.e. men’s National Champion North Carolina, who had a collection of talented players, but no one player that stood above the rest. It just means Oregon needs performances team-wide. When one player struggles, another needs to step up.
It helps to have players buy into the idea. Last season’s success and enticement for further success should make any sacrifice worthwhile.
Lone freshman Nurse is making the transition to Division I basketball. Against British Columbia on one break, she collided with a defender and came down with the ball off her leg for a turnover. During another possession, Nurse collided with a defender at the free-throw line and was called for a charge. She adjusted. Again, Nurse sprinted up court. This time she stopped and swished a mid-range jumper.
The pieces are there and Oregon has opportunities to gel with seven contests including the two exhibitions within McArthur Court.
If Oregon can come together, watch out. The Pac-10 media poll predicts Oregon will finish fifth, but that’s assuming Oregon struggles without Kraayeveld and Bills. Here’s saying they won’t.

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