Consecutive blowouts. Lackluster energy. Injuries. Six straight losses.
Pick any of the factors and the Oregon women’s basketball team might have a reasonable reason for letting the last five games slide by.
Oregon chose a different approach. It approached this week’s practice with a renewed energy, trying to find momentum with the last road trip taking them to the Washington schools this week.
The Ducks start in Seattle tonight with Washington for a game that is a day later than the usual Thursday-Saturday combination. Oregon was fine with the extra time, using it as a chance let nagging injuries heal and prepare for the Huskies.
The waning games take on more importance as teams try to position themselves for the Pacific-10 Conference Tournament. Oregon (10-14, 4-9) is currently seventh in the Pac-10, a half-game back of Washington (9-14, 4-8), for that all-important sixth spot that allows teams to avoid the first night of games.
Oregon’s immediate focus, guard Kaela Chapdelaine says, is putting together a winning streak and holding onto postseason aspirations.
And that includes bumping up the intensity in this week’s practices.
“I think we played Saturday missing some energy and I think we’ve come back to practice and tried to get that back,” point guard Tamika Nurse said. “The coaches have pushed us and we’ve made drills really competitive. I think that will help us along the way.”
Sometimes, Chapdelaine says, it’s a matter of transferring that energy from the practice floor into games.
The always energetic Chapdelaine has been playing with the urgency of a senior who is in the final games of her college career. The same energy was lacking teamwide against Stanford and California.
“It might be an experience or youth thing,” she said. “The season’s a lot longer than in high school. I know we have a lot of banged-up bodies. For me, it’s just easier because I’ve had this experience before.
“I don’t think it has anything to do with the kind of person I am and the people they are. I understand that at this time of the year it’s a mental thing and I think our girls are understanding that too and I’ve really seen a good improvement this week.”
Oregon, just 1-6 on the road in Pac-10 play, is looking for success in an opponent’s building. At least with this trip, the Ducks are aware they beat both schools within the friendly confines of McArthur Court.
“We are on the road, but I think we have to generate our own energy and our own crowd and pump up ourselves,” Nurse said.
Family and friends of Seattle native Nia Jackson will provide some support for Oregon, but the reserve guard, dealing with a left knee injury, is going to remain sidelined another 2-3 weeks, coach Bev Smith said.
The rest of the Ducks taking the court today continue to play through a number of injuries.
Nicole Canepa played through an injured toe last weekend and sat out Monday’s practice. Ellie Manou continues to battle a foot injury.
Washington is coming off consecutive losses last weekend at the Los Angeles schools. Guard Sami Whitcomb is playing well offensively, averaging 11.1 points a game, and going for a career-high 27 points against USC.
Smith says everything considered she expects a better performance from her team this weekend.
“This team has always been a team that has really rebounded well from disappointing situations and I know they are a team that understands that you can’t feel sorry for yourself,” Smith said. “No is going to feel sorry for you … so I was really happy with our resolve.”
Ellyce Ironmonger stayed after practice Tuesday and practiced her shot for an extra 30 minutes, even showing off a step-back three-pointer.
“The intensity that we brought (this week) shows that we can play,” she said. “We just have to bring that to games. Every time we step on the court, we have to bring it.”
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