SAN JOSE, Calif. – It’d be easy to be upset after this one.
An Oregon women’s basketball team dominated by seniors looked apprehensive in the first 15 minutes of its second round meeting with California in the Pacific-10 Conference Tournament. Only two weeks ago, Oregon played poised and relaxed and it showed in a 62-42 rout of Cal in McArthur Court.
That Oregon team, at its peak then, disappeared Saturday morning in the Ducks 63-51 loss.
This time last year, Oregon had its season end here within cavernous HP Pavilion Arena, normally home to the NHL’s San Jose Sharks.
Oregon’s record is above .500 and is a team worthy of a bid to the Women’s National Invitational Tournament. It’s an accomplishment worthy of praise considering all this team’s gone through this season with players leaving and injuries.
But it could have been more.
And that’s why this loss is a disappointment. When Oregon’s played so many teams close in the Pac-10, they could easily be an NCAA Tournament team. Saturday was a perfect opportunity to show how far they’ve come.
It wasn’t unreasonable though to expect a win against the Golden Bears and a matchup with Arizona State, a conference power Oregon’s played close in two previous matchups this season.
Instead, they looked nervous. In the first half, they had the feel of a team that was playing together for the first time. Passes intended for teammates ended in turnovers on miscommunications. Shots bounced off the rim. Their go-to scorer disappeared.
The loss leaves me wondering where this team’s headed after they resurrected their season with 5-1 run in the second half of Pac-10 play. The present squad looks tired and worn down by a 29 game season.
Oregon’s 1-3 finish makes this next week a necessary break if this team is going to make a run towards a WNIT title.
Center Jessie Shetters’ return is going to help. She looked fresh and improved over her two previous appearances after returning from the stress fracture she suffered in mid-January.
Shetters can ease the workload on Carolyn Ganes, whose shot is suffering from having to score offensively and defend the likes of Cal’s Devanei Hampton and Ashley Walker in the post. Ganes made 8 of 20 shots Saturday.
The team as a whole can regroup. Freshman Taylor Lilley has battled injuries this season and could use a break. Point guard Tamika Nurse has led the team in minutes and needs a breather.
Once Oregon is refreshed, the postseason is another opportunity for this team, a chance to commemorate Oregon’s five seniors, but also give Oregon’s young backcourt invaluable experience in a pressure situation.
Few expected much of this team when the season began. An uncharacteristic exhibition loss to Vanguard had many people believing this team would win less than 10 games.
Oregon vastly exceeded those expectations with a 16-13 record. They may have less talent than last year or other teams in the Pac-10, and found a way to exceed last season’s 14-15 record.
The players melded together better this season, often it seemed out of necessity. Players had to fill certain roles. They had to contribute if this short-handed roster was going to finish above .500.
Oregon had career years from a number of players who were accustomed to being role players and had to emerge as consistent performers.
Eleanor Haring, with an array of moves, provided points when necessary with Saturday’s four point effort an exception. Cicely Oaks turned a small breakthrough her junior year into a consistent effort offensively and defensively her senior year. Forward Jamie Hawkins transformed a disappointing start to the season into a role as a consistent contributor off the bench. And the list goes on.
Oregon has an opportunity to make this season more memorable, provided they rediscover the spark that pushed the Ducks this far.
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