Oregon women’s basketball head coach Paul Westhead has fond memories as a head coach in the state of Arizona.
“The last time I was in Phoenix, we won the championship in the WNBA (with the Phoenix Mercury),” Westhead said with a laugh. “The last time I was in Phoenix, I had a good time.”
The good times keep rolling for the Ducks, who enter tonight’s contest against Arizona State with a 12-3 overall record (3-0 Pacific-10 Conference) after beating Oregon State 86-71 on Saturday at Gill Coliseum. The Sun Devils enter the contest at 9-6 (1-3 Pac-10).
“I’ve already had one road experience, and Oregon State was a tough place to go and play,” Westhead said. “So I’m sure that everywhere else (in the Pac-10) it’s like you’re an alien showing up and not being treated real friendly.”
Arizona State has not treated Oregon nicely in recent years, having not lost to the Ducks since Feb. 17, 2005. The Sun Devils have not lost on their home court to Oregon since 2000.
“Playing away is hard regardless, no matter who you’re playing,” forward Nicole Canepa said. “They’ve probably going to be looking for some revenge, and we’ve been pretty successful those last couple games, so I’m sure they’re craving that win.”
Before securing a 64-59 road win against Washington State on Saturday, ASU had gone winless in conference play this season. For a team with high expectations — and a No. 14 ranking to match at one point in the preseason — the Sun Devils have not positioned themselves as conference contenders to date.
“They’re a very talented team. They’re a team that had and still has high hopes and expectations,” Westhead said. “Their ranking has changed, but their ability to play hasn’t. Plus, they’ve lost a few, so I think they’re one of those angry teams who are better than the record.”
The Sun Devils offer two counter-punches to Oregon’s fast-paced offense, which currently leads the nation in scoring. The first is a liberal rotation of bodies onto the court — head coach Charli Turner Thorne has 11 players averaging 11 or more minutes per game. The second is a man-to-man pressure defense that will look to cut off routes to the basket and stifle fast-break opportunities.
“It’s very exciting. I know they play an up-tempo defense, and I hope we can keep it that way all game,” guard Taylor Lilley said.
Lilley watched from the sidelines with a concussion during Oregon’s last Arizona road trip, on Feb. 5 last year. The Ducks fell 68-56 to the Sun Devils and won only one game for the rest of the season.
“We need to do what we do, no matter where we are, no matter what court we’re playing on,” Canepa said. “Let’s just run and press, run and press. I think it’s going to be a challenge but we’re definitely ready for it. We’re not going to be an easy team to try and beat.”
The Ducks have exorcised demons all season, but a major hurdle was cleared on Saturday in Gill Coliseum. Oregon’s win over Oregon State kept it in first place (tied with No. 2 Stanford, also 3-0 in conference) and exacted revenge on a team that swept the Ducks last season.
“It felt really, really good,” Canepa said. “It’s always good to go play OSU and beat them up in their house and win.”
Arizona State provides a greater litmus test of Oregon’s status as a conference contender, despite its record. A win puts the Ducks at 4-0 in conference play for the first time since the 2000-01 season and in great position against a weaker Arizona team.
Westhead, embarking on his first Pac-10 road trip as Oregon’s head coach, is locked in on the Sun Devils.
“I’m a one-game coach. I like to focus on that first game and see where I’m at,” he said.
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