The class: WNIT 101.
The subject: St. Mary’s of California.
The final: 7 p.m. today at McArthur Court.
The Oregon women’s basketball team is cramming. The subject was just assigned three days ago and the Ducks are expected to have it mastered.
They’ve watched some film, which is allowable under the NCAA ethics policy. But they haven’t even seen St. Mary’s (16-12), a team from the West Coast Conference, in seven years, much less know what to expect in the test.
But the basis of Oregon’s studying has been itself, not the subject.
“Not knowing too much about St. Mary’s is a good thing for us,” Oregon head coach Bev Smith said. “I think we’ve done fairly well in preparing for teams we don’t know a whole lot about because what we’re basing our preparation on is playing our game of basketball — doing the things we need to do in order to be a successful team.”
Tonight’s first-round bout with St. Mary’s is not exactly a final exam for the Ducks (17-13), but it could be. In the one-and-done Women’s National Invitation Tournament, first-year coach Smith will have to have her squad well versed in how to stay alive.
“There’s not a whole lot (the coaches) can teach us that they haven’t already taught us,” Oregon senior guard Jamie Craighead said. “Now it’s just about playing basketball. We’re just going to go out and play.”
The Ducks haven’t played a game in 11 days (a loss to Arizona State in the semifinals of the Pacific-10 Conference Tournament), but are well rested for a run in the 32-team field of the WNIT.
“We want to win this tournament,” Oregon senior guard Edniesha Curry said. “In postseason play, you don’t know much about any team. You just have to play hard because it’s one and done. You go out and play your game and play with 100 percent effort.”
One advantage the Ducks will have is playing at McArthur Court, where they are 8-5 this season (including two wins in the Pac-10 Tournament). The Ducks also led the Pac-10 in attendance for the third straight year.
“It’s a great thing for us to be at Mac Court. There’s no better way to start a tournament,” Smith said. “If we are successful in the first game, we’ll get a chance to host the second round, so that’s really great motivation to keep on winning.”

If the Ducks do get past St. Mary’s — a physical team known for its rebounding — they will face the winner of the Hawaii-Oregon State game in Corvallis on Thursday.
“If you’re a competitor, you get up for every game,” Oregon guard Shaquala Williams said. “I know everyone wants to win, and we’re looking forward to the chance to play three or four more games.”
Despite not reaching the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 1992, the Ducks are confident heading into the WNIT. The experience will also be good for the team’s four freshman, who are taking their first postseason exam.
“We’re just going to try to make the most of the situation,” Smith said.
“It’s not the NCAA, but it’s the postseason and there’s still games to play,” sophomore forward Cathrine Kraayeveld said. “We still have to play hard and show that we’re a good team.”