If only Oregon could have 12 players who had the same grit and determination as Kaela Chapdelaine.
If they did, they might play with the same urgency and purpose as the senior guard. They might realize the importance of the remaining games for the fading Oregon women’s basketball team. This is the Ducks’ chance to gain some positive energy heading into next season.
Oregon started the season with promise infused by six new freshmen but is ending it in a miserable fashion.
Young players are going to make mistakes and have growing pains, but what shouldn’t be missing is the effort. Yet in three of the last four games Oregon has lacked energy when it had the chance to compete with some of the Pacific-10 Conference’s best teams.
And Chapdelaine, who is the last Oregon player to make an NCAA Tournament appearance, can only do so much. She can dive on the floor for loose balls. She can take charges. She can drive to the hoop.
Except, when no one is following her lead, what’s the point? Outside of Chapdelaine, guard Taylor Lilley and forward Nicole Canepa, Oregon needs more from the rest of the team.
“It’s wearing (Chapdelaine) down,” coach Bev Smith said Saturday. “She needs some help right now. She needs other people to step up and get on the floor and get after it.
“She literally dragged herself off the floor today.”
It’s hard seeing Chapdelaine go through a season that will likely end without a postseason appearance.
She is a perfect complement on a veteran team, as she showed last year. On a young team, she can give advice and lead by example, but you have to hope her message sinks in.
Oregon left two weeks ago for its Arizona road trip and gave a lackluster effort at Arizona. The Ducks nearly upset Arizona State, losing by one and seemingly creating momentum for this week’s games with the Bay Area schools.
Instead Thursday, Oregon was lifeless.
Stanford is No. 6 in the nation. They possess one of the best lineups out there with guard Candice Wiggins and posts Kayla Pedersen and Jayne Appel.
Expecting an Oregon victory is asking too much, but competing and pushing the Cardinal isn’t.
The Ducks showed they could in the second half, whether it was three-pointers by Chapdelaine and Tamika Nurse or mid-range jumpers by Canepa in outscoring Stanford 31-26.
If Oregon can do that, than a 46-12 opening half should be unacceptable.
Oregon’s young players should be using these games as a stage to show signs of their potential, so even if the Ducks aren’t winning, they should at least be giving opponents an idea of what’s in store for seasons to come.
And that starts with desire. It means attacking inside and drawing fouls. It means boxing out and keeping the opponents out of the lane. In Oregon’s game Saturday, No. 9 California collected 21 offensive rebounds, a staggering number. Second-chance boards are a product of hustle and Cal wanted them more than Oregon did.
Last week, Chapdelaine glowed about the potential of Oregon’s underclassmen.
“I’m so excited not only for the rest of this year, but for years to come,” she said. “I think this is going to be an exciting team to watch.”
But for that to happen, they need to start showing progress now. Oregon can’t just play out this season and go into next season thinking they’ll flip a switch and be a good team.
Just listening to Chapdelaine’s thoughts on Oregon’s underclassmen is valuable, especially the post players, considering she played with Oregon’s last great post player in Cathrine Kraayeveld and the solid Gabrielle Richards.
Chapdelaine understands what’s involved with being a standout player and what Oregon’s young posts need to do to get there.
“I think they’ve got to work on their game more than anything,” she said. “Spend some time working on footwork (and) adding to their game always because as team’s scout you they’re going to take away your strengths … You always have to have a counter with your strength.”
The essence of Chapdelaine’s message involves having a strong work ethic, and with five games left, it’s time Oregon shows it in games, from the opening tip to the final buzzer.
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