Ducks Are Finally a Go: After Some Hard-Luck Years, The System Is Working

Ducks Are Finally a Go: After Some Hard-Luck Years, The System Is Working

Originally posted on CampusAttic.com on December 13th, 2013

    When Matt Knight Arena was built, there were two high-profile University of Oregon basketball coaching hires. Dana Altman has led Oregon’s men’s program to heightened expectations over his four years, but on the women’s side the results have been a mixed bag.

    Oregon women’s basketball has quite a storied legacy since its first official season (1973-74). 12 NCAA Tournament appearances, three times in the WNIT, two Pac-10/12 championships, and an all-time win/loss record nearing .600 in the very difficult Pac-10/12. Oregon legends such as Debbie Adams, Bev Smith, Stefanie Kasperski, Lauri Landerholm, and Debbie Sporcich have all added to its storied place in the Pac–all Oregon Ducks Hall of Famers. Recent Oregon Ducks Taylor Lilley, Amanda Johnson, and Catherine Kraayeveid, among others, have played in the WNBA.

    Legendary coach Paul Westhead was brought in a year before Altman to lead the women’s basketball program, the sixth coach to lead Oregon’s women’s basketball program, part of the new identity to Oregon basketball amidst the construction of a new arena. Profiled as “The Guru of Go” by ESPN films, Westhead’s stellar career over four decades includes coaching NBA, WNBA, and college teams to the highest of levels, famously teaching a system predicated on speed, press defense, and quick shots. He won a NBA championship as coach of the Los Angeles Lakers, and his LMU basketball squad retains the NCAA record for the highest-scoring team in history.

    The hire seemed to make sense, what school after all is more directly associated with running and speed than Oregon? If nothing else, Westhead’s system would bring great excitement to Eugene, and a brand name in a hall of fame-caliber coach to sell. And early on, true to his reputation, points were exactly what he brought. In his first two seasons at the helm, Oregon finished top-15 in scoring and led he Pac-10/12 in three-pointers. While buckets were being made though, wins were hit and miss.

Katelyn Loper is leading the NCAA in 3-pointers per game. (courtesy: Lanetoday.com)

    A program that had won just nine games the year before Westhead’s arrival finished the 2009-10 season with an 18-16 record, reaching the WNIT Tournament. But in year two Oregon finished with a losing record, and year three managed 15-15 with once again no postseason play. The 2012-2013 season hit a record low — the team finished a dismal 4-27. Ravaged by injuries, the team was a shell of what it could have been, but still there was something wrong. For whatever reason, the Guru of Go’s system didn’t go.

    It wasn’t for a lack of talent either. Individual talents such as Amanda Johnson, Nia Jackson, and Taylor Lilley earned all-conference honors, while Westhead has also coached multiple academic all-americans — Amanda Johnson was even named the 2012 Toyo Tires Pac-12 Women’s Basketball Scholar-Athlete of the Year.

    But it all couldn’t be blamed on injuries, and there were rumblings of Westhead’s job being on the line if Oregon didn’t produce in 2013 following such a dismal 2012, maybe the system just wasn’t right for women’s collegiate basketball.

    So far in 2013, Oregon women’s basketball and coach Westhead have proved all the doubters wrong. The team is 5-2 on the year, one loss coming to #1-ranked and perennial national title contender Connecticut in Hartford. The Ducks haven’t just been winning, but the system is working, as Oregon racks up astounding scoring totals each game, eclipsing 100-points four times so far on the young season.

     During Westhead’s five years, Oregon has cracked the century mark 11 times, going 10-1 in those games. Oregon’s return to relevance was announced loudly in the opening game of the season November 9th, when the Ducks scored a mind-boggling 131 points vs. CSU Bakersfield, a Pac-12 single-game scoring record.

Freshman Chrishae Rowe has revitalized Oregon women’s basketball in 2013. (courtesy: GoDucks.com)

    Leading the charge for the rejuvenated Ducks has been freshman Chrishae Rowe, who set a new single-game school scoring record with her 41 point performance vs. Seattle Dec. 4th. For her efforts, Rowe was named the Pac-12 Freshman of the Week, the third time she had received the honor in the first five weeks of the season. She ranks second in the Pac-12 in scoring average.

    It hasn’t been Rowe carrying the team by herself however, some of the talent that suffered through injuries last year are healthy and contributing to the go. Katelyn Loper is leading the nation in three-pointers per game, while Jillian Alleyne has racked up five double-doubles so far in her sophomore campaign.

Liz Brenner will rejoin the basketball team this Saturday now that volleyball season is over. (courtesy: USAtoday.com)

    Now that the volleyball season is over, basketball is set to get a boost, when Oregon’s most multi-talented athlete in school history, Elizabeth Brenner, rejoins the team. Brenner, who has played softball, volleyball, basketball, and thrown javelin for the track team during her time at Oregon, is set to return to the court this weekend after Oregon was knocked out of the NCAA Volleyball Tournament last weekend by Nebraska. She plans to add sand volleyball to her vast resume, when Oregon adds the sport in spring 2014.

    With the athletes healthy and in place, fans are finally getting the opportunity to see what was promised when Paul Westhead was hired five years ago — “the system” working. It is fast-paced, high-energy, quick-hitting basketball at its best, redefining the way the game is played, much like how the Oregon football team’s style of play has sparked a similar revolution on the turf. When the system is running and shots are falling, the Ducks are as entertaining and tough to play as any women’s college basketball team in the country.

    It’s been a lengthy break for the Ducks, a 10-day stay in games happening in the schedule due to finals. Saturday Oregon finally returns to the court, hosting Portland State at 2 p.m. at Matthew Knight Arena. It’s a chance for in-state revenge, as Portland State added to last year’s misery with an 87-85 win over the Ducks in November last year on the Matt Knight floor.

Sophomore Jillian Alleyne already has five double-doubles on the young season. (courtesy: uwire.com)

    This won’t be the same team PSU faced last year though, Oregon is second in the country in scoring, racking up 98.3 points per game, behind only Baylor. The Ducks have already exceeded their win total from the 2012-13 campaign, looking to wipe away all memories of the lost ’12 season, showcasing Westhead’s fully-functional system firing on all cylinders.

    With Pac-12 play still to come, more tests await the 2013-14 Oregon women’s basketball team, but with the 5-2 start and amassing amazing scoring totals, there is no doubt that after a lengthy wait the Guru of Go’s system has arrived. These ladies are running, and it is a sight to see.

NEXT GAME:

Portland State at Oregon
Saturday, December 14th, 2013 – 2 p.m.
Matthew Knight Arena – Eugene, OR
Tickets Available Here
Game will be livestreamed on Pac-12.com